Troy Polamalu

Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
currentnumber=43
currentpositionplain=Safety
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|4|19
birthplace=Garden Grove, California
country=USA
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=207
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
highlights=
* 4x Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
* 2x All-Pro selection (2004, 2005)
* Super Bowl champion (XL)
college=Southern California
draftyear=2003
draftround=1
draftpick=16
statweek=5
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=384
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=7.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=13
pastteams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2003–present)
nfl=POL041872

Troy Aumua Polamalu (pronEng|POH-Lah-MAH-Luu) (born Troy Benjamin Aumua on April 19, 1981 in Garden Grove, California) is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 16th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California.

High school career

Troy attended Douglas High School in Winston, Oregon, where he was a three-sport letterman in: baseball, basketball, and football. He played football for four years as a running back and defensive back. As a senior, he was an All-Far West selection in football, and an All-State center fielder in baseball; in basketball, he was a two-time all-league player.

College career

In his career as a 3-year starter at the University of Southern California, Polamalu recorded 278 tackles (29 for losses), 6 interceptions (3 returned for TDs), 13 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 blocked punts. He was voted All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football News, CBS Sportsline and ESPN, earning second-team honors from The Sporting News during his senior Season. In 2001,he was named USC's MVP Award,led team with 118 tackles (79 solo), including 13 for losses (with a 2-yard sack) and six passes defended.He was also a roommate to current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. He majored in general studies.

Professional career

NFL Draft 2003

Polamalu was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 16th overall in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. The Chargers, who had the 15th overall pick, had a major need at safety to replace the departed Rodney Harrison but instead chose to go with quantity over quality forgoing the opportunity to select Troy by trading down and getting Sammy Davis and Terrence Kiel. The Steelers, ecstatic that Polamalu slid past the Chargers, quickly made a move to bring Polamalu to their team. The Steelers believed so much that Polamalu could have a positive impact on their defense that they traded up from the 27th spot to the 16th spot, originally held by the Chiefs. The Steelers traded away the 92nd and 200th overall pick for the rights to switch first round picks and select Troy Polamalu. Essentially the trade was Polamalu for Larry Johnson, Julian Battle and Brooks Bollinger (the Bollinger pick was subsequently traded to the Jets in the same draft). He has the distinction of being the only safety ever drafted by the Steelers in the first round. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/20030427steele0427p2.asp Steelers trade for higher first-round pick, select Southern California defensive back ] ]

In the last game of his college career against Iowa in the Orange bowl, Polamalu injured his hamstring in pre-game warm-ups and was not able to play in the game. Subsequently, the hamstring caused Polamalu to miss the Senior Bowl and 2003 NFL Combine as well. [ [http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2003/04/17/2/ Packers.com » News » Stories » April 17, 2003: Kirwan's NFL Draft Analysis By Position: Safeties ] ] Polamalu was able to perform for scouts at his USC pro day.

:("* represents NFL Combine")

Pittsburgh Steelers

He is recognized when playing for the Steelers due to the large mane of curly hair coming out of his helmet and past his shoulders. Polamalu is considered to be one of the more cerebral players in the NFL and is becoming the new face of the Steelers' defense.

In the CBS Playoffs Pre-game Show, Polamalu said the last time he had gotten a haircut was when he was at USC in 2000 when a coach told him he needed one. Polamalu has not received a haircut since. In pre-colonial Samoan culture, it is customary for men to wear their hair long. The hair was the center of talk around a tackle on October 15, 2006. After an interception where Polamalu looked poised for a touchdown return, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson pulled him down by his hair in order to tackle him and then pulled him up by it. Commentators correctly pointed out that pulling hair is legal and doesn't constitute unnecessary roughness; Johnson was, however, penalized for a late hit out of bounds.

Polamalu's blend of speed, anticipation, and instinct makes him a standout player who seems to be involved in almost every defensive play. The Steelers often use Polamalu in different packages. He may blitz the quarterback, come on a delayed blitz, or pretend to blitz and drop back into coverage, confusing the quarterback. Polamalu often adds to the quarterback's confusion by turning around and walking away from the line of scrimmage before the snap. In only his 3rd season (2006), he tied the NFL record for most sacks, 3, in a single game by a safety. The 2007 Pro Bowl was his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance; he started at safety for the AFC, playing next to the Baltimore Raven's starting free safety Ed Reed. The rivalry they share based on their teams divisional rivalry was evident, as the two battled for possession of an overthrown halfback pass from former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber; Reed came down with the interception. He also made the AP NFL All-Pro Second Team in 2005, followed by being named to the First Team in 2006.

Polamalu became part of the 2005 controversy over the quality of NFL officiating during the divisional playoff game between the Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts. Polamalu intercepted a pass, rolled to the ground, then fumbled the ball while getting up. The play was initially ruled an interception and fumble, but after viewing the instant replay, referee Pete Morelli incorrectly ruled the play an incomplete pass. His rationale was that Polamalu did not make a "football move" after intercepting the pass but before fumbling the ball, and therefore did not demonstrate possession of the ball. The NFL later released a statement saying that Morelli's interpretation was incorrect, and that the interception should have been upheld.

His first Super Bowl appearance was in Super Bowl XL in 2006, when the Pittsburgh Steelers gained the franchise's fifth Super Bowl (against a former USC teammate Lofa Tatupu) with a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

On July 23, 2007, before training camp, the Steelers gave Polamalu the biggest contract in team history extending him through 2011. In an article on ESPN.com, Polamalu said, "I didn't want to be a player who is jumping from team to team. I've always felt comfortable here, I think this organization, this tradition they have here, is very legendary and I always wanted to be part of this." The 4-year contract extension, worth just over $30 million with about $15 million in guarantees, made Polamalu one of the highest paid defensive backs in the league and the highest paid safety in the league (though this distinction was taken by Bob Sanders on December 28, 2007 when he signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with $20 million in guarantees). [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2946532 ESPN - Steelers lock up Polamalu through 2011 season - NFL ] ]

Polamalu was named a reserve to 2008 Pro Bowl despite having no interceptions and only playing in 11 games during the 2007 season. Polamaulu's injury plagued 2007 season led him to partake in a California rehab program. [cite video| people = Troy Polamalu| title = NFLTA: Polamalu's rehab| medium = | publisher = NFL Films url = http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d808feae0| year2 = 2008] He suffered a hamstring injury late in his off season workout, causing him to miss Pittsburgh's 2008 training camp. [cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Steelers Training Camp: Misery remains Polamalu's company|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08211/900228-66.stm|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-07-29|accessdate=2008-07-30] He would return to practicing with the team days after the camp's conclusion, however. [cite news |first= John|last= Harris|title= Polamalu hits higher gear|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584055.html|publisher= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= 2008-08-21|accessdate=2008-08-21]

Personal

He is of Samoan descent. Despite Polamalu's hard-hitting style on the gridiron, he is known off-the-field as a soft-spoken, Christian family man.cite news|title=Samoan stars play big roles in big game|work=San Antonio Express Metro Edition|date=2006-02-02|accessdate=2007-01-23|last=Orsborn|first=Tom]

Polamalu is an Eastern Orthodox Christian, having converted through the influence of his wife Theodora. Among his spiritual activities is a pilgrimage to Greek Orthodox sites in Greece and Turkey, taken in 2007.cite news|title=Troy Polamalu goes on holy pilgrimage|work=TheAlmanac.net|date=2007-04-18|accessdate=2007-07-13|last=O'Brien|first=Jim] He seldom gives interviews, but when he does, he often speaks of the role his spirituality plays in his life. Polamalu has said that he tries to separate himself from his profession as much as possible, like not watching football games at home. He says a prayer after each play and also on the sidelines.

Polamalu is known for his humble lifestyle. He rarely hangs out with fellow teammates, instead preferring to spend time at home with his wife Theodora, the sister of Dolphins tight end Alex Holmes, another former USC player.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2298641|title=Steelers' Polamalu never out of position _ mostly because he doesn't have one|date=2006-01-19|accessdate=2008-05-31]

In 2005, Pittsburgh area band Mr. Devious wrote and recorded the novelty song [http://www.bigbigdesign.com/assets/MrDevious-Puhlahmahlu.mp3 Puhlahmahlu] , a parody of the song Mah Nà Mah Nà. Guitarist Glenn Shirey said that the song was inspired by a Fox Sports announcer's (Dick Stockton's) mispronunciation of Polamalu's name. [ [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pmupdate/s_417842.html Musicians now a Troy band with 'Puhlahmahlu' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ] ]

Polamalu has garnered several nicknames; a couple being "The Tasmanian Devil" or "Taz" "The Flying Hawaiian," and "The Samoan Headhunter".

Polamalu sat with Joe Hardy at the billionaire's 84th birthday party on January 6, 2007.cite web|url=http://mondesishouse.blogspot.com/2007/01/christina-aguilera-was-in.html|title=Sports and Entertainment with a Pittsburgh twist|accessdate=2008-05-31]

In January, 2007, he petitioned to change his legal name to his mother's maiden name (Polamalu), which he had been using for the last 15 years. His legal name had been Troy Aumua.cite web|url=http://www.wpxi.com/news/10752490/detail.html|title=Polamalu Wants To Change Name|accessdate=2008-05-31]

Off-field interests include growing flowers and playing the piano.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2298641|title=Steelers' Polamalu never out of position _ mostly because he doesn't have one|date=2006-01-19|accessdate=2008-05-31]

Polamalu's uncle is Kennedy Pola, the running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pola has been coaching for Jacksonville since the 2005 season, and his Jaguars have beaten Polamalu's Steelers in four of the five meetings since then. His uncle, Aoatoa Polamalu, played nose tackle at Penn State from 1984-1988. cite web | url = http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082100aab.html | title = Football Opens Against Penn State In Kickoff Classic XVIII | publisher = USC Sports Information | date = 2000-08-21 | accessdate = 2008-04-09]

Polamalu is featured on the cover of the Scholastic children's book "National Football League Megastars" which profiles Polamalu and 14 other NFL stars.

References

External links

* [http://news.steelers.com/team/player/49230/ Steelers Player Bio]
* [http://www.troy-polamalu.com/stats.php Troy Polamalu] Statistics