PITTSBURGH -- Tyson Alualu can’t help but laugh when he sees his defensive line teammates hurting a little after practice, complaining about the toll football is taking on their young bodies.
Many of them are much younger than the 32-year-old Alualu. Some, like Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Isaiah Buggs, are nine years his junior.
As a Cal product drafted by Jacksonville in the first round of the 2010 draft, Alualu's body has nearly a decade's wear on him, but he tries not to show it.
With a torn pectoral muscle sending DE Stephon Tuitt, who was in the midst of a breakout season, to injured reserve, Alualu’s fitness will come in handy as he’ll jump from playing 20-30 snaps a game to upwards of 50.