Troy Polamalu graced the Sports Illustrated cover November, 2005

Troy Polamalu just became the highest paid safety in the NFL, reports ESPN senior writer John Clayton. Polamalu, who has played with the Pittsburgh Steelers the past four years, would have been up for free agency after this upcoming season. Well, there was no way the Steelers were going to let this fish get away. Not even if it cost $33 million to keep him. Polamalu doesn’t have to worry about standing in the unemployment line any more, at least not through 2011.

According to Clayton:

Re-signing Polamalu was one of the keys to the season. The fifth-year safety is ranked among the best at his position in football for range and play-making ability. In four seasons, he has 301 tackles and 10 interceptions, but few safeties do what Polamalu can do.

He’s a tireless runner. Often, Polamalu will run from his position to the line of scrimmage and then run all the way back to his safety spot to confuse quarterbacks. When the ball is in the air, few safeties can move as quickly as Polamalu to be in position to make a play.

Polamalu, a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2003 out of USC, hasn’t missed a game in four seasons. As a rookie, he quickly established himself as one of the best defensive players in the league.

The versatile Polamalu was a beast at USC, a rare combination of strength, vision, speed and smarts. He still has an uncanny ability to read the quarterback, anticipate direction, often finding the ball before the receivers. It wasn’t only his impressive Trojan stats, (281 tackles, 17 deflections, 6 interceptions, 3 touchdowns *usctrojans.com) but Polamalu’s trademark hair that made him a memorable character. His long black hair escaping from the back of his helmet, for opponents, would seem akin to a shark’s fin. By the time you see it, it’s already too late. Polamalu’s going to clamp down…leaving you flat on the field and gasping for air before you even know what hit you.

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