By the end of last year, Mays' reputation for the kill shot had so overwhelmed the rest of his game that he was cited on the floor of Congress as "a headhunter" during a Judiciary Committee hearing on preventing concussions in October. After passing up a chance to be a top-10 or even top-five pick after his junior season, his stock started to fall as USC's defense tried to stave off total collapse over the second half of the season, and plummeted after a meh showing at the Senior Bowl, when questions about his agility, change of direction, hands, tackling and ability to do anything else that doesn't involve tracking and decapitating receivers threatened to drop him into the second round (though he did end the week with a pick in the game itself). As it stands, he seems bound for the late first round, 10-15 spots and a million dollars or two below what he likely would have earned a year ago.

Speaking to a San Diego radio station earlier this week, Mays said he disputed his descent on media draft boards on two counts: a) Doubts about his coverage skills only exist because of his size ("I think I’m able to move and I’m not supposed to be able to move at this size"), and b) When it came to hunting heads over the middle, he was just doing his job (emphasis added):

"I think there is some truth to [his reputation for going for too many big hits] but at the same time that is what I was coached to do. At USC, I was coached to deliver knockout shots. I have the potential athletically and mentally to catch the ball and go after the ball. In one week (at the Senior Bowl) I was able to go from only hitting receivers to going after the ball. I just want a chance to work with coach who can help me do that."

That's an interesting line from a player off a defense once ruled by the mantra, "It's all about the ball." Then again, there was much less made of former coach Pete Carroll's obsession with forcing turnovers over the last four years, when takeaways by the Trojan D were significantly down from the numbers that ranked among the top 10 nationally in each of Carroll's first six seasons. (Those defenses, coincidentally, were also led by hard-hitting All-Americans at safety, Troy Polamalu in 2001-02 and Darnell Bing from 2003-05.) If he's describing his role accurately, it seems entirely possible that Mays' lack of production on paper -- only one interception over the last two years, and only one credited forced fumble for his career -- stemmed from a decreased emphasis on taking the ball away in the later Carroll years. Or, it could be simply that he really, really likes knocking people out, and opposing offenses weren't very inclined to give him the opportunity to do either.

For his part, Mays also insists that he has never considered nor heard a coach suggest a move to linebacker, and that the focus on his supposed problems in coverage only exists in the media: "I just know that what I hear from a consensus especially recently from analysts is different than what I am hearing from NFL head coaches and GM’s and DB coaches. ... There are these ideas and thoughts out there that I can’t move well for my size or that I can’t backpedal. It’s just completely different than what I hear when I meet with coaches. They tell me that they like how I move and that I move well." At least the Song Girls like the way you move, Taylor, which is really all that counts.

This weeks highlights of former Trojans in the NFL features Reggie Bush, Kaluka Maiava, Frostee Rucker, Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews.

(Video by Eric Espinoza / USC video operations department)

Here are some week 9 highlights of former Trojans now playing in the NFL. This week features
David Buehler, Dwayne Jarrett, Reggie Bush, Terrell Thomas, Steve Smith, Kevin Ellison, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga (Cinco Ocho), Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu and Brian Cushing.

Fight On!

(Video created by Eric Espinoza and the USC video operations department)

How bout some USC Alumni NFL highlights…. Carson Palmer had a big day on Sunday going 20 of 24 for 233 with 5 TD passes. Other former Trojans featured in the highlights are Clay Matthews, Troy Polamalu, Reggie Bush, Fred Davis, Steve Smith, Terrell Thomas, Justin Fargas and Mark Sanchez.

The NFL 2010 Pro Bowl ballots are now available online. Click here to vote for any of your favorite Trojans.

2010 Pro Bowl Ballot [NFL.com]

The summer is over and fall is officially upon us. That means football is in full swing. Teams have had a few weeks to figure out their identities. Now it’s time to find out which teams are for real and which teams are fakers.

The Trojans face another road test this week, the hated Notre Dame. Many questions will be answered after this game. Is Jimmy Clausen a Heisman candidate? Is this years Trojans defense better than last years? Will the USC offensive line eliminate mental mistakes and finally be the dominate force we have expected it to be all year? (I am not taking anything away from the O-Line they have performed superbly all year. They are the best in the country. The only thing holding them back this season has been penalties.) Did Notre Dame grow their grass out again to slow down the speed of the Trojans? (If they did they should be flagged 10 yards for unnecessary gayness.) Will Joe McKnight achieve greatness and take full advantage of the opportunity to be the main man in the Trojans back field? Does NBC have a camera lens wide enough to get a full body shot of Charlie Weis?

We will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to learn the answers. One thing is for sure, I despise everything about Notre Dame. I have extreme dislike for the school, their head coach and their fans. But the older I get, the nicer I get. A few years ago I would have taken this opportunity to bash Jimmy Clausen and call him every name in the book. I am past that stage in my life. I am more mature. I drink sparkling water now, I have many leather-bound books and my home smells of rich mahogany. I am sure Clausen is a good guy with a bad haircut. But, if you want to get extra fired up to root against Clausen, here is a picture of him disrespecting the Spirit of Troy, the greatest marching band in the history of the universe, before last years game. Shame on you Jimmy, shame on you.

(Did you know last year Clausen was 11-22 for 41 yards and 2 INTs vs. SC?)

Taylor Mays is back! He had a game changing interception against CAL and led the Trojans with 10 tackles. He chased down former Heisman candidate Jahvid Best from behind, preventing him from gaining a first down. That tackle proved Mays is the fastest man on the field. He looks like a D-Lineman playing free safety. I get excited just typing his name. Look for him to decapitate a few Notre Dame players on Saturday.

Also did you know that there is a reason you don't hear about Bird Flu or SARS anymore. The reason is Taylor Mays. Swine Flu your f*cking next. For more Taylor Mays facts click here.

More thoughts of the day after the jump…

It's only fitting the first NFL game of the regular season would go into overtime. And while both the Steelers and Titans offense struggled to dust off that off-season rust (Tennessee had two turnovers, Pittsburgh three) both teams' defenses played like they never missed a beat. On top of it all was our man, Troy Polamalu. Polamalu was third on the team with 6 tackles, one for a loss with two passes deflected. And with just over a minute left in the first quarter, Polamalu elevated over Titans WR Kenny Brit for a beastly one handed pick ala Vidal Hazelton. Oh, did I mention that was all before the first half ended.

That's because Polamalu was out for the entire second half, injured. It seems the Man of Steel found his kryptonite. And it's not tackling by his hair, although it's been tried. No, it's having his knee rolled on by 257-pound tight ends named Alge Crumpler. Polamalu went down trying to recover a blocked field goal just before halftime. Prognosis is a sprained MCL and he could be out 3-6 weeks. The final score was 13-10, won on a 33 yard field goal by Steelers' Jeff Reed.

The soft-talking Samoan is building quite the resume in advertising.

Troy Polamalu "Coke" Commercial
Troy Polamalu "Fate" Commercial

• David Buehler made a 39-yard field goal and also had two tackles on special teams in the Dallas Cowboys' 31-10 loss to the Raiders.
• Tailback Justin Fargas had just one carry for two yards in limited action in the Raiders' 31-10 win.
• Safety Troy Polamalu recorded a tackle in limited action in the Steelers' 20-10 victory over the Cardinals.
• Matt Leinart went 8-for-14 for 83 yards in the Arizona Cardinals' 20-10 defeat.
• Tight end Dominique Byrd caught two passes for 29 yards for the Cardinals.
• Tight end Fred Davis had two receptions for 17 yards in the Washington Redskins' 23-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
• Defensive lineman Mike Patterson posted one tackle in limited action in the Philadelphia Eagles' 27-25 loss to the Patriots.

The best safety in the NFL and former Trojan Troy Polamalu is on the cover of the new Madden NFL 10. He is joined by Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald.

He wants to be like Troy Polamalu and Ronnie Lott. He wants a National Championship. He wants to take Lauren Conrad to the food court.

Taylor Mays wants it all, and TrojanWire wants him to have it.

via ESPN Taylor Mays Interview [TrojanNYC]