Top pick Polamalu signs with Steelers, joins camp

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- Too bad the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't negotiate directly with first-round draft pick Troy Polamalu. They might have saved owner Dan Rooney more than $8 million.
Polamalu, growing more nervous as every hour passed without a contract, finally told agent Marvin Demoff to finalize his $8.275 million, five-year deal Monday so he could join the team.
The former Southern Cal safety didn't want to miss even one more day of training camp, so he chose to sign even before the players drafted immediately ahead of and behind him reached terms.
Declaration
"I can honestly tell you I would play this game for free," Polamalu said following an exhausting day that included a cross-country trip. "The business part of it is not my deal. I could do without the business part."
Don't expect Polamalu to toss away his paychecks, however. He said the best part of becoming an instant millionaire is helping the family and friends that have supported his career.
"I've got a lot of people to take care of," he said. "I know first-rounders earn a lot of money, and I'm definitely not looking at it as something I deserve, but something I have to work for."
Despite missing only an afternoon practice Sunday and a morning session Monday, Polamalu felt that was two practices too many. He was afraid of falling behind and, even more, of the cool reception he might get from the Steelers' veterans if he showed up days after camp began.
"I was so nervous, I wanted to get here on time," Polamalu said. "I didn't want the veterans to look down on me for not being here. I could barely leave my house when I was in California because everybody over here is working hard and what am I do to?"
Redeye
So, as the two sides finished up the deal early Monday, Polamalu caught a redeye flight from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh, sleeping only fitfully while wedged into a middle seat. He then spent eight hours riding to training camp and attending meetings before taking part in his first NFL practice.
"My feet weren't really under me. It was hard for me to get comfortable," he said. "I'm not making excuses because I didn't practice very well, but there's always room for improvement."
That's the very reason the Steelers traded up in the first round for the first time in their history, to choose a safety for the first time -- to improve their deficient pass defense.
The Steelers' final three opponents all threw for more than 300 yards last season, including both playoff opponents. They dropped from No. 4 in pass defense in 2001 to No. 20 last season.
Polamalu is expected to replace Lee Flowers as the starting strong safety. Flowers was not re-signed because the Steelers felt he was too slow and targeted too often in man-to-man coverage.
Polamalu, the No. 16 overall pick in the draft, begins camp behind Mike Logan on the depth chart, but is expected to become a starter by the opener against Baltimore. Coach Bill Cowher also said he will play on special teams.
Coach's plan
"While he's here, we're going to use every part of his body that we can get," Cowher said. "He'll be doing all the teams."
By signing before No. 15 pick Jerome McDougle of the Eagles and No. 17 pick Bryant Johnson of the Cardinals, Polamalu helped set the market for the middle of the first round. Previously, No. 11 pick Marcus Trufant of Seattle signed for $9.4 million over five seasons and No. 13 pick Ty Warren of New England signed for $10.8 million over six seasons.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.