lamberts-lost-tooth
10-22-2008, 03:29 AM
Farrior remains Steelers' ageless wonder
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
If football is indeed a young man's game, how come Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior continues to play it so well?
Farrior is 33, making him the third-oldest player on the team (behind Travis Kirschke and Orpheus Roye) and the undisputed leader of the NFL's top-ranked defense for the second year in a row. Farrior's title as defensive captain is anything but ceremonial. He isn't ready for a gold watch.
It's become an annual rite of passage. Once again -- for the fifth time in six years -- Farrior leads the Steelers in tackles. He had a season-high 11 stops in Sunday's win at Cincinnati and has never looked stronger.
Not bad for the No. 8 pick in the 1997 draft. Among first-rounders selected that year, Farrior, cornerback Shawn Springs (No. 3 overall) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (No. 28) are the only defensive players still in the league.
Farrior is the second-oldest linebacker among the NFL's leading tacklers this week. He trails Washington's London Fletcher (who's four months younger than Farrior), Baltimore's Ray Lewis (four months younger) and San Francisco's Takeo Spikes (13 months younger). Only the Cowboys' Zach Thomas (35) is older.
However, none of them is having a better season than Farrior, who starts for a 5-1 team that leads the league in defense.
If winning counts for anything, Farrior should receive serious consideration for his second Pro Bowl. Ironically, his biggest competition for postseason honors may come from two of his teammates.
"We've got a close-knit group in the linebacker room. We definitely all compete against each other. That makes it a lot more fun," Farrior said.
Outside linebacker James Harrison is second in the NFL with 8 1/2 sacks. Harrison has also forced three fumbles.
Harrison is a playmaker. Farrior, with 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble this season, makes plays. It's a subtle difference, but a legitimate one. Sacks are to linebackers what interceptions are to cornerbacks. Interceptions -- and sacks -- translate into Pro Bowl appearances.
Fellow outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley also makes "splash" plays. He's fourth in the league with 7 1/2 sacks. He also has one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Farrior is more steady than spectacular. All he does is line up year after year.
Now going on 13 seasons, Farrior's greatest asset may be his ability to consistently produce at a high level. He has missed a total of four games since joining the Steelers in 2002 as a free agent.
Surely, the leading tackler on the best defense in football should be considered Pro Bowl-worthy this season. If not Farrior, who? If not now, when?
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_594474.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
If football is indeed a young man's game, how come Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior continues to play it so well?
Farrior is 33, making him the third-oldest player on the team (behind Travis Kirschke and Orpheus Roye) and the undisputed leader of the NFL's top-ranked defense for the second year in a row. Farrior's title as defensive captain is anything but ceremonial. He isn't ready for a gold watch.
It's become an annual rite of passage. Once again -- for the fifth time in six years -- Farrior leads the Steelers in tackles. He had a season-high 11 stops in Sunday's win at Cincinnati and has never looked stronger.
Not bad for the No. 8 pick in the 1997 draft. Among first-rounders selected that year, Farrior, cornerback Shawn Springs (No. 3 overall) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (No. 28) are the only defensive players still in the league.
Farrior is the second-oldest linebacker among the NFL's leading tacklers this week. He trails Washington's London Fletcher (who's four months younger than Farrior), Baltimore's Ray Lewis (four months younger) and San Francisco's Takeo Spikes (13 months younger). Only the Cowboys' Zach Thomas (35) is older.
However, none of them is having a better season than Farrior, who starts for a 5-1 team that leads the league in defense.
If winning counts for anything, Farrior should receive serious consideration for his second Pro Bowl. Ironically, his biggest competition for postseason honors may come from two of his teammates.
"We've got a close-knit group in the linebacker room. We definitely all compete against each other. That makes it a lot more fun," Farrior said.
Outside linebacker James Harrison is second in the NFL with 8 1/2 sacks. Harrison has also forced three fumbles.
Harrison is a playmaker. Farrior, with 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble this season, makes plays. It's a subtle difference, but a legitimate one. Sacks are to linebackers what interceptions are to cornerbacks. Interceptions -- and sacks -- translate into Pro Bowl appearances.
Fellow outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley also makes "splash" plays. He's fourth in the league with 7 1/2 sacks. He also has one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Farrior is more steady than spectacular. All he does is line up year after year.
Now going on 13 seasons, Farrior's greatest asset may be his ability to consistently produce at a high level. He has missed a total of four games since joining the Steelers in 2002 as a free agent.
Surely, the leading tackler on the best defense in football should be considered Pro Bowl-worthy this season. If not Farrior, who? If not now, when?
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_594474.html