Hard Hat Award (Wild Card Game, @ Cinci)

   "77"     "B.A." 

Hard Hat Award (Wild Card Game, @ Cinci)

Stiller backup safety Tyrone Carter 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.

Picked up off the scrap heap, Carter had been relegated to mop-up duty, spec teams work, and some work in the dime defense during the reg season.  This all changed this past Sunday, when Ty saw considerable PT in the dime defense, and responded with a sterling effort.  Carter actually led the Stiller in tackles, and continually made good, crisp, hard tackles.  He also went out of his way to deliver punishment to any Bengal, every time the opportunity arose.  This effort and production by Carter was enormously impressive, and the committee even wonders if Carter�s play will influence Colbert to simply allow Chris Hope to walk away as a free agent come March.   

Kudos to Carter for winning the weekly Hard Hat Award.  Wear the Hard Hat proudly, Ty! 

Past 2005 Hard Hat Winners:

Week 1, vs. Tenn: Willie Parker

Week 2, @ Hou: Troy Polamalu

Week 3, vs. NE: Clark Haggans

Week 4, @ SD: Troy Polamalu

Week 5, vs. Jax: Heath Miller and Ike Taylor

Week 6, @ Cinci: Hines Ward and Ike Taylor

Week 7, vs. Balt.: Andre Frazier

Week 8, @ GB: Duce Staley

Week 9, vs. Clev: Hines Ward and Charlie Batch

Week 10, @ Balt:  Aaron Smith

Week 11, @ Indy:  No one

Week 12, vs. Cinci: Ben Roethlisberger

Week 13, vs. Chicago: Jerome Bettis and Alan Faneca

Week 14, @ Minn: The entire defense

Week 15, @ Clev: Brett Keisel and Jamie Harrison

Week 16, vs. Detroit: The Special Teams

(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Steve Courson this season by placing "77" in the Hard Hat Award article each week.  Courson, as most of you certainly recall, was the ultimate Hard Hat kind of player.  Tough, dependable, and versatile.   Stillers.com will also pay tribute to Army Sergeant First Class Brent Adams, a longtime Stillers fan and Pittsburgh native who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country while serving on point for the nation in Iraq.  SFC Adams died on duty in Iraq on Dec. 1st, 2005, and his obituary can be read at this link.  Brent represents the values of the Hard Hat, and as such, Stillers.com will place a "B.A." in the Hard Hat article the rest of the season in tribute to this great American.)