Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush

mesaSteeler · 10-07-2009, 11:11 PM

Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...s_646983.html#
By Mark Kaboly
Daily News Sports Editor
Thursday, October 8, 2009

Ryan Clark is one of Troy Polamalu's closest friends.

And as one of his closest friends, Clark felt obligated to offer Polamalu some sound advice.

"I don't want him to (play Sunday against Detroit)," Clark said.

Clark is worried that the artificial surface at Ford Field will do more damage to Polamalu's recovering knee if his friend decides to play Sunday when the Steelers visit the Lions.

"I tore my PCL a few years ago, and (turf) is just tough to run on," Clark said. "It is a pounding. Some of them aren't very fluffy. Me personally, I would rather have him for the last 10 (games) or the last stretch rather than have him come out and injure himself again and set himself back."

Polamalu hasn't played since injuring his left knee during the second quarter of the season opener more than a month ago. At the time, he was said to need 3-6 weeks to heal. Today will be four weeks to the day that he sprained his MCL while trying to recover a blocked Rob Bironas field goal attempt.

Polamalu practiced Wednesday for the first time since his injury as he went through individual drills and a small portion of the team session with a bulky knee brace on his leg.

Polamalu isn't sure if he will try to play Sunday.

"It's tough telling," Polamalu said. "I haven't really gotten any practice reps. Also, practice isn't very similar to playing in a game."

Polamalu said that the fact the Steelers play on artificial turf isn't a determining factor if he will play, even though he had some negative history on the surface in the past. He hurt his knee on the turf at the Meadowlands two years ago against the N.Y. Jets and was lost for three weeks.

"Right now, we'll just see how it feels practicing on the grass," Polamalu said. "We'll cross that bridge (of playing in turf) when we get there."

The Steelers will play on an artificial surface only one more time this season when they travel to Baltimore seven weeks from now.

Receiver Shaun McDonald played two years in Detroit and believes Ford Field has one of the league's better artificial surfaces.

"All turf is kind of bad for your knees, but I kind of liked it," McDonald said. "It is not that bad. It is pretty good turf."

After Detroit on Sunday, the Steelers host Cleveland and Minnesota before having a bye. Polamalu could want to wait until the Nov. 9 game in Denver for his return, but that could be a stretch.

Hines Ward thinks Polamalu is close to returning. Ward suffered the same injury as Polamalu during the AFC Championship game last year and was able to make it back in two weeks for the Super Bowl.

"I am concerned about his safety more than anything else," Ward said.

Polamalu just started to run on his injured knee a week ago.

"Troy is a competitor," Clark said, "and if he can come back this week, he will."

Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.

stlrtruck · 10-08-2009, 07:31 AM

I'd wouldn't mind him sitting out this week or only being used sparingly to get the rust off.

Slick93 · 10-08-2009, 07:52 AM

I wouldn't mind seeing him rest this week either. It's like Clark said, I'd rather him play the last 10 weeks of the season. I don't doubt for a second that he'll be a vital piece coming down the stretch this season. Plus, this is the Lions, if they can't handle them w/o Troy somethings wrong.

SteelCurtain · 10-08-2009, 08:24 AM

Sit him the next two weeks...We don't need him until the Vikings game. He doesn't need to reaggravate or worsen the injury

Polamalufan117 · 10-08-2009, 07:37 PM

Well honestly I dont think that he would have much problems if he does play Detroit
I mean it is Detriot

HometownGal · 10-08-2009, 08:08 PM

Good advice by Clark which I think the majority of us agree on around here.

Better safe than sorry I say. No need to rush back this week.

10-07-2009, 11:11 PM	#1
mesaSteeler A Son of Martha Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 7,976 Gender: Male Member Number: 10438 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...s_646983.html# By Mark Kaboly Daily News Sports Editor Thursday, October 8, 2009 Ryan Clark is one of Troy Polamalu's closest friends. And as one of his closest friends, Clark felt obligated to offer Polamalu some sound advice. "I don't want him to (play Sunday against Detroit)," Clark said. Clark is worried that the artificial surface at Ford Field will do more damage to Polamalu's recovering knee if his friend decides to play Sunday when the Steelers visit the Lions. "I tore my PCL a few years ago, and (turf) is just tough to run on," Clark said. "It is a pounding. Some of them aren't very fluffy. Me personally, I would rather have him for the last 10 (games) or the last stretch rather than have him come out and injure himself again and set himself back." Polamalu hasn't played since injuring his left knee during the second quarter of the season opener more than a month ago. At the time, he was said to need 3-6 weeks to heal. Today will be four weeks to the day that he sprained his MCL while trying to recover a blocked Rob Bironas field goal attempt. Polamalu practiced Wednesday for the first time since his injury as he went through individual drills and a small portion of the team session with a bulky knee brace on his leg. Polamalu isn't sure if he will try to play Sunday. "It's tough telling," Polamalu said. "I haven't really gotten any practice reps. Also, practice isn't very similar to playing in a game." Polamalu said that the fact the Steelers play on artificial turf isn't a determining factor if he will play, even though he had some negative history on the surface in the past. He hurt his knee on the turf at the Meadowlands two years ago against the N.Y. Jets and was lost for three weeks. "Right now, we'll just see how it feels practicing on the grass," Polamalu said. "We'll cross that bridge (of playing in turf) when we get there." The Steelers will play on an artificial surface only one more time this season when they travel to Baltimore seven weeks from now. Receiver Shaun McDonald played two years in Detroit and believes Ford Field has one of the league's better artificial surfaces. "All turf is kind of bad for your knees, but I kind of liked it," McDonald said. "It is not that bad. It is pretty good turf." After Detroit on Sunday, the Steelers host Cleveland and Minnesota before having a bye. Polamalu could want to wait until the Nov. 9 game in Denver for his return, but that could be a stretch. Hines Ward thinks Polamalu is close to returning. Ward suffered the same injury as Polamalu during the AFC Championship game last year and was able to make it back in two weeks for the Super Bowl. "I am concerned about his safety more than anything else," Ward said. Polamalu just started to run on his injured knee a week ago. "Troy is a competitor," Clark said, "and if he can come back this week, he will." Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.

10-08-2009, 07:31 AM	#2
stlrtruck THE PRINCESS' Daddy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 8,783 Gender: Male Member Number: 2398 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush I'd wouldn't mind him sitting out this week or only being used sparingly to get the rust off. __________________ 60 Minutes, 53 Men, 6 Trophies,1 NATION. . .STEELERS NATION!!! Sig courtesy of STEELAX04

10-08-2009, 07:52 AM	#3
Slick93 Water Boy Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 32 Gender: Male Member Number: 14947 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush I wouldn't mind seeing him rest this week either. It's like Clark said, I'd rather him play the last 10 weeks of the season. I don't doubt for a second that he'll be a vital piece coming down the stretch this season. Plus, this is the Lions, if they can't handle them w/o Troy somethings wrong.

10-08-2009, 08:24 AM	#4
SteelCurtain Bench Warmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Steeler Country Posts: 153 Gender: Male Member Number: 571 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush Sit him the next two weeks...We don't need him until the Vikings game. He doesn't need to reaggravate or worsen the injury __________________ Last edited by SteelCurtain; 10-08-2009 at 08:34 AM.

10-08-2009, 07:37 PM	#5
Polamalufan117 Water Boy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Naples,Florida Posts: 8 Gender: Male Member Number: 14209 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush Well honestly I dont think that he would have much problems if he does play Detroit I mean it is Detriot

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10-08-2009, 08:08 PM	#6
HometownGal Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Burgh Posts: 21,479 Gender: Female Member Number: 2413 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Teammate Clark to Polamalu: Don't rush Good advice by Clark which I think the majority of us agree on around here. Better safe than sorry I say. No need to rush back this week. __________________ The Anti-Wahoo

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