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Gerry: Troy's Achilles was a problem
THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2011
BY GERRY DULAC
If it looked as though Troy Polamalu was really hurting in the postseason, especially the Super Bowl, it’s because he was.
Sources have told me that Polamalu was playing with an injured Achilles tendon that robbed him of his trademark burst and explosiveness – an injury that occurred on his 45-yard interception return for touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 12.
Despite the injury, Polamalu remained in the Bengals game and even had a second interception in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. But he was never the same after that.
Polamalu missed two games after he injured his Achilles before returning for the season finale against the Cleveland Browns. In that game, Polamalu had an interception on the first series – his seventh of the season – that led to a quick touchdown and began a 41-9 rout of the Browns.
However, in three postseason games, Polamalu did not have an interception and combined for 10 tackles, including only three in the Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers. Polamalu would practice only one day a week – on Fridays – in an attempt to rest his injury and allow him to play in a game.
The good news: Polamalu does not need surgery to repair the problem. He is still getting treatment and rehabbing his injury in Los Angeles and is under the care of an orthopedic surgeon who is friendly with the Steelers medical staff.
Before the Bengals game, Polamalu was already bothered by an injury to the soleus muscle, or calf area, of the same leg. But, during his interception runback, he pulled up just short of the goalline when he injured his Achilles, forcing him to dive for the pylon.
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THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2011
BY GERRY DULAC
If it looked as though Troy Polamalu was really hurting in the postseason, especially the Super Bowl, it’s because he was.
Sources have told me that Polamalu was playing with an injured Achilles tendon that robbed him of his trademark burst and explosiveness – an injury that occurred on his 45-yard interception return for touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 12.
Despite the injury, Polamalu remained in the Bengals game and even had a second interception in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. But he was never the same after that.
Polamalu missed two games after he injured his Achilles before returning for the season finale against the Cleveland Browns. In that game, Polamalu had an interception on the first series – his seventh of the season – that led to a quick touchdown and began a 41-9 rout of the Browns.
However, in three postseason games, Polamalu did not have an interception and combined for 10 tackles, including only three in the Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers. Polamalu would practice only one day a week – on Fridays – in an attempt to rest his injury and allow him to play in a game.
The good news: Polamalu does not need surgery to repair the problem. He is still getting treatment and rehabbing his injury in Los Angeles and is under the care of an orthopedic surgeon who is friendly with the Steelers medical staff.
Before the Bengals game, Polamalu was already bothered by an injury to the soleus muscle, or calf area, of the same leg. But, during his interception runback, he pulled up just short of the goalline when he injured his Achilles, forcing him to dive for the pylon.
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