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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Steelers' Harrison is top defender

Associated Press

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 yesterday.

Pittsburgh's 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.

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.

CHARGERS

TOMLINSON MIGHT MISS GAME WITH GROIN INJURY

There was the strained groin in 2004, the lingering rib injury in 2005, a jaw injury in 2006, the knee injury in last year's playoffs and then his jammed right big toe earlier this season.

Now there's the groin injury that's dogging LaDainian Tomlinson to the point that he might have to sit out San Diego's playoff game at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The star running back isn't sure if a week's worth of treatment and rest is going to be enough to allow him to play.

"I don't know. It's tough," Tomlinson said after the Chargers' light workout yesterday. "This is a tough injury. I would probably venture to say it's probably the toughest of my career. We'll see what happens."

The injury, sustained in the final regular-season game, robbed Tomlinson of his burst and shiftiness to the point that he came out of Saturday night's 23-17 overtime wild-card win over the Indianapolis Colts after scoring on a 3-yard run early in the second quarter.

Speedy little Darren Sproles took over after that. Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards, including the winning 22-yard touchdown run.

CARDINALS

BOLDIN'S STATUS UP IN AIR DUE TO HAMSTRING INJURY

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin has a strained left hamstring and his status is uncertain for Saturday night's NFC divisional playoff game at Carolina.

"We'll see how it goes this week," coach Ken Whisenhunt said at yesterday at his news conference.

Boldin was injured on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner in the second quarter of Arizona's 30-24 wild-card playoff victory over the Atlanta Falcons last Saturday. He returned to play one more series, then limped off the field for good.

"When you're dealing with hamstrings you just never know," Whisenhunt said. "I've seen guys that have come back and played a couple of days later, I've seen guys who are out three or four weeks."

Boldin was voted to his third Pro Bowl this season despite missing four games with injuries. Steve Breaston would move up to starting wide receiver along with Larry Fitzgerald if Boldin can't play.

PATRIOTS

REPORT: QB CASSEL WILL RECEIVE FRANCHISE TAG

New England plans to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report.

Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season.

Franchising Cassel would keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent and give the Patriots an option if they feel Brady might not be ready for the start of the 2009 season. If they're confident that Brady will be ready, they'd be able to trade Cassel.

The Patriots' plan for Cassel was first reported by the National Football Post.

Without a franchise tag, Cassel would become an unrestricted free agent starting Feb. 27. The period in which a team can designate a franchise player is Feb. 5 to Feb. 19.

He completed 327 passes for 516 yards with 21 touchdowns.

ELSEWHERE

Packers: Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of his staff were let go. Packers coach Mike McCarthy released six assistants, including five on defense: Sanders, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer and nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington. Also let go was strength and conditioning coordinator Rock Gullickson.

Jets: The New York Jets will interview Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm on Thursday in Arizona about their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the search told the AP. Grimm, 49, is in his second season with the Cardinals, who play at Carolina in the NFC playoffs Saturday.

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