Chiefs Former Chief Bernard Pollard still plays the hits in Tennessee

Deberg_1990 · 10-04-2013, 05:37 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/03...ard-still.html

There was a time, not all that long ago, when rough-and-tumble safeties Ronnie Lott, Jack Tatum and Rodney Harrison patrolled NFL fields, intimidating wide receivers and hitting everything that moved.

Because of increasing concerns about concussions and player safety, it’s not so cool to be an enforcer in their mold anymore. But for those who miss the way things used to be, there remains at least one old-school safety, someone whose passion for hitting the snot out of people has not been dampened, despite repeat fines and ever-present eye of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

“I would have thrived there, playing next to players like Tatum, guys like that,” Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard said. “Those guys, those dudes in the ’70s and ’80s, those are guys that I watch and I pick up so much from.”

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Pollard, whose Titans will play the Chiefs ― his former team ― at noon Sunday in Nashville, not only has the reputation as a big hitter, but the lighter wallet to prove it.

Just two weeks ago, Pollard ― who according to The Tennessean taped a piece of paper in his locker this summer that read “Goal - Super Bowl; Mission – Kill!!!” ― was fined $42,000 for a blow to the head of Houston receiver Andre Johnson.

It was the latest in a string of fines for Pollard, 28, who has also racked up a number of unnecessary roughness penalties for hard hits.

“It’s so different than in 2006, when I first got in the league, which is different from 2000, which is different from 1990,” said Pollard, an eight-year pro. “It’s just a different game. Guys are making so much money … I understand that for the safety and everything else, you want to keep guys healthy with the helmet-to-helmet and all of that. As a professional, I can adjust to that.”

But at the same time, Pollard won’t compromise his style of play.

“I don’t want to hurt anybody ― those are not my intentions,” Pollard said. “But I do have a helmet and shoulder pads on, and you do as well, so at some point (in) a violent sport, somebody is going to go down, whether it’s me or it’s you. We just have to hope for speedy recoveries and for the guy to get up if he goes down.”

That attitude is exactly why Tennessee signed Pollard this offseason, once he was cut by Baltimore after racking up 98 tackles and an interception for the Super Bowl champion Ravens.

“Some people want to call me a journeyman, some people want to call me someone who just made it in this industry,” Pollard said, “but one name you have to call me is a champion.”

Titans coach Mike Munchak loves it.

“I think he brings a mental toughness that we need,” said Munchak, whose team went 6-10 in 2012. “We’re a very young defense, and we have been the last couple of years. We didn’t have a lot of veteran leadership here in that way, so someone like him coming in from the beginning it was just kind of a natural fit for us … he’s seen what it takes to come together as a football team to play well and he’s brought a lot of that to the way our guys are playing.”

Pollard has 29 tackles thus far for the Titans, who are 3-1 and have given up 17.2 points per game, seventh-fewest in the NFL.

Munchak said he’s spoken with Pollard about his body language and knowing when to pull back when finishing a play, but insisted he has done a good job reining himself in.

“We haven’t had a problem,” Munchak said. “I mean, he’s a team captain, so we talk quite a bit. He knows where the line is.”

But Pollard isn’t afraid to inch right up to that line, because he believes his job depends on it.

“Especially playing a competition sport, you have to have some kind of switch,” Pollard said. “There is a level that I have to go to and if I don’t go there, I don’t have a job. I don’t run the fastest, I don’t catch the best, I don’t cover the best, but I will beat you.”

It’s something you could almost imagine Lott or Tatum saying, which is why it’s no surprise Pollard gets noticeably excited when talking about the no-holds-barred style of the old days, when hard hits were celebrated and players like him might be more welcome.

“If we could bring those rules here now, in 2013, that would be amazing,” Pollard said when asked how much he would enjoy playing in the ’50s or ’60s. “But the pay (back then)? Wow. I don’t know if it’s worth all of that.

“But no, I love the game. Like I said, this is the direction that we’re going. I wish we could turn back the hands of time, but we can’t.”

Rasputin · 10-04-2013, 05:43 PM

Still wish we never gave up on Bernard Bonecrusher Pollard. **** the haters.

Rasputin · 10-04-2013, 05:44 PM

Yet wouldn't hurt my feelings if he choked on a no bake cookie dipped in anti-freeze just before the game.

Three7s · 10-04-2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Still wish we never gave up on Bernard Bonecrusher Pollard. **** the haters.

He's better than a lot of people give him credit for, but Berry's quite a bit better.

**J Diddy** · 10-04-2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Still wish we never gave up on Bernard Bonecrusher Pollard. **** the haters.

**** him, he's been killing us since he hit Tom Brady.

Rasputin · 10-04-2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Yet wouldn't hurt my feelings if he choked on a no bake cookie dipped in anti-freeze just before the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

**** him, he's been killing us since he hit Tom Brady.

Thus my next post.

Deberg_1990 · 10-04-2013, 05:55 PM

I do share Pollards fondness for the era past of defensive football. I don't think alot of newer NFL fans have an appreciation for good defensive football. But I get it....offense sells tickets......sigh.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Munson** · 10-04-2013, 05:56 PM

Pollard gave us Cassel.

**** YOU, BERNARD!!!

**Munson** · 10-04-2013, 05:57 PM

Also, he sucked in coverage.

And was a shitty tackler.

saphojunkie · 10-04-2013, 06:04 PM

CoMoChief · 10-04-2013, 06:06 PM

Bowe ****ed his shit up in 2010 when we played the Texans, when Pollard was there at the time.

Hopefully he does it again.

KC_Lee · 10-04-2013, 06:09 PM

Pollard...bringing da' funk and bringing da' noise....for his fourth team...

nstygma · 10-04-2013, 06:43 PM

pollardTwerk.gif

**notorious** · 10-04-2013, 06:44 PM

He can go **** himself for cursing us with Casshole.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 10-04-2013, 06:44 PM

Not just anyone can be a flaming tumbtack.

10-04-2013, 05:37 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3594454	Former Chief Bernard Pollard still plays the hits in Tennessee http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/03...ard-still.html There was a time, not all that long ago, when rough-and-tumble safeties Ronnie Lott, Jack Tatum and Rodney Harrison patrolled NFL fields, intimidating wide receivers and hitting everything that moved. Because of increasing concerns about concussions and player safety, it’s not so cool to be an enforcer in their mold anymore. But for those who miss the way things used to be, there remains at least one old-school safety, someone whose passion for hitting the snot out of people has not been dampened, despite repeat fines and ever-present eye of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “I would have thrived there, playing next to players like Tatum, guys like that,” Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard said. “Those guys, those dudes in the ’70s and ’80s, those are guys that I watch and I pick up so much from.” The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Pollard, whose Titans will play the Chiefs ― his former team ― at noon Sunday in Nashville, not only has the reputation as a big hitter, but the lighter wallet to prove it. Just two weeks ago, Pollard ― who according to The Tennessean taped a piece of paper in his locker this summer that read “Goal - Super Bowl; Mission – Kill!!!” ― was fined $42,000 for a blow to the head of Houston receiver Andre Johnson. It was the latest in a string of fines for Pollard, 28, who has also racked up a number of unnecessary roughness penalties for hard hits. “It’s so different than in 2006, when I first got in the league, which is different from 2000, which is different from 1990,” said Pollard, an eight-year pro. “It’s just a different game. Guys are making so much money … I understand that for the safety and everything else, you want to keep guys healthy with the helmet-to-helmet and all of that. As a professional, I can adjust to that.” But at the same time, Pollard won’t compromise his style of play. “I don’t want to hurt anybody ― those are not my intentions,” Pollard said. “But I do have a helmet and shoulder pads on, and you do as well, so at some point (in) a violent sport, somebody is going to go down, whether it’s me or it’s you. We just have to hope for speedy recoveries and for the guy to get up if he goes down.” That attitude is exactly why Tennessee signed Pollard this offseason, once he was cut by Baltimore after racking up 98 tackles and an interception for the Super Bowl champion Ravens. “Some people want to call me a journeyman, some people want to call me someone who just made it in this industry,” Pollard said, “but one name you have to call me is a champion.” Titans coach Mike Munchak loves it. “I think he brings a mental toughness that we need,” said Munchak, whose team went 6-10 in 2012. “We’re a very young defense, and we have been the last couple of years. We didn’t have a lot of veteran leadership here in that way, so someone like him coming in from the beginning it was just kind of a natural fit for us … he’s seen what it takes to come together as a football team to play well and he’s brought a lot of that to the way our guys are playing.” Pollard has 29 tackles thus far for the Titans, who are 3-1 and have given up 17.2 points per game, seventh-fewest in the NFL. Munchak said he’s spoken with Pollard about his body language and knowing when to pull back when finishing a play, but insisted he has done a good job reining himself in. “We haven’t had a problem,” Munchak said. “I mean, he’s a team captain, so we talk quite a bit. He knows where the line is.” But Pollard isn’t afraid to inch right up to that line, because he believes his job depends on it. “Especially playing a competition sport, you have to have some kind of switch,” Pollard said. “There is a level that I have to go to and if I don’t go there, I don’t have a job. I don’t run the fastest, I don’t catch the best, I don’t cover the best, but I will beat you.” It’s something you could almost imagine Lott or Tatum saying, which is why it’s no surprise Pollard gets noticeably excited when talking about the no-holds-barred style of the old days, when hard hits were celebrated and players like him might be more welcome. “If we could bring those rules here now, in 2013, that would be amazing,” Pollard said when asked how much he would enjoy playing in the ’50s or ’60s. “But the pay (back then)? Wow. I don’t know if it’s worth all of that. “But no, I love the game. Like I said, this is the direction that we’re going. I wish we could turn back the hands of time, but we can’t.”
Posts: 66,914

10-04-2013, 05:43 PM	#2
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3135421	Still wish we never gave up on Bernard Bonecrusher Pollard. **** the haters. __________________ A Brave Man Once Requested Me To Answer Questions That Are Key 'Is It To Be Or Not To Be' And I Replied Oh Why Ask Me
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10-04-2013, 05:44 PM	#3
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3135421	Yet wouldn't hurt my feelings if he choked on a no bake cookie dipped in anti-freeze just before the game. __________________ A Brave Man Once Requested Me To Answer Questions That Are Key 'Is It To Be Or Not To Be' And I Replied Oh Why Ask Me
Posts: 54,986

10-04-2013, 05:55 PM	#7
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3594454	I do share Pollards fondness for the era past of defensive football. I don't think alot of newer NFL fans have an appreciation for good defensive football. But I get it....offense sells tickets......sigh. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 66,914

10-04-2013, 05:56 PM	#8
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $11539646	Pollard gave us Cassel. **** YOU, BERNARD!!!
Posts: 22,793

10-04-2013, 05:57 PM	#9
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $11539646	Also, he sucked in coverage. And was a shitty tackler.
Posts: 22,793

10-04-2013, 06:04 PM	#10
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $4476550
Posts: 12,625

10-04-2013, 06:06 PM	#11
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8012254	Bowe ****ed his shit up in 2010 when we played the Texans, when Pollard was there at the time. Hopefully he does it again. __________________
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10-04-2013, 06:09 PM	#12
KC_Lee You're CARICATURES, ALL of you Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $1550960	Pollard...bringing da' funk and bringing da' noise....for his fourth team... __________________ “There is no absolute knowledge. And those who claim it, whether they are scientists or dogmatists, open the door to tragedy.” - Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man
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10-04-2013, 06:43 PM	#13
nstygma Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ¿ Casino cash: $8229775	pollardTwerk.gif
Posts: 2,237

10-04-2013, 06:44 PM	#14
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2505884	He can go **** himself for cursing us with Casshole.
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10-04-2013, 06:44 PM	#15
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	Not just anyone can be a flaming tumbtack.
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