Honors, awards may await several Steelers at season’s end
PITTSBURGH – Halfway through a 16-game schedule seems like as good a time as any to size up the Steelers. Several players are lining themselves up for numerous post-season awards and honors. There is nothing surprising about that, given that the team is coming off an(other) AFC championship game appearance. But some of the names are surprising, such as quarterback Tommy Maddox.
Who would have thought before a game was played this season that Maddox would be a very strong candidate for NFL comeback player of the year?
Of course, eight games remain and Maddox must continue his storybook climb back into the NFL spotlight, but at the midway point, he appears to be in a dead-heat with Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe for that honor. The only other player on the radar screen is Miami running back Robert Edwards and he’s only Ricky Williams’ backup with the Dolphins.
Maddox, of course, has gone from first-round draft choice to insurance salesman to the sixth-rated passer in the AFC … and he’s only been playing for six weeks. Over that time, however, he has led the Steelers from a minus 10 turnover ratio to a plus 1, not to mention a 5-1 record.
Linebacker Joey Porter is playing so well, he should be a Pro Bowl lock. Above and beyond that, Porter also is a strong candidate for AFC defensive player of the year.
“I don’t think about it that way,” Porter said. “I just want to win football games and help us get to the next level, which is San Diego (site of Super Bowl XXXVII). I’m a team guy. I never was much for individual success. If it comes, so be it.”
Porter shares the team lead with six sacks, leads the team with four interceptions and 56 tackles. He also has managed six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble. Porter is impressing a lot of people with those numbers, including teammate Jason Gildon.
“He’s having a great season,” Gildon said. “The move for him from end to dime linebacker has helped a lot. If he continues to play the way he’s playing, I don’t see why he can’t be named defensive player of the year.”
Receiver Hines Ward appears headed back to Hawaii for his second Pro Bowl. With 55 catches, he’s on pace to catch 110 and become Pittsburgh’s first 100-catch receiver. Ward holds the team record with his 95 catches last season.
Alan Faneca, who made the Pro Bowl last season, will depend on team success to get back to Hawaii. He struggled early in the season, but has gotten better as have the Steelers after an 0-2 start.
Inside linebacker James Farrior is having a good season, but has virtually no chance of making the Pro Bowl. Farrior played outside linebacker with the Jets, but moved inside when he came to Pittsburgh.
The results are somewhat predictable. Farrior ranks second on the team with 53 tackles, which is what you’d expect for an inside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme.
It was a somewhat noble gesture, moving inside where there is less glory, but less is exactly what Farrior will get. As long as Ray Lewis is in the AFC and Junior Seau breathes, those two inside linebackers will represent the AFC in Hawaii.
Strong safety Lee Flowers may be on the verge of getting some national recognition. He continues to be a team leader, but has added more than a few plays this season to balance his act. It seemed as though he was all talk in past seasons, but he is making plays this season. He doubled his career interception total in one quarter at Cincinnati, where he snagged two interceptions. He ranks fourth on the team with 46 tackles, has two sacks, two interceptions, three tackles for loss, a pass defensed and a forced and recovered fumble.
Plenty can happen in the second half of the season to either enhance or diminish these players’ chances of reaching any of these individual goals, just like it can any other player. But at this stage – only halftime of the season – these guys are posting the numbers to merit consideration.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com.