Death, Taxes and Lousaka Polite
The Dolphin that deserves a Pro Bowl spot is the fullback with the nice last name
Miami Dolphins' Lousaka Polite carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 in Tampa, Fla.
There are only a few things you can be sure of in this world. You're going to die. Some distant relative named Uncle Sam is going to take your hard-earned cash.
And when the Dolphins need a yard, Lousaka Polite is going to be called on to get it. The 6-foot, 250-pound bruiser has a nose for first downs in short yardage.
So far this season, Polite has been rather impolite to defenses in one-yard to go situations. He is a perfect 11-for-11 on third and fourth downs, including a gutsy fourth down call against the New England Patriots inside the 10-yard line on Sunday.
And just like we all know an Uncle Sam, every defense knows Polite is getting the rock. It will be up to Dol-Fans to get him into the Pro Bowl, which just so happesn to be in Land Shark Stadium this year.
Right now, Polite is probably fighting an uphill battle to supplant Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain at the starting spot for fullback in the AFC.
You'll probably never hear the soft-spoken Polite mention the Pro Bowl or any personal recognition, but wouldn't it be cool if he started a Chris Bosh-like Web campaign for the Pro Bowl. Who could resist, "Be Polite. Vote Polite?"
But just like everything in his career, Polite probably doesn't mind quietly fighting for a Pro Bowl spot - just like he fights for that one yard.
Before joining the Dolphins, Polite was signed and waived about 250 times by the Dallas Cowboys and some of those pink slips came down from Bill Parcells, now Miami's head man in charge. He also had a stint with the Chicago Bears, but they also sent him a Christmas fruitcake with a "your services are no longer needed" holiday card attached.
Then came the 'Phins and a season-ending injury to Patrick Cobbs. That opened the door for Polite to be on the field the majority of the snaps, punishing linebackers and defensive backs in front of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams along the way.
Like most fullbacks, Polite's worth can't be measured in personal stats. He has 26 rushes this year for 87 yards and a hand full of catches. But he is the Hemi engine that makes one of the league's best rushing attacks go. And that also includes keeping drives alive with the ball in his hands.
It's about time good guys with nice last names get a little recognition. So, start voting Miami fans.
Lousaka is asking politely.
Posted Monday, Dec 7, 2009 - 3:39 PM EST
