A noticeable absence this past weekend

For the 10 year anniversary of Super Bowl XL, they had a big dinner at Heinz Field on Friday or Saturday to celebrate. The guys were also at the game- and they all went out onto the field.
Some guys couldn't make the dinner but made the game & some guys made the game but not the dinner. Hines Ward & Bill Cowher couldn't make it since they were working as analysts- but they sent video messages. The person who didn't show up for any of it...
Troy Polamalu.
Maybe he was busy- I don't know. Maybe he's just angry with the Steelers for not giving him another year. What do yinz think?

 

Maybe it was his hair washing day.

 

I don't see Troy as being a hateful angry person. Probably just thought that once he steps away from the game he won't be involved in it from then on out and will put his efforts else where.

Lambert did the same thing.

 

I think your going to see a lot of Jack Lambert in Troy. He might come around every once in a great while. But, I think he is a guy who enjoys other things such as his family that he doesn't find the need to go back.

I remember watching America's Game for superbowl XLIII. I think he said I don't know if I love football, but I love life and football is a part of life, so therefore I guess I love football.

 

I think Troy is a quiet soul, despite his alter ego game playing self. I think he knows as well as the fans know that he could have contributed again this year, that it was'nt the time to go and with being pushed out the way he was he may be taking the silent approach to making this known to the front office.

 

I read an article that says he was upset with the way he was let go. It could be worse thought. He could have went out like Manning is going out. Poor play and being benched for a nobody. You'd think some of these guys would want to leave the game with their pride still intact. Besides Hines exit went down just like Troy's but Hines did send a video message.

 

I read that same article yesterday. I hope he comes around and realizes that things worked out for the best???? Time will only tell.

 

Maybe he was too busy studying Chinese!

 

While Troy's reasons for not attending are his own there really doesn't need to be a nefarious reason for not being at the 10th anniversary celebration. He had a scheduling conflict as he was honoring a commitment he made to college football. Check out his Facebook page for Saturday and he was out of town.

 

He's definitely mad, I think it's a combination of how him and LeBeau were let go. I think both of them were given their couple of years where they weren't the best option but the organization stayed loyal. Maybe the team failed to express that.

 

Well I don't know but his twitter page says that this past Sunday he was at a event where he hung out with fans, and watched football. So if that is true, it was just a prior commitment.....right ?

 

Hines and Bill Cowher were both busy working but they thought enough of the team, fans and former teammates to send messages. It just seems disrespectful to the people who made him wealthy beyond belief.

 

Seriously? What about Porter and Kimo then? Are they disrespecting the fans too?

 

I assumed Porter was there since he's with the team now. Kimo? Eh don't care. But Troy was the face of this defense for a long time. He should have done something.

 

Did you inform him of this? I don't feel disrespected in the least.

 

Neither do I. The guy poured his heart onto the field for us for over 10 years while likely suffering some kind of lasting disabilities. The three Super Bowls he helped us get to also excuse him to be as much of a recluse as he wants to be.

 

This. Ben just said he was out of town on his radio show.

 

Its very possible he is upset with the FO. After all most Elite Athletes seem to fail to see their diminishing skillset or at least acknowledge it as much as others do. Also it means a significant drop in income from salary to endorsements. Also he was quite close to LeBeau and may fell a bit angry on how he was let go.

Also it seems he had a commitment to an endorser.....

It could be a combination of things and honestly I hope time heals wounds and Troy doesn't become the modern day version of Bradshaw.

Cajun

 

Disagree! He made himself wealthy with his skills and earned every penny AFAIAC.

 

Troy is not revengeful...he loves God,Family,and his Brothers that went to battle with him during his football career. What troy isn't...is a flashy guy...he don't like all the hupla

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure Jim Wexell came on the radio when Troy announced retiring and said as much. Wex had some one-on-one interview with him. He said basically Troy isn't coming around for the reunion stuff, at least for a couple years.

All athletes have egos... Troy is not different. His pride is hurt, but really he should get over it... life is too short.

 

I was listening to 93.7 The Fan and Bouchette did say that Troy wasn't very happy with the way the Steelers ended it. I love Troy - first jersey I bought for my kids - but that last year he was a shell of his former self. Some have said we should have brought him back but not at what they were paying him. I think Mitchell is playing with greater comfort and feels more freedom playing the FS position without Troy in the lineup.

I also don't think Troy owes it to the organization to be at the event, but I hope he will come back more over time.

 

There was an interview with him at the end of last season where he was asked if he would come back. He said yes, for the guys.
Maybe he was out of town- maybe he would've showed up if he was here, maybe he wouldn't have. He's not a hateful man. I don't think he's mad but I do think he's upset about the way he was treated and honestly- I don't blame him.
I know people aren't gonna agree with this. I know that the NFL is a business & the players are basically employees. But there are a lot of businesses who are loyal to the employees that are loyal to them. I know that Troy was losing a step- but I think he was just trying too hard. He also didn't have the help he did before in Ryan Clark. They should've given him one last year, maybe in a more limited role. He could've worked with the younger guys. Really, what's the worst that would've happened if he did stay for another season? He would've missed a few tackles? Then he would've been like everyone else on our defense.

 

Troy has always said that he didn't want football to define him and I honestly have always felt like that he would just be one of those dudes that rides off in to the sunset.

 

I have listened a lot to SteelersDepot and.they are pretty straight and not over the line and one thing they said is Troy was not the guy who would take a pay cut and not one to take a second banana type of role. The organization didn't really have much of a choice and they were doing everything they could to give Troy as much time as possible to make a decision.

When you have played at the heights guys like Troy and Hines Ward have it is hard to face reality that your time has come. We are probably seeing the last season for Peyton Manning and it doesn't look too good.