Steelers shouldn’t play head games with Roethlisberger

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, November 03, 2006  |  Comments( 10 )

 Pittsburgh Steelers
Here are two words for Bill Cowher to consider: Steve Young. And then, two more: Troy Aikman. Despite all the computers and video tape and the other bloodless, technological aspects of pro football these days, major decisions still often turn on the macho factor. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he felt fine to play...
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CommentsComments: 10
 No.1
fr8ttrain		 09:32 AM
11/03/2006
Ben's obviously had a tough year, with the accident, the appendectomy and the concussion. There are no guarantees in football, last year could be the best one he ever has. The talent is there but he seems injury prone, on and off the field.
Steelers need to look into another young quarterback to groom.
 No.2
Mike de la Polamalu		 01:17 PM
11/03/2006
Sorry 'train, i would have to agree Mr. Laurant: Being tossed back into the mix too early doesn't make Rothlisberger injury-prone, it means that he hasn't had the time he needs to get back to top shape. it's like those hamstring pulls you see receivers or running backs dealing with, they linger all year because the player doesn't have enough time off of it. It's just some pain, so they play through it...and all that running around doesn't leave time for healing. well, concussions are a bit more tricky: the fact that doctors can only talk about the 'potential cumlative effects' should tell you that even medicine doesn't have a full understanding of the impact on people. Tossing Ben back in and hoping he just plays through it is pretty short-sighted when you are risking the career of a franchise quarterback, which is what Ben is, and he would be somewhere else if not with the Steel City. [Could you imagine the slack Dungy would take for putting Manning in the next week after a huge concussion against a team like the Raiders (no offense guys and gals) when you have a capable back up like batch?

Sure, maybe Cowher was right tossin' ben in at the begining of the year after his surgery, but now it is getting a little extreme.

None of this, however, means it's time to throw in the terrible towel on Big Ben, but how about we give him 5 minutes to catch his breath...
Or this season of heartbreak and disappointing losses would be for nothing...and THAT is not forgiveable.
i am an unwaivering Cowher supporter, but if he slacked off for a year cuz he got his ring and took away the best chance the Steelers have had since Bradshaw at having a franchise quarterback...well, that's a firing offense. I'm not ready to say Cower is being that irresponsible, but he is riding that fine line, and this year things aren't going their way...
When all else fails, protect your playmakers. This Steelers team isn't the Bus team of last year, it's a new team of raw, relatively young talent, that still needs a little time to hammered into shape. GO STEELERS!
 No.3
fr8ttrain		 03:10 PM
11/03/2006
Mike, i think you're getting me wrong, i like Ben, I live in Ohio right near where he comes from. I'm a big Miami U. fan, I believe he is what the Steelers needed all along. I am not suggesting a replacement, but getting another young gun couldn't hurt. But if you like Batch, then cool. However saying the guy doesn't get injured is a bit of denial. Knee in and thumb in 05, 12 starts. Motorcycle crash in off-season, appendectomy and a concussion in the span of less than a year, that's like getting hurt every 2 months, if that's not accident prone then what is? Yes, I hope the Steelers have more great years to come, but that doesn't rule out the possibility that 05-06 was the heighth of his career. There was a ten year gap between SB appearances for the Steelers and 26yrs to get one for thumb. I'm positive he is the franchise qb and playing against Oakland was not so thoughtful (they lost anyway) and barring something brilliant the season resembles the typical post-SB hangover. Regarding your comments on concussions, having had a few of my own, I hear ya'!
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