Bengal-Steeler feud gains momentum

By Darrell Laurant  |   Monday, June 19, 2006  |  Comments( 21 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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Football rivalries don't usually heat up during the offseason, but the ill will between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers has only increased in recent weeks.

Bengal fans were still steamed about the injury to star QB Carson Palmer, who tore knee ligaments on the first series of the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh wild card playoff game when Steeler DE Kimo von Oelhofen rolled into him as he completed a 66-yard pass to Chris Henry. Playing without Palmer the rest of the way, Cincinnati lost 31-17.

"Cheap shot!" screamed Bengal fans. "Those lucky &*%$!"

Even Palmer said he bore no ill will toward Oelhofen, who had only been doing his job. There was nothing illegal about the hit.

Yet during a Sports illustrated cover piece on his injury rehabilitation several weeks ago, Palmer declared "I hate the Steelers" and badmouthed Pittsburgh DB Deshea Townsend, who got beat on the Henry touchdown pass.

Then came Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident on June 12, and the Bengal fans had a field day.

"At least Carson isn't stupid like Ben," one Cincinnati fan posted on the Bengalszone.com website.

"They cheap-shot their way to a Super Bowl, now karma comes in," sneered another.

In an article in the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo interviewed a Pittsburgh psychologist who noted: "The people who are blogging in Cincinnati, they're the ones whose brains never fully develop. They don't perspectivize human tragedy. They don't learn to think effectively."

Of course, Dr. Paul Friday revealed his true colors -- black and gold -- when he added: "We identify with our champions. Every year, we anoint a new Goliath. And we are the new Goliath after winning the Super Bowl."

Later in the week, after it appeared his injuries weren't career-threatening, Roethlisberger issued a statement that said in part: "I was confident in my ability to ride a motorcycle and simply believed such an accident wouldn't happen to me. If I ever ride again, it will certainly be with a helmet."

Meanwhile, Carson Palmer continues his rehab with grim determination. And we haven't even heard from Chad Johnson or Joey Porter yet.

On Sunday, September 24, the Bengals (with luck, with Palmer at quarterback) will travel to Heinz Field to take on the Steelers (probably with Roethlisberger under center). I wonder if the National Guard will be busy that day?

- Get more on the feud between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers from Realfootball365.com
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