It’s the final edition of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Modern-Era team, presented by Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola. Only the safeties were left to judge and you’ve probably already figured out the selections. Lets get to it.
Safety: Carnell Lake – “In 10 seasons with the Steelers, Lake appeared in 154 games and started all of them. He finished with 16 interceptions, 26 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries. He was voted to five Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 1997.”
Troy Polamalu – “He was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, an honor capping a three-season span in which he recorded 17 interceptions in 35 starts for a defense that finished No. 1, No. 5, and No. 2 in the NFL. In the 2008 AFC Championship Game, his pick-six stuck a dagger in the Ravens with four minutes left to send the Steelers to the Super Bowl and also clinch a 3-0 sweep of a Baltimore team that had lost only two other games all season.”
There’s no conceivable way for someone to take issue with these two picks. And I won’t attempt to make that case. But if we are beginning from 1992, Lake’statistics have to be adjusted accordingly. His tackles drop heavily from 677 to 457, his interceptions from 16 to 14, and forced fumbles from 15 to 11.
Compare that to a player like Darren Perry and the latter has more than double the interceptions, 32, and only nine fewer tackles in a Steelers’ uniform. I’m just saying.
Agree or disagree with the list? Later today, we’ll recap and post the entire Modern-Era team to be judged one last time.
