Hard Hat Award (Div. Playoffs, vs. Balt.)

Hard Hat Award (Div. Playoffs, vs. Balt.)

Stillers DE Brett Keisel and FS Ryan Clark are the co-winners 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.

Keisel had a monster of a game against the PoeBirds, ravaging the Woodpeckers both in run defense as well as pass harassment.� He stuffed Rice for 1 yard on the 2nd series.� He helped force the Harrison sack in the 3Q.� Amidst a massive scrum, he somehow recovered the Jacco fumble, and stuffed a delay handoff in the 4Q for -1.���� He also read and sniffed out a screen late in the 3Q, forcing a TA.�� This was as good as it gets for a DE in this 3-4 defense.�

Clark, who has been a defensive starter for 6-some seasons, has never won the coveted Hard Hat Award.� He finally snapped this long, inglorious streak with some tough play against the hated Ravens.� He caught a Dong INT when Jacco overthrew Heap by about 19 feet in the 3Q.�� He flashed up and nabbed Boldin on a bubble screen for -2.�� He busted up a pass to Heap on 3d & 7 early on.��� He tackled McGayboy for -2 on a run.�� In 1 of the biggest plays of the game, he helped spark the comeback from 21-7 by forcing a fumble by Gay Rice, although Rice was foolishly holding the ball like a loaf of bread.� �His main boner was launching himself, blindly and helmet first, at Ike and injuring Ike in the 1st half, but fortunately Ike was able to come back soon thereafter.��

Honorable mention goes to James Harrison, ike Taylor, Tonio Brown, and Ziggy Hood, and Larry Timmons.�� It bears repeating that, when numerous Stillers are being considered for The Hard Hat, it typically means a winning effort.��

Kudos to Brett and Ryan for winning the Hard Hat Award.� Wear the Hard Hat proudly, fellas!���

Previous 2010 Hard Hat Winners:

Game #1, vs. Atlanta:� Larry Timmons and Maurkice Pouncey

Game #2, @� Tenn.:� Larry Timmons and Jamie Harrison

Game #3, @� Tampa: Jamie Harrison and Doug Legursky

Game #4, vs. Balt:� Dan Sepulveda�

Game #5, vs. Clev:� Jamie Harrison

Game #6, @ Miami:� Hines Ward

Game #7, @ N. Orleans: Larry Timmons

Game #8, @ Cinci:� Larry Timmons and Jason Worilds

Game #9, vs. N.E.: Mewelde Moore

Game #10, vs. Oak:�� James Harrison and Anthony Madison

Game #11, @ Buff:� James Harrison and Shaun Suisham

Game #12, @ Balt:� Benji Roethlisberger

Game #13, vs. Cinci:� Troy Polamalu

Game #14, vs. Jets:� No One

Game #15, vs Panthers: Ryan Mundy

Game #16, @ Clev: �Mike Wallace and Stevenson Sylvester