Best of the NFL: AFC North, My Take

Best Overall Defensive Player: Troy Polamalu

Ok, so maybe I am a little biased, because this could really go another way if argued well enough, but as of right now, the NFL agrees with me as well having recently named Troy the NFL defensive Player of the Year in 2011. If I were going to argue against Troy, and for Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens (the obvious second choice for this title), I would point out the fact that Troy has missed significant time in the regular season, and has been injured for some of each of his last three seasons. In the playoffs in 2010, Troy was largely a non-factor, coming off a debilitating knee injuring that culminated in his re-injuring it against the Bengals (the same game he picked Palmer twice and returned one for a touchdown).

All that being said, Troy can single-handedly take over a game at any moment, and he usually does it at the most opportune moment (ie, in the playoffs against the Ravens he pick sixed Flacco to ice the game. Game 1 last season he picked VY in the endzone when the were driving to make the game close. etc). Literally at any moment he could strike and every QB in the league knows this and fears him for that reason. He could blitz, or he could hang in the shadows. Just the fact that he is on the field, regardless of how he plays when injured, is enough to alter the entire game plan of another QB. It is for that reason that I chose Troy over Ed Reed of the Ravens. He’s one of the most athletic players in the NFL, and comes up with the most dynamic plays at the most important times. There is no other player in the NFL that fits that description.