James Harrison wins DPOY

[Leftwich]

Via Sportcenter.

How the hell did he win this and not Demarcus Ware?

[Leftwich]

NEW YORK -- Linebacker James Harrison, the best player on the NFL's best defense, won The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award.

Chargers vs. Steelers discussion

NFL.com Video

The NFL GameDay crew discusses the divisional round matchup between the Chargers and Steelers.

The announcement was made Monday.

Harrison, whose career-high 16 sacks set a team record, also led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles. He beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcaster. Pittsburgh's latest version of the Steel Curtain was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed.

Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Source: Espn.com

[Leftwich]

Even though the steelers got into the playoffs and the cowboys didn't is why I think everyone voted Harrison.

[Primetime]

Everyone voted Harrison because he was the best defensive player on a team that was #1 in the big three defensive ranks. #1 in Run Defense, Pass Defense AND Total Defense. I don't know the last time that happened. He won it because of the help the rest of the defense gave him, not just about stats or that the Steelers made the playoffs. I wanted Ware to win it, but Harrison deserved it.

[BonesMahoney95]

D Ware had the most sacks but Harrison was a better all around player throughout the year.

[Obst]

What about Ed Reed?

[Bmore]

I still think Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed deserved it more.

[Leftwich]

I still think Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed deserved it more.

STFU B-more, your homerism is not welcome in this thread.

[inthecards21]

harrison deserved it. based on stats he was a better all around player, 16 sacks to ware's 20 but he led the league with 7 forced fumbles and was the mvp of the #1 defense. polamalu and reed didnt even come close to deserving it. their stats didnt really show. polamalu was great all-around but no where near harrison. also ed reed got #1 INTs but thats about all he did

[Kia Kaha]

i think Ware deserved it as he was the best player of the year but harrison did have 15 sacks or whatever in 15 games and without him i dont think Pittsburgh defence would be as good as it is as they stive off the pass rush and without him it would be easy to contain as youd just double woodley so in a way he deserves it i suppose

Reed only got 8 votes WTF

[Kia Kaha]

harrison deserved it. based on stats he was a better all around player, 16 sacks to ware's 20 but he led the league with 7 forced fumbles and was the mvp of the #1 defense. polamalu and reed didnt even come close to deserving it. their stats didnt really show. polamalu was great all-around but no where near harrison. also ed reed got #1 INTs but thats about all he did

i bolded the part that makes no scence, dont you think getting 9 interceptions (turnovers) is more important than a sack, i mean the offence gets the ball back, well only 6 times as ed took it to the house three times lol
, so saying he only led the league in INTS isnt a big deal well id rather have turnovers than a sacks with a losss of a few yards

[Wildcard]

I still think Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed deserved it more.

[inthecards21]

i bolded the part that makes no scence, dont you think getting 9 interceptions (turnovers) is more important than a sack, i mean the offence gets the ball back, well only 6 times as ed took it to the house three times lol
, so saying he only led the league in INTS isnt a big deal well id rather have turnovers than a sacks with a losss of a few yards

ed reed wasnt the best Defensive player though, he got INTs and what you all point out is how great of a returner he is and that isnt a Defensive aspect but offensive. also polamalu only had 2 INTs less than reed and had 31 more tackles.

[Kia Kaha]

ed reed wasnt the best Defensive player though, he got INTs and what you all point out is how great of a returner he is and that isnt a Defensive aspect but offensive. also polamalu only had 2 INTs less than reed and had 31 more tackles.

umm getting 9 INTS is a defensive aspect, you cant get picks on offence can you, and Reed got Defensive TDS, that should count for something, aslong as the defence is on the filed its considered a defensive play isnt it???

Oh wow tackles, thats just means he cleaning up for the poor tackling of your linebackers lol and Reed doesnt make tackles as he gets infront of the ball and gets the INT instead

[steeljake]

look, ed reed is a bad ass ball hawk and he has better hands then some of the wr's in the league... but here is why he didnt win the award:

ed reed gets the benefit of ngata, ray ray, t. sizzle, scott and the other monsters up front making qb's have to throw the ball up or before they can see eddie the ball hawk.Without that front 7 scaring the bejesus out of qb's reed wouldnt get half of those picks. Harrision doesnt need troy to do what he does, he creates turnovers and makes it possible for a guy like troy or ed to do their work. D-Ware didnt get it cuz he disappeared against the ravens and the eagles in the last two weeks of the regular season.

I personally feltl Joey Porter desrved this because he had the least amount of help. It is also good to note that the current ORoTY, MVP, CBPoY, and coach of the year are all sitting at home right now.

just for the record, I call bull shit on bmore for saying troy and ed, the only reason he said troy at all was to attempt to hide his homerism. fail.