All-time Pittsburgh Steelers great safety Troy Polamalu is hanging it up after a 12-year career, the Uniontown Herald-Standard reported Thursday night.
Polamalu has never played for a team other than the Steelers and, if he hadn’t retired, he could have faced being cut in a salary cap move. Polamalu had lost a step over the last couple of seasons, but was still one of the top safeties in the game. Last year Polamalu recorded 61 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defense, but missed four games due to injuries. It was only the second time in his career that he didn’t pick off a pass.
“Since the end of the season, I’ve had a chance to enjoy my family on a level that I never had before,” Polamalu told the paper. “It was awesome. Thank God football has provided me the ability to be able to sit back and see what the options are, but I’ll definitely be the best father that I can.”
Congrats to my man @tpolamalu on a HOF career! It was an honor to play with you! And to think he's even a better guy off the field!
— Bruce Gradkowski (@bgradkowski5) April 10, 2015
The Steelers found out about Polamalu’s decision Wednesday night. He retires with two years left on his contract. Polamalu finished tied for seventh in Steelers history with 32 career interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl eight times, was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and picked up a couple of Super Bowl Championships along the way.
Troy Polamalu: one of the greatest @Steelers of all-time. pic.twitter.com/5V2Va3wo12
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 10, 2015
Polamalu was drafted out of USC in the first round back in 2003. While Polamalu ultimately stepped away from the game to spend more time with his family, the talent level of the current Pittsburgh squad nearly had him coming back for another year.
“Part of the reason I wanted to come back was they’re talented, they’re really talented,” Polamalu said. “I think it’s an exciting time to be a Steeler. I do know one thing is that (only) talent doesn’t win Super Bowls. There has to be another component there. I do think the team next year can be really successful. How successful only time will tell.”
The charismatic 34-year-old has put plenty of extra money in the bank through endorsements and will likely find nothing blocking his path to a TV gig, either in the booth or on a pregame show next season.
Le’Veon Bell suspended for three games
The Steelers got some more tough news Thursday when they were notified that starting running back Le’Veon Bell will be suspended for three games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension for Bell is no surprise, especially after LeGarrette Blount’s one-game ban was announced two days ago.
Bell and Blount were both in the car together, with Bell driving, when they were pulled over by police and found with three-fourths of an ounce of marijuana in the car. Bell is appealing the suspension, but that is probably just for show because it seems pretty cut and dried, especially after receiving 15-months probation in a first-offender’s program in February.
If NFL does match Steelers vs. Patriots in Thursday opener, PITT would be without Le'Veon Bell and NE would be without LeGarrette Blount.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 9, 2015
Bell is beginning his third season with the Steelers after a break-out 2014 campaign. He gained 1,361 yards and scored eight touchdowns, with 83 catches for 864 yards and three touchdowns receiving, amounting to 32.8 percent of the Steeelers’ offense. Bell missed Pittsburgh’s playoff game with an injury and it contributed to their 30-17 defeat by the Ravens in the Wild Card round.
Colts pick up fifth-year option on Luck
In what has to be the ultimate no-brainer decision for the Indianapolis Colts, Thursday they announced they had picked up the fifth-year contract option for quarterback Andrew Luck, for the 2016 season that will pay him $16.15 million. Not only was it an easy call, because there’s no way they’ll not keep luck on the roster for the next decade, but at a little over $16 million it will be a tremendous bargain, considering it’ll likely take $120 million to sign him long term after that.
Indianapolis will put that decision off a while at least, with owner Jim Irsay reportedly saying they’ll work on his extension after the 2015 season during last month’s owners meetings in Phoenix, Ariz.
#TBT with Andrew Luck. #ColtsDraft http://t.co/Zig4aVrLGf
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 9, 2015
Luck is about to begin his fourth season and has been nothing short of incredible in his time in the league, leading the Colts to the playoffs all three seasons. Last year was his best, with 4,781 yards passing with 40 touchdowns and 16 picks. Luck has wheels too, rushing for 273 yards and three scores, which happens to be a career-low in rushing touchdowns for him.
Other moves
The Carolina Panthers added former Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman to a one-year, $3.05 million contract. The Panthers are only the second team the 13-year veteran corner has played for in his career.
The Cleveland Browns signed 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end Rob Housler to a one-year deal. The former Arizona Cardinal only caught nine passes last season.
The New York Jets added former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley to their backfield. Ridley joins Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell as New York’s running backs and is the only one of the three to have a 1,000-yard season in the NFL. Ridley rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012.
