October 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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As expected, safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice on Friday and will start in Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field. Polamau credited coach Mike Tomlin with holding him out of the week's first two practices so he could rest his knee. Polamalu missed four games because of a sprained knee. "We were just taking it day-to-day," Polamalu said. "The game plan was not to practice (early). It was important to go into the game healthy. I feel good. I think it was a good decision by coach Tomlin." • After running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker lost fumbles in the third quarter, Mewelde Moore was inserted into the lineup in the fourth quarter against ..."
October 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice today and declared himself ready for Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field. "I feel better, actually (than last week)," Polamalu said. Coach Mike Tomlin said Polamalu, who returned to the lineup against Cleveland after missing four games with a knee injury, would be limited early in the week. Polamalu missed the first two days of practice. "We were just taking it day-to-day. The game plan was not to practice (early)," Polamalu said. "It was important to go into the game healthy. I think it was a good decision by coach Tomlin.""
October 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he is pleased with how Troy Polamalu's left knee responded following the strong safety's first game since Sept. 10. Polamalu gave Steelers fans a scare last Sunday when he came up limping after making a first-quarter interception against the Browns. Tomlin said it had nothing to do Polamalu's original injury. "He banged his knee on the ground so really it was something separate from the injury he sustained weeks ago and that created the situation where he hobbled a little bit the rest of the day," Tomlin said Tuesday. "His presence is significant and we're glad to have him back out there." Tomlin said the Steelers may limit Polamalu in practice this week but ..."
October 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Wearing a left-knee brace, Troy Polamalu practiced again Thursday. How much the brace or the injury that has sidelined the All-Pro safety for more than a month limits him Sunday remains to be seen. Polamalu, who sprained his knee in the Steelers' season opener on Sept. 10, said he won't know until he gets in a game how his knee will hold up. He added that his knee responded favorably to the full practice he went through Wednesday. "Everything went well," Polamalu said. • Defensive end Travis Kirschke (back), James Farrior (elbow), guard Trai Essex (ankle) and outside linebacker Andre Frazier all returned to practice yesterday after missing drills Wednesday because of injuries. Kirschke is ..."
October 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers safety Troy Polamalu participated in a full practice for the first time since injuring his knee during the first half of the first week of the season and is expected to play Sunday against Cleveland. "We are excited to have him back," safety Ryan Clark said. "Me and TP will be back there this week, so hopefully you will leave us alone about it the rest of the year." Polamalu said he had an earlier date circled for when he expected to return. "I was hoping to return a couple of weeks earlier," Polamalu said. "I guess I was overly optimistic." Polamalu just began to practice last week on a limited basis. "With time, I was able to heal a little bit more," Polamalu said. "It will be ..."
October 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Strong safety Troy Polamalu and running back Willie Parker are scheduled to practice today. Both are on track to play Sunday barring any setbacks this week. Polamalu has missed the past four games because of a sprained knee, and turf toe has sidelined Parker for the past two Steelers' games. "It will be interesting to see how they respond Thursday after having a day's work," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. Among the Steelers players who will be limited in practice today because of injuries are right guard Trai Essex (ankle), defensive end Travis Kirschke (back) and linebacker Andre Frazier (thigh). • Tomlin said it is too early to tell how the Steelers will use Rashard Mendenhall and ..."
October 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Strong safety Troy Polamalu and running back Willie Parker could return to action Sunday but the Steelers are expected to be without defensive end Aaron Smith when they host the Browns. And Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Smith may be out for an extended period of time because of a shoulder injury he sustained in last Sunday's 28-20 win over the Lions. "Potentially could be significant," Tomlin said of Smith's injury. If Smith is unable to play Sunday the Steelers will use a rotation of Travis Kirschke, Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason, Tomlin said."
October 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Strong safety Troy Polamalu and running back Willie Parker didn't play in the Steelers' 28-20 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday because of injuries. Polamalu, who hasn't played since spraining his left knee Sept. 10, could return next week when the Steelers host the Browns. He practiced on a limited basis last week. When asked for anon Polamalu's health after the Steelers improved to 3-2, coach Mike Tomlin said, "I'll let you know Tuesday." Parker missed his second consecutive game because of turf toe. The two-time Pro Bowler said he is not sure if he will be able to play against the Browns. "It's too early to talk about that right now," Parker said. "We're definitely taking it day by ..."
October 11
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu will miss his fourth consecutive game because of a sprained left knee. The Steelers will also be without starting running back Willie Parker (turf toe) today when they play the Lions at 1 p.m. Detroit will start Daunte Culpepper over Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Stafford, the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft, hurt his knee last Sunday and will serve as the Lions' emergency quarterback today. Limas Sweed will get another opportunity to work his way back into the good graces of the Steelers' coaching staff. Sweed, and not Shaun McDonald, will serve as the Steelers' No. 4 wide receiver today."
October 10
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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What safety Troy Polamalu wants and what coach Mike Tomlin decides regarding Polamalu's playing status are probably two different things. After practicing for the third consecutive day, Polamalu declared himself ready for Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Detroit Lions. However, Polamalu, who has been out since he sprained his knee against Tennessee on Sept. 10, is listed as doubtful on the injury report. "It was really good to be out there practicing. I feel pretty good,'' Polamalu said Friday. If it were up to him, Polamalu said he would play Sunday. "Yes. No question," he said. Polamalu also understands that it's a long season, and Tomlin has the final say. "I don't know if coach ..."
October 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Ryan Clark is one of Troy Polamalu's closest friends. And as one of his closest friends, Clark felt obligated to offer Polamalu some sound advice. "I don't want him to (play Sunday against Detroit)," Clark said. Clark is worried that the artificial surface at Ford Field will do more damage to Polamalu's recovering knee if his friend decides to play Sunday when the Steelers visit the Lions. "I tore my PCL a few years ago, and (turf) is just tough to run on," Clark said. "It is a pounding. Some of them aren't very fluffy. Me personally, I would rather have him for the last 10 (games) or the last stretch rather than have him come out and injure himself again and set himself back." Polamalu ..."
October 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said safety Troy Polamalu could return to practice today, albeit on a limited basis, to test his injured left knee. Polamalu left in the second quarter of the Sept. 10 opener against the Tennessee Titans and has missed the past three games. "Troy's been doing well and progressing well," Tomlin said. "He may participate in a limited basis (today) in practice with a brace on for individual (drills), to see how he runs around and changes direction. Last week, he ran some in a straight line to pretty solid reviews." Tomlin called Polamalu's participation for Sunday's game at the Detroit Lions "unclear at this point" and said it will be up to team doctors. "We'll take ..."
October 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Troy Polamalu, who has missed the past three games with a left knee injury, could return to practice Tuesday on a limited basis but isn't sure whether the All-Pro safety will play Sunday at Detroit. "Troy's been doing well and progressing well," Tomlin said. "He may participate in a limited basis tomorrow in practice with a brace on for individual (drills), to see how he runs around and changes direction. Last week, he ran some in a straight line to pretty solid reviews. We'll take another step to see where he is. "What that means to his game participation is unclear at this point. We'll get him back out there on the practice field and see how he responds to ..."
October 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist Kevin Gorman
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Troy Polamalu has developed a cult following here and throughout the NFL for his long, curly locks and Tasmanian Devil-style of play. It shouldn't have taken a natural disaster in his homeland for us to ask about Polamalu's bond with his Samoan heritage. Not until the 8.0-magnitude earthquake and three ensuing tsunami tidal waves that killed 168 people in the South Pacific this past week did we bother to explore the background of the superstar safety, already one of the Steelers' all-time greats. For once, we should not worry about the status of his injured left knee and treat Polamalu as a person instead of a cartoon hero. Polamalu was born in California and raised in Oregon, but comes ..."
September 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers could be without one of its top defensive playmakers for most of the first half of the season. But the team and strong safety Troy Polamalu received good news Monday when they learned that the five-time Pro Bowler won't need surgery on the left knee he hurt in the Steelers' 13-10 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans last Thursday. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Polamalu had sprained his medial collateral ligament and would miss three to six weeks, and the prognosis hasn't gotten any worse. "Regarding an injury to the knee," Polamalu said, "this is the best-case scenario. There's no question I'm very blessed that this scenario has come about rather than ..."
January 28
Houston Chronicle
columnist Richard Justice
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Troy Polamalu speaks so softly that he barely can be heard. He’s unfailingly polite and most passionate on topics like faith and trust and teamwork. He’s a man of humility and service, says fatherhood has changed him more than fame and fortune ever could. His locker could pass for a religious shrine. If you listen to him long enough, if you get close and really listen, you could convince yourself that this Troy Polamalu, so gentle and thoughtful, can’t be that other Troy Polamalu. That other one might be the NFL’s most violent player. He punishes wide receivers, nails ball carriers, throws his body through the air. He’s a YouTube star with his flying hair and diving interceptions and ..."
October 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Despite sustaining his seventh football-related concussion in the Steelers' 38-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, strong safety Troy Polamalu is expected to play Sunday against the New York Giants at Heinz Field. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said results from tests the four-time Pro Bowler has taken since last Sunday are "favorable at this point." Polamalu, he said, will try to practice today. "As of right now we anticipate him playing (against the Giants)," Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Concussions were an issue for Polamalu even before the Steelers took him in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He had five in high school and college. This is the second one the ..."
May 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist John Harris
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Legitimate concern about strong safety Troy Polamalu's physical well-being is why the Steelers are permitting him to work out on his own in California while his teammates participate in organized team activities... Organized team activities are voluntary, but most players attend. Some Steelers have missed voluntary workouts for personal reasons, but Tomlin is apparently comfortable with Polamalu staying away from the team until training camp opens in late July because he's unable to practice -- even though the foundation for training camp begins with OTAs."