Randall Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Harrison Wins Defensive Player Of The Year By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) James Harrison slams down the current version of the Steel Curtain better than any Pittsburgh Steeler, earning him The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award. The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league’s stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. “That’s something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year,” Harrison said. “In my mind, I think I do - and it’s going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do.” Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware. Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five and Harrison’s teammate, safety Troy Polamalu, got two. Harrison credited defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s schemes with allowing him, an undrafted free agent from Kent State who was cut several times by Pittsburgh and once by Baltimore, to eventually become a star. “The defense is built to play with 11 guys, and if all 11 guys are on the same page, playing the same defense on the same play, there’s nothing that can go wrong and that’s just how we feel about it,” Harrison said. But fellow linebacker James Farrior, who has seen Harrison develop from a backup to Joey Porter into one of the game’s biggest playmakers, sees Harrison as the key. “His whole attitude about football, I think he works harder than anybody else in this locker room,” Farrior said. “He has a great work ethic. He’s very tuned in to what he has to do to make himself better. That’s all he strives for, to try to be better than anybody else, and you can see his determination when he’s out there on the field. “We’ve got good players on this team, and every team has good players, but he seems to be - this year and last year - making the plays that made the difference in the game.” Harrison is the fifth Steeler to win the award, including three Hall of Famers from the original Steel Curtain: Joe Greene (1974), Mel Blount (1975) and Jack Lambert (1976). In 1993, Rod Woodson was AP Defensive Player of the Year, and he is eligible for the Hall for the first time this year. The Steelers did not allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer in 2008. Harrison didn’t limit his work to that stingy unit, though: Harrison also had 12 special teams tackles. “People said I couldn’t do this or couldn’t do that,” he noted. “I was too short, too slow. Basically, I play and prepare myself in the offseason with the thoughts of what people said I couldn’t do.” And he’s proven he can do just about everything. LINK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 The league should wait until after the post-season to give these type (MVP, POY, ROY HCOY, etc.) of awards. Not saying that Harrison doesn't deserve this, but some players excel in the playoffs and their play should be factored by voters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 The league should wait until after the post-season to give these type (MVP, POY, ROY HCOY, etc.) of awards. Not saying that Harrison doesn't deserve this, but some players excel in the playoffs and their play should be factored by voters. I would have 2 awards regular and post season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pseudolefty Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Well deserved. The guy had an awesome season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 The league should wait until after the post-season to give these type (MVP, POY, ROY HCOY, etc.) of awards. Not saying that Harrison doesn't deserve this, but some players excel in the playoffs and their play should be factored by voters. I disagree. The awards are for the 2008 regular season......not the 2009 postseason......lol. Just because the league's MVP and ROY got knocked out in the first round of playoffs doesn't make what they did during the season any less significant, IMHO. Now.....pro bowl ballots? Done way too early in the season. And I think the ProBowl should just be an honorary thing with all the winners getting together for the week in Hawaii. Maybe having some fun punt, pass, kick sort of competitions. Maybe some bench pressing contests for linemen. Something like those QB competitions. Not an actual game where guys are afraid to get hurt. But I digress......LOL. Congrats James........well done!! Love ya man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Harrison's a beast for sure. Ware got hosed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I had it down to Harrison or Reed and my homer vote would have for sure gone to Harrison but now that I see that he won this award without my homer vote then it confirms what I have been thinking for the past two seasons. Harrison is a beast and for sure earned this award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 very deserving player...a player like Harrison winning this should give many players hope for making a difference in the NFL...harrison was CUT early in his career. Harrison's a beast for sure. Ware got hosed. Ware:84 tackles , 6 forced fumbles, 2 passes defended, 20 sacks and a team record of 9-7 and out of the playoffs Harrison: 101 tackles, 7 forced fumbles , 3 passes defended, 1 INT, 16 sacks and a team record of 12-4 with a 1st round bye in the playoffs The right guy won....Ware had a great year but you cant say Ware got hosed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 very deserving player...a player like Harrison winning this should give many players hope for making a difference in the NFL...harrison was CUT early in his career. did'nt he cut a woman too? I'm just playin'. He's a good choice. However, if the Steeler's missed the playoffs and Dallas had a first round bye, you think Ware woulda won? Records are'nt supposed to matter in these votes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip_Side Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Ed Reed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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