When we launched the PFT Heroes concept several years ago, we decided to break down the postseason awards (based not only on the regular season but also on the postseason) by position, with separate honors for the best defensive lineman, linebacker, cornerback, safety, offensive lineman, tight end, receiver, running back, and quarterback.
We opted to name each award after a former player who inspired us in some way, as an honor for each man after whom the awards were named. But we’ve realized based on some communications we recently received that someone eventually is going to object to the use of their name and/or request some type of payment or other consideration in exchange for applying their name to the award.
So we’ve decided to suspend the practice of naming the awards after anyone.
The PFT Heroes 2010 are, to date, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, and at cornerback a tie between Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson of the Packers.
And at the safety position, the PFT Heroes 2010 Award goes to Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
Polamalu, the Associated Press defensive player of the year based only on the regular season, struggled through the latter weeks of the regular season and all of the postseason due to an ankle/Achilles injury. But without what he did before being injured the Steelers never would have made it to the playoffs.
He continues to be the most valuable player to any defense, forcing quarterbacks to keep one eye on the man with the unkempt mane, consequently making their jobs considerably harder. And when Polamalu gets the ball in his hands, he remains one of the most elusive broken-field runners in all of football.
In 2009, the Steelers were 4-1 in games he started -- and 3-8 in games in which he didn’t play. His absence kept them out of the playoffs last year, and his presence helped them return to the postseason, and to the Super Bowl, in 2010.
Polamalu narrowly edged out Packers safety Nick Collins for the award. The other finalists were Ravens safety Ed Reed, Chargers safety Eric Weddle, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins, and Raiders safety Michael Huff.
