Bart Scott: “But to mention Troy Polamalu in the same breath as Ed Reed? To me, it’s disrespectful.”

Troy Polamalu in action
Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers

… disrespectful to whom? To Troy?

My first question was this: Is Bart Scott in the NFL of Fame? I remember his name as being associated with the Baltimore Ravens, but a star?

I did not even bother to look at his stats or his bio. I did remember that he was on the field when we beat the Ravens to advance to the 2009 Super Bowl. 

And guess who put the final nail in the Ravens’ coffin? Troy Polamalu picked off a Joe Flacco pass and returned it for a touchdown. 

Now, “Big Mouth Bart” is saying that Polamalu, who was elected to the Hall of Fame the first time he was eligible, does not belong in the same wing of the HF in which a former Raven is,

“Troy Polamalu is very deserving of going to the Hall of Fame,” Scott said. “But to mention Troy Polamalu in the same breath as Ed Reed? To me, it’s disrespectful.”

Tim Benz, Tribune-Review, Aug. 3, 2020

As Benz notes,

No, Bart. The only thing disrespectful was that comment.

Tim Benz, Tribune-Review, Aug. 3, 2020

The statement was made on a podcast by Adam Lefkoe for Bleacher Report, and Lefkoe was incredulous at the statement. 

Both safeties, but played different roles

The truth is that Polamalu was a strong safety who was so versatile that he did not simply sit back and play “ball hawk” as Reed, a free safety, did very well, playing what I used to call “center field” when I was teaching high school safeties. 

As Benz notes,

Reed and Polamalu both played “safety,” but their responsibilities were entirely different. 

Reed played much deeper in coverage and was more of a ball hawk. Polamalu could do that, too. But he also played the middle third of the field and had more responsibilities in the rush game and blitzing.

Tim Benz, Tribune-Review, Aug. 3, 2020

Reed was outstanding, but not in a “different class”

I agree with Benz’s conclusion,

[W]hen he conflates that stance by deflating Polamalu’s status compared to Reed’s by inferring there are “different wings of the Hall of Fame,” that’s where he’s losing me.

I mean, Scott was making it sound like Ryan Clark was as much responsible for Polamalu’s success as the other way around.

What planet is he on?

It appears as if Scott is suggesting Reed is at a different level of achievement or class for what he was asked to do, than how Polamalu should be perceived for what he did.

And that’s insane. But let’s face it, we know what Scott is mad about.

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It's #NationalHairDay, so it's only right we drop a Troy Polamalu highlight.

Jan. 18, 2009: The @steelers safety sealed a Super Bowl berth with a pick-six in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game. @tpolamalu

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Tim Benz, Tribune-Review, Aug. 3, 2020


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