"At 30 years old, Troy Polamalu is playing as well as ever. The Pittsburgh Steelers safety has been banged up in recent years, but his performance hasn't suffered.

Just ask coach Bill Belichick.

"Wasn't he the defensive player of the year last year? You're making it sound like he doesn't do anything. He's one of the top defensive players in the league," Belichick said yesterday as the Patriots get set to travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Sunday. "He's a dynamic player that can affect any play that you run — run or pass, inside, outside, short, deep."