SCU Awards: Steelers ‘Over 30’ Player of the Year

by Eric Herrmann (SteelersGrind) on February 13, 2017

Steel City Underground presents the 1st annual SCU Awards. Our panel of contributors all voted on various awards for the Steelers with the player getting the most votes being the winner. Each article will have the list of nominees with one of our contributors stating their case for why that player earned their vote and deserves the award. Comment and let us know if you agree or disagree with our winners and nominees.

Ridiculed for years for having an aging defense, the entire Steelers roster has undergone a transformation over several seasons, a “youth movement” if you will, to replace many of those former stars. However, the team still boasts a number of veteran players on both sides of the ball.

Regardless, Pittsburgh still has a handful of veteran players who are playing exceedingly well into their prime, and even some, who defy Father Time (such as James Harrison).

Our panel wasn’t all that mixed on who the best player “over 30” (years of age) was. Here are their thoughts:

James Harrison

I honestly debated this, because I love how DeAngelo Williams performed when called upon this season. However, no one had a bigger impact than James Harrison did down the homestretch.

Harrison had a sack in each of the three games that kicked off a 9-game win streak by the Steelers (Browns, Colts and Giants). He also had 2.5 sacks in the playoffs, both in the first two games (Miami and Kansas City).

Then you remember he’s 38 years old, and that’s why he receives my vote.

– Joe Kuzma

Lawrence Timmons

James Harrison seems like the no-brainer pick for the ‘over 30’ category. However, I went with Lawrence Timmons instead because he proved me wrong this season.

I don’t want to undermine his insane talent, but I knew Harrison would be a beast this season. Timmons though I had different expectations. I expected his play to regress, his age to show, and for Vince Williams to take his spot next year while he either retires or goes to a new team.

Timmons made me eat my words. His tackle, sack, and interception numbers remained consistent with what he’s put up throughout his career. People love raving over Shazier’s speed and flashy play (and rightfully so), but Timmons is the perfect model of consistency despite being in his 30’s. For that reason, he gets my vote.

– Eric Herrmann

Greg Warren

Warren for 30+, let’s face it, a long snapper is a special teams player that gets overlooked. Even looking him up on the internet a comedian of the same name comes up before he does. The fact though that Warren was just resigned for his 13th season, when he’s 35 and does his job respectably, shows he deserves the stability credit. He is also 1 of 4 players left on our team with 2 SB rings all with Steelers. So yes, Super Bowl winning long snapper Greg Warren deserves this honorable mention 30+ award

– Terry Fletcher

Winner: James Harrison (7 votes)

Runner ups: Timmons (1 vote), Warren (1 vote)

At 38-years-old, James Harrison ran away with this award, showing that he is doing things that should be impossible for a player playing at his age in the NFL.

This season the linebacker exclipsed the all-time franchise sacks mark adding 5 to his career total in 2016, while also forcing fumbles, and even intercepting a pass.

He truly is an ageless wonder, and without a doubt, the Steeler most deserving of this award.