Dec 29, 2016 4 min read

I ran a poll on Twitter Wednesday night asking fans who should be the Steelers’ winner of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award given to the team’s top rookie annually.

I have a vote for the award and it had already been placed, but I was interested to see who the fans would choose.

They lined up behind safety Sean Davis, giving him 45 percent of the 701 votes placed. First-round draft pick Artie Burns got 37 percent, with nose tackle Javon Hargrave pulling in 18.

It was a tough call. All three have started games this season, including Hargrave from Day 1.

But to me, Burns had the biggest impact. It’s not that the other guys haven’t been good. But Davis has been phenomenal.

Though he has started eight games – six at strong safety and two as the nickel corner – Davis is fourth on the team with 60 tackles. He also has a half a sack, an interception, five pass defenses and three quarterback pressures.

More importantly, since he’s been inserted into the starting lineup at strong safety, the Steelers have not lost a game.

And Davis has been a big part of that. He’s been a force in the run game. He’s been a big reason why the team’s pass defense has gotten better. The second-round pick has been a game changer.

Not that Burns hasn’t been good, as well. He has 56 tackles, three interceptions – which leads the team – and 12 pass defeneses, which is second.

But Davis was slightly better in my opinion – and that of the other writers and, apparently, the fans.

Hargrave also was impactful, making 25 tackles with two sacks, three pressures and a fumble recovery that was a touchdown.

But it’s tough to match the impact Davis has made.

In any other year, any of those three guys would have been fine picks. Heck, one year, punter Harry Newsome won the award – before my time – and another year, we were forced to vote for Patrick Bailey, an undrafted free agent who had a handful of special teams tackles, because the field was so poor.

That was not the case this year. The Steelers definitely got themselves three keepers.

@ It’s good news that tight end Ladarius Green made it through his second consecutive day of practice – even on a limited basis – Thursday.

That means he did not have a setback after undergoing some physical activity Wednesday, taking another step in the concussion protocol.

Green obviously will not play this week – neither will Stephon Tuitt – but both could be back to play in the playoffs next weekend at Heinz Field.

If I had to guess, it looks like Ryan Shazier and Mike Mitchell also will be held out this week.

Shazier is dealing with an illness and the Steelers can get Vince Williams some work. They’re not going to sit Lawrence Timmons, who has a long consecutive games played streak going.

Mitchell, meanwhile, has been sitting out practices this week to rest a balky knee that has troubled him all season.

@ Arthur Moats won the “Chief” award given to the player who is most cooperative with the media in honor of former Steelers owner Art Rooney.

Cam Heyward and Ramon Foster, two well-known talkers, had won the award the past two years and we like to spread the award around, so they weren’t really eligible this year.

I like Moats and he is a really friendly and outgoing guy, but he didn’t get my vote.

I went for cornerback Ross Cockrell, who’s also always available and gives you thoughtful answers on all questions.