Former Pittsburgh Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu waves to fans and supporters on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Canton, Ohio along the route of the 2021 Canton Repository Grand Parade. Polamalu has recovered from a bout with COVID-19 and will attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions. Polamalu, a member of the class of 2020, has been at home since late last month and his status for the enshrinement ceremony had been in doubt. But he was cleared medically to travel to Canton and he took part in the Hall of Fame parade in the morning.
FILE – In this Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 file photo, Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, from left, Rickey Medlocke, Gary Rossington and Ean Evans, practice at the Jacksonville Production Studio in Jacksonville, Fla. for their Saturday performance as part of the Super Bowl concert series. Lynyrd Skynyrd has pulled out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame concert after guitarist Rickey Medlocke tested positive for COVID-19, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. The band was set to co-headline the concert Monday night with Brad Paisley. According to a band statement, Medlocke’s positive test forced the group’s withdrawal.
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The Latest on the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions on Saturday:
The premise that Troy Polamalu was a freelance safety who ignored his assignments has some truth to it.
The bigger truth is that Polamalu made plays regardless of the scheme and defensive call, and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers defenders understood — and were thrilled he did so.
Polamalu has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 12-season career filled with spectacular performances, leadership and, well, winning.
The 16th overall draft pick in 2003 from Southern California, he played in three Super Bowls, winning two, and made the NFL’s 2000s Team of the Decade.
Mentioning what drove him to such a great career, he talked about the “willingness to push beyond what the brain says is possible for the body. Football challenged me mentally, physically and spiritually. I had to succeed to quench this desire.”
Had Jimbo Covert remained a defensive lineman, which he played early in his college career at Pitt, he might never have reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But Covert, who has been inducted into the shrine as part of the centennial class, was switched to the offensive line while in school. He blossomed at tackle for Chicago and in his eight pro seasons was considered as good as any blocker in the NFL. Indeed, Covert pretty much manhandled Lawrence Taylor in their three meetings. Did anyone else manage that?