Hard Hat Award (Game #12, @ Patriots)

Hard Hat Award (Game #12, @ Patriots)

Stillers OLB Jamie Harrison is the winner of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.

In what may have been the most lopsided voting in the 9-year history of this prestigious award, The Committee named Harrison this week�s winner after a legendary performance by Harrison that was a page right out of the Willis Reed kind of folklore.  Harrison had been held in check in the 1st half, primarily with the Pats running empty backfield sets.  Near the very end of the half, Harrison wrenched his back on a FG attempt, so much so that he had to be WHEELED off the field for halftime because he was unable to walk. 

Undaunted, Harrison fought off the pain and came out in the 2nd half and took the game over by sheer force of will.   Twice, he single-handedly created turnovers by swooping in on Cassel and stripping the ball.  He also led all Stiller defenders with 7 solos.  Coming back onto the field from a painful injury -- and then dominating the opposition -- is what Hard Hat football is all about.  Rarely in the past 20 years has any Stiller fan witnessed such a dominating performance after being nearly immobilized with injury.  

Other player receiving consideration from The Committee were RG Darnell Stapleton, RT Willie Colon, FS Ryan Clark, and spec teamer Keyaron Fox.   It bears repeating that there is almost always -- if not always -- a strong correlation between the number of players in consideration for the Hard Hat, and if the team won or lost.  Simply put, Hard Hat kind of football leads to victory; pansy football (a term used here long before Troy Pola popularized it) leads to defeat. 

Kudos to Harrison for winning the Hard Hat Award.  Wear the Hard Hat proudly, Jamie! 

Previous 2008 Hard Hat Winners:

Week 1, vs. Houston: Willie Parker and LeMarr Woodley                                   

Week 2, @ Clev: Keyaron Fox and Jamie Harrison

Week 3, @ Phil: Troy Polamalu

Week 4, vs. Balt: Jamie Harrison and LeMarr Woodley

Week 5, @ Jax:  Ben Roethlisberger

Week 6, @ Cinci:  Mewelde Moore

Week 7, vs. NY Giants: Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel

Week 8, @ Skins: Byron Leftwich and Jared Retkofsky

Week 9, vs. Colts: Jamie Harrison

Week 10, vs. Chargers:  Jamie Harrison and Gary Russell

Week 11, vs. Bengals:  Aaron Smith