Hard
Hat Award (Game # 16, @ Clev)
Stillers DE Brett Keisel and WR/kick returner
Antonio Brown are the co-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.
Keisel had yet another stellar effort in the
win over the lowly Brownies. He helped stop Hillis for no gain in the 3Q. He wrapped up Hillis
for a 1-yard gain late in the 3Q. He
batted a pass in the 4Q. On the very
next play, he stopped Hillis on a swing pass out in
the flat on 3d & 5 (which was a superb play for a DE to make), and then
he ripped the ball loose, although it fell OOB. A strong overall game by a DE who most
assuredly deserved a spot in the Blo Bowl, which is a
total farce of a game and nomination in the first place.
Brown, who was voted as the team MVP just 3
days prior to the game, single-handedly led the way on offense, with 6 grabs
for 90 yards. Most of his catches were
enormously difficult. Brown made an amazing,
over-the-shoulder catch amidst windy conditions late in the 2Q, good for 40
yards. On this play, he became the first
player in NFL history to gain 1,000 yards in receiving and 1,000 yards in kick
returns in a single season. Clutch grab
on 3d & 5, good for 11, in the 3Q.
Superb catch despite being draped by Haden on a slant in the 3Q, gaining
11. Made a sterling, sliding catch on a
low back-shoulder pass in the 4Q, good for 13 yards on 2d & 13. On this play, Brown managed to cradle the
ball against his hip, just an inch or 2 off the ground. This was Hard
Hat football at its best.
A few other Stillers were in consideration
for the coveted weekly award. SS Troy Polamalu had a very strong, very
stellar game, with a huge INT in the 3Q.
Timmons had a strong effort. Ike
was solid in coverage.
Kudos to Keisel and Brown for winning the Hard
Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat
proudly, fellas!
Previous 2011 Hard Hat Winners:
Game # 15, vs. St. Louis: Rashard Mendenhall
and Antonio Brown
Game # 14, @ San Fran: No One
Game #13, vs. Clev: Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison
Game #12, vs. Cinci: Antonio Brown and Curtis Brown
Game #11, @ KC: Jason Worilds
Game #10, @ Cinci: William Gay
Game #9, vs. Balt: James Harrison and Max Starks
Game #8, vs. N.E.: Heath Miller and Ike
Taylor
Game #7, @ Ariz: Antonio Brown
Game #6, vs. Jax: Troy Polamalu
Game #5, vs. Tenn: Ben Roethlisberger and Max Starks
Game #4, @ Houston: James Harrison and Troy
Polamalu
Game #3, @ Indy: James Harrison and Troy
Polamalu
Game #2, vs. Seattle: Mike Wallace and Troy Polamalu
Game #1, @ Balt: No One