BEREA — Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is one of the NFL’s most recognizable players. His long, curly black hair has made him a fan favorite, as well as a darling of advertisers from coast to coast.

Opposing players, however, view Polamalu in a different light.

“He’s always out there 120 percent,” Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs said Thursday. “He’s an extremely, extremely talented guy.

“Sideline to sideline, he wants to be involved in every play. If he’s not making the tackle, he’s right there, so that’s one guy who we have to definitely look to try to shut down because he’s just a motor.”

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Polamalu will be back in Pittsburgh’s lineup Sunday when it hosts the Browns at Heinz Field. The 5-foot-10, 207-pound enforcer sat out a last month after spraining his left knee in the season opener against Tennessee, but returned to practice two days ago.

Though the Steelers split their four games without Polamalu, there is no question their already strong defense becomes nearly unbeatable with him on the field.

“The rest of that group’s pretty salty, too, but he just adds to it,” Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said. “He’s a special player at his position. I’ve coached some good ones — Rodney (Harrison), Lawyer Milloy, Steve Atwater, Victor Green, Tebucky (Jones) — but watching Troy play is fun from my background, being in the secondary and being on defense.

“He has great closing speed, he’s an excellent tackler, he’s a good blitzer, he has good hands, he has great range and he seems like a really good person. You appreciate those things from the outside looking in.”

In seven seasons since being drafted out of USC, Polamalu has developed into the prototypical strong safety, combining hard-hitting ability with a flair for the dramatic.

The five-time Pro Bowler has 18 career interceptions, many coming in big games at clutch times, which is why Pittsburgh is 14-3 when he has a pick.

According to Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who played against Polamalu on the prep level in Oregon, his ability to take over games has always been there.

“He just plays,” Anderson said. “He trusts his instincts, he reads routes, he tries to read your eyes — just a great football player. I’ve been playing against him since I was in high school, so I know the magnitude and affect that he can have on a game.”

If there is one knock on Polamalu, it’s his tendency to be overaggressive and freelance too much in pass coverage. It was a valid point early in his career, but today has as much validity as calling Eva Longoria ugly when she has a facial blemish.

If teams don’t pay attention where the Head & Shoulders and Coke Zero pitchman is at all times, Polamalu will make them pay.

“He’s one of those guys that can hurt you in the box or outside the box,” Cleveland tight end Robert Royal said. “Whenever it’s a run play, you’ve definitely got to get your receivers up or a tight end on him and block him. In the passing game, you always have to be aware because he will jump routes and take chances.

“Troy is a guy that’s very active, a guy that plays the game the way you’re supposed to play it.”

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

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