Pittsburgh Steelers’ Troy Polamalu healthy now, but it doesn’t matter
By Matt Shetler
It’s always good news when we hear the words Troy Polamalu and healthy being talked about in the same sentence, which is exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers safety has proclaimed himself.
But the sad part of that is it really doesn’t matter how Polamalu feels in June.
Jun 11, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) looks on during minicamp at the UPMC Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The past few seasons have been so bad for Polamalu in terms of injuries that it has become a realistic thought now that the Steelers could end up parting ways with the multiple time Pro-Bowler in the near future.
The truth of the matter is that it really doesn’t matter how well Polamalu feels right now, until he shows he is capable of making it through a 16 game NFL season.
That’s an opinion that Polamalu echoes.
"“Standing right here, I feel good. But it’s really irrelevant how I feel now. What’s important is how I feel 16 games through the football season,” Polamalu told Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com."
Polamalu had a disappointing 2012, suffering a calf injury in Week 1, aggravating that injury when he tried to return in Week 4, ultimately missing most of the season before finally returning in Week 13.
Injuries are becoming habit for Polamalu the last few years, leading one to wonder if he will ever be able to stay healthy again for an entire season.
Hopefully the safety has taken a different approach to how he prepares for the season and even how he practices.
Because the bottom line is that the Steelers need Polamalu, who has missed 22 games in the last four seasons, to be ready on Sunday’s in the fall, regardless of how good he feels in the summer.