Roethlisberger played SB with broken ribs (1 Viewer)

[Godsbrother]

Roethlisberger played with broken ribs

ESPN.com news services

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played the Super Bowl with broken ribs, SI.com's Peter King has reported. Coach Mike Tomlin had denied any injury problem with Roethlisberger in the week before the Super Bowl.

Roethlisberger was seen stretching his midtorso region throughout the week and apparently was comfortable in the game, going 21-for-30 with 256 yards and the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to Santonio Holmes.

Roethlisberger also threw an interception and was sacked three times. The Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com. "Luckily, in the game, I didn't take any big hits to make 'em hurt. But I knew all along there was something wrong. There wouldn't have been anything they could have done about fractured ribs anyway. It was just suck it up and play.''

Roethlisberger was drilled in the back by a helmet during the AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 18 and did not leave the game, though backup Byron Leftwich hurriedly warmed up.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Link

 

[Adebisi]

Say what you want about Ben, where he ranks among today's QBs, etc., but he's a gamer. Gutsy and he seems to be a good leader, and his confidence (which I don't think was ever an issue) has only grown with time.

 

[Sabertooth]

He's tough. Seems like kind of a mouth breather, but he's tough.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

 

[Avery]

:ham:

 

[CrossEyed]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Really not that much of an accomplishment.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Really not that much of an accomplishment.

What sucks is that I can't even play the "we got ripped off by the refs" card in any of them. :X

 

[NorrisB]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Good lord, he's such a drama queen, now we can add broken ribs to:broken toes (which he lied about)

104 fever

motorcycle accident

the thumb

the appendix

the thumb again

the knee

his own linemen stepping on his toe's

the thumb for hundrendth time

and now broken ribs

good god what a drama queen every time everything isnt perfect for him he wines and dines

 

[ClownDogs]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Good lord, he's such a drama queen, now we can add broken ribs to:broken toes (which he lied about)

104 fever

motorcycle accident

the thumb

the appendix

the thumb again

the knee

his own linemen stepping on his toe's

the thumb for hundrendth time

and now broken ribs

good god what a drama queen every time everything isnt perfect for him he wines and dines

He can complain as much as he wants, 2 super bowl wins in four years, enough for me.

 

[NorrisB]

I forgot he also complained about his wr's being too short

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

well compared to playing after u bounce your face off a windshield it seems pretty minor.

 

[FUBAR]

so you're saying he's injury prone?

 

[Godsbrother]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Good lord, he's such a drama queen, now we can add broken ribs to:broken toes (which he lied about)

104 fever

motorcycle accident

the thumb

the appendix

the thumb again

the knee

his own linemen stepping on his toe's

the thumb for hundrendth time

and now broken ribs

good god what a drama queen every time everything isnt perfect for him he wines and dines

He can complain as much as he wants, 2 super bowl wins in four years, enough for me.

Norris is right -- Ben can't compare to "Pillar of Health" Carson Palmer and all of his accomplishments.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Norris is right -- Ben can't compare to "Pillar of Health" Carson Palmer and all of his accomplishments.

Well, Palmer DOES have this on Roethlisberger:Homo-erotic ad campaigns? Advantage: Palmer.

 

[Adebisi]

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger told SI.com.

HEY, LOOK AT ME, I PLAYED WITH A BOO-BOO!Come on Ben. You're tough. Enough with the over-sell, you drama queen.*

*Content in this post is influenced by the fact that this goober is 10-0 versus the Browns, has two Super Bowl rings in 5 years, and led one of the best Super Bowl drives in history.

Good lord, he's such a drama queen, now we can add broken ribs to:broken toes (which he lied about)

104 fever

motorcycle accident

the thumb

the appendix

the thumb again

the knee

his own linemen stepping on his toe's

the thumb for hundrendth time

and now broken ribs

good god what a drama queen every time everything isnt perfect for him he wines and dines

Steelers are denying any knowledge of broken ribs. Sounds like he may be trying to play this up, too. Is he really that much of a drama queen? (Not expecting Steelers fans to do anything but explain this away, of course.)

 

[Adebisi]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Norris is right -- Ben can't compare to "Pillar of Health" Carson Palmer and all of his accomplishments.

Well, Palmer DOES have this on Roethlisberger:Homo-erotic ad campaigns? Advantage: Palmer.

Also, pretty sure this never happened to Ben

 

[Adebisi]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

What rock have you been hiding under? Take a trip to any Patriots forum and [like pay attention].

Can't really say I frequent any Patriots forums. Yes, I'm a Boston fan (Pats, Sox, Bruins), but as far as I'm concerned, 90% of Boston fans are obnoxious, uninformed fanboys (and yes, I realize that most of you people around here would probably group me in with them, too ).

 

[Adebisi]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

What rock have you been hiding under? Take a trip to any Patriots forum and [like pay attention].

Can't really say I frequent any Patriots forums. Yes, I'm a Boston fan (Pats, Sox, Bruins), but as far as I'm concerned, 90% of Boston fans are obnoxious, uninformed fanboys (and yes, I realize that most of you people around here would probably group me in with them, too :X ).

Then why would you speak on it if you had no understanding of it? I think you are now just playing coy.

Because there are two types of Boston fans: those who follow the Red Sox and think they can do no wrong (and who also choose to throw their uneducated opinions into the football ring), and those with a logical outlook on sports. Although almost everyone I choose to hang around with would fall into the latter category, we are easily in the minority.The former group just hates everyone who is successful and is not a Boston team. The latter group can respect successful teams and won't hate or dislike them unless there is a legitimate reason. I, for one, have as much respect for the Steelers as I do for any of my favorite teams' opponents.

 

[Adebisi]

Allow me to give you some examples:

I hate the Yankees because their fans are obnoxious and refuse to acknowledge that they buy championships (yes, the Sox do, too). But I respect the Angels and Rays.

I hate the Penguins because of what Ulf Samuelsson did to Cam Neely's career (no, I'll never get over that). But I respect the Red Wings, and in spite of having once employed Claude Lemieux, I also respect the Devils.

I hate the Lakers because of Kurt Rambis's antics a generation ago. But I respect... well, I honestly don't know where I'm going with this, basketball-wise.

As far as football goes, I don't like the Cowboys because they are a bunch of criminals, but I do respect the Steelers and even the Colts.

Understand?

 

[Adebisi]

Understand?

But you fit in so well...(Not expecting Steelers fans to do anything but explain this away, of course.)

I got lost now, and I'm not sure if I'm being insulted or patted on the back.

 

[Adebisi]

Understand?

But you fit in so well...(Not expecting Steelers fans to do anything but explain this away, of course.)

I got lost now, and I'm not sure if I'm being insulted or patted on the back.

You said you were not akin to the other Patriot fans... yet you acted (took your premptive pop shot) just like they do in regards to the Steelers. No sweat.

Come on now - just like Boston fans are predictable, so are Steelers fans. This is nothing new here.

 

[Adebisi]

But on a serious note... if you want to talk of Big Ben - you should understand that he plays (jokes/sarcastic) when he talks to the media. The dont quite "get" it and run with whatever he states to them. I hope he continues doing it too.

More power to him then. I've often wondered how awesome it'd be to play games with the media - organize team "fights" that are fake, and talk #### about your teammates through the media totally joking around, and that sort of thing. I hope this happens some day.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

But on a serious note... if you want to talk of Big Ben - you should understand that he plays (jokes/sarcastic) when he talks to the media. The dont quite "get" it and run with whatever he states to them. I hope he continues doing it too.

He's a drama queen on the field too or else he wouldn't wince, grimace, and stay down if defenders even looked at him wrong. But I guess it gives Steelers fans an extra 15 minutes or so to party each game...

 

[Godsbrother]

But on a serious note... if you want to talk of Big Ben - you should understand that he plays (jokes/sarcastic) when he talks to the media. The dont quite "get" it and run with whatever he states to them. I hope he continues doing it too.

He's a drama queen on the field too or else he wouldn't wince, grimace, and stay down if defenders even looked at him wrong. But I guess it gives Steelers fans an extra 15 minutes or so to party each game...

Call him a drama queen if you like but he's been sacked over 120 times in the past 3 years and hit countless others. There aren't too many QBs in the NFL that take a greater punishment than he does.Heck Brady Quinn didn't last two games before he was put on IR for hurting his finger.

 

[PatsWillWin]

So did he make this up?

 

[fred_1_15301]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

 

[Godsbrother]

So did he make this up?

Apparently he broke his ribs in the Baltimore game. He had x-rays in Tampa but decline to comment about it. He had a MRI in Pittsburgh after the Super Bowl that confirmed he had fractured ribs.

 

[Godsbrother]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

 

[PatsWillWin]

So did he make this up?

Apparently he broke his ribs in the Baltimore game. He had x-rays in Tampa but decline to comment about it. He had a MRI in Pittsburgh after the Super Bowl that confirmed he had fractured ribs.

But the team came out yesterday and said he was given an MRI and he didn't have broken ribs, and was cleared the play before the Super Bowl? One of them is lying, no?

 

[Godsbrother]

So did he make this up?

Apparently he broke his ribs in the Baltimore game. He had x-rays in Tampa but decline to comment about it. He had a MRI in Pittsburgh after the Super Bowl that confirmed he had fractured ribs.

But the team came out yesterday and said he was given an MRI and he didn't have broken ribs, and was cleared the play before the Super Bowl? One of them is lying, no?

Not really. what they said was:"To our knowledge, he was ready, willing and able to go and obviously he performed admirably," said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations.The breaks did not show on an X-ray taken before the Super Bowl but did turn up on an MRI he had in Pittsburgh last week, Roethlisberger told Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

So did he make this up?

Apparently he broke his ribs in the Baltimore game. He had x-rays in Tampa but decline to comment about it. He had a MRI in Pittsburgh after the Super Bowl that confirmed he had fractured ribs.

But the team came out yesterday and said he was given an MRI and he didn't have broken ribs, and was cleared the play before the Super Bowl? One of them is lying, no?

Sounds like it. But, It's possible he could have had a hairline fracture or something along those lines, and would you then be incorrect to say they aren't "broken"? (Caveat: I realize this is some serious homer spin I'm attempting here) edit -- (I guess it depends on the order of the XRay and MRI. If he did in fact get an XRay pre SB, and a MRI only after, then Pghs FO could have been telling what they thought to be the truth after the XRay)

 

[PatsWillWin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3894263

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have no knowledge that Ben Roethlisberger played the Super Bowl with two broken ribs, as the quarterback told a Web site.

According to SI.com, Roethlisberger said his fractured ribs did not show up on X-rays taken before he led the Steelers to a 27-23 win over Arizona on Feb. 1, but were revealed only during a MRI test he had last week.

Roethlisberger

"Luckily, in the game, I didn't take any big hits to make 'em hurt," Roethlisberger told SI.com. "But I knew all along there was something wrong. There wouldn't have been anything that could have been done about fractured ribs anyway. It was just suck it up and play."

Roethlisberger did not miss any practices before the Super Bowl, although a pool report from the Wednesday practice said he attempted during the middle of the workout to stretch his torso. He missed one practice during the off week before the Super Bowl because of what the team said was a back injury.

"There's not a whole lot to say," Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said Monday. "Ben was fine to go. He was cleared to play. He didn't miss any [practice] time. There was no doubt he was going to play."

The Steelers said it would have been difficult for Roethlisberger to play any better than he did in leading the decisive 78-yard drive that ended with a precisely thrown 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds remaining.

Several plays before, Roethlisberger -- leading his sixth game-winning drive of the season -- hit Holmes on a 40-yard completion.

Roethlisberger did not mention any possible injury during postgame interviews.

It is uncertain if the validity of Roethlisberger's claim will be proven.

NFL teams do not routinely require players to undergo MRI or other medical tests during the offseason, and Roethlisberger isn't due back in Pittsburgh until offseason workouts begin in April. By then, any problem that occurred before or during the Super Bowl might not show up in tests.

Roethlisberger has previously exaggerated or misstated injuries he supposedly suffered during his five-season career.

The day after the January 2005 AFC Championship Game, Roethlisberger said he broke two toes during the 41-27 loss to New England. Coach Bill Cowher emphatically denied that, saying the quarterback merely aggravated a toe injury from college. Roethlisberger never brought up the issue again.

Roethlisberger also said during training camp in 2006 that he played the Steelers' Super Bowl-winning season of 2005 with a broken thumb. Roethlisberger missed no playing time after supposedly being hurt on Nov. 28, 2005, in Indianapolis and the team never revealed any such injury.

After Cowher resigned following the 2006 season, Roethlisberger acknowledged he and the coach didn't always get along -- in part, apparently, because Cowher felt the quarterback exaggerated the extent of injuries.

It also was reported that Roethlisberger sustained a spinal cord concussion against Cleveland on Dec. 28, but the team said only that he had a concussion.

"Ben's health is often the subject of inaccurate reports," coach Mike Tomlin said before the Super Bowl. "He's fine."

Sounds like some BS imo.

 

[3C's]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

 

[PatsWillWin]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

 

[Steeler]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

I usually stay out of these pissing matches, but how many superbowls have the Pats won since spy gate?

 

[Sheriff66]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile since the Pats have won anything

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile sine the Pats have won anything

I look forward to future Patriots Steelers games, as I'm sure you do as well. The Steelers success is a good thing for the Patriots who's dynasty has been lessened by the absence of a true foil. The Steelers have supplanted the Colts as the SECOND best team this decade.

 

[Sheriff66]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile sine the Pats have won anything

I look forward to future Patriots Steelers games, as I'm sure you do as well. The Steelers success is a good thing for the Patriots who's dynasty has been lessened by the absence of a true foil. The Steelers have supplanted the Colts as the SECOND best team this decade.

Yeah, the Pats dynasty per se was quite a few years ago. 6 lombardi's is the gold standard in dynasties...

 

[3C's]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile sine the Pats have won anything

I look forward to future Patriots Steelers games, as I'm sure you do as well. The Steelers success is a good thing for the Patriots who's dynasty has been lessened by the absence of a true foil. The Steelers have supplanted the Colts as the SECOND best team this decade.

I wouldn't have an argument saying the Pats are the best team of the decade....so far. One more year left. If the Steelers were to somehow win it again next year I think a case could be made for it to be a 1a and 1b. Pats would have an advantage in reg season records, with playoff appearances, records and SB wins being similar/same.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile sine the Pats have won anything

I look forward to future Patriots Steelers games, as I'm sure you do as well. The Steelers success is a good thing for the Patriots who's dynasty has been lessened by the absence of a true foil. The Steelers have supplanted the Colts as the SECOND best team this decade.

I wouldn't have an argument saying the Pats are the best team of the decade....so far. One more year left. If the Steelers were to somehow win it again next year I think a case could be made for it to be a 1a and 1b. Pats would have an advantage in reg season records, with playoff appearances, records and SB wins being similar/same.

I agree. If Pitt wins next year, people won't talk about a team of the decade, as it would be pretty clearly split early decade Pats / late decade Steelers. However, if NE wins, they can claim team of the decade.Despite Vegas odds, I would say Pitt is a safer play to win it all next year as NE faces significant turnover issues in the next 2 years.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Ben is a drama queen with injuries but so were Pittsburgh icons Roberto Clemente and Mario Lemieux. Bottom line with Ben is that he will play if he can walk and he will take a hit as well as any QB in the league. Going through the Tommy Maddox Era before Ben came along I sure appreciate having a QB that doesn't fold the tents when he is being pressured.

 

[PatsWillWin]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

Someone's on a little high horse. It doesn't matter if the Steelers haven't knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. Among the 2 teams, the two most recent superbowls have gone to the Steelers.

Not to mention the Steelers pounded the Patriots on their own turf in the most recent matchup.

wasn't that their last loss...and didn't they miss the playoffs by one game?

Big talk from the Patriots' post-season #####es. Just make sure you send Pollard a ring.

Pat's couldn't get it done last year, then the clean hit by Pollard, them's the breaks... Man it's been awhile sine the Pats have won anything

I look forward to future Patriots Steelers games, as I'm sure you do as well. The Steelers success is a good thing for the Patriots who's dynasty has been lessened by the absence of a true foil. The Steelers have supplanted the Colts as the SECOND best team this decade.

I wouldn't have an argument saying the Pats are the best team of the decade....so far. One more year left. If the Steelers were to somehow win it again next year I think a case could be made for it to be a 1a and 1b. Pats would have an advantage in reg season records, with playoff appearances, records and SB wins being similar/same.

I certainly don't want the Steelers to win another ring this decade, but if they did, and they both ended up 3-3, this would be a fun debate to have for a long time.Or actually maybe that would just mean there isn't a team of the decade. I don't know.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

Ben is a drama queen with injuries but so were Pittsburgh icons Roberto Clemente and Mario Lemieux. Bottom line with Ben is that he will play if he can walk and he will take a hit as well as any QB in the league. Going through the Tommy Maddox Era before Ben came along I sure appreciate having a QB that doesn't fold the tents when he is being pressured.

He plays, I'll give him that. Other than that, He goes WAY out of his way to let everyone know he's banged up too. Most of the media buys it, some question it like I do.

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/02/e...on-drama-queen/

Pot Calls the Kettle Black: ESPN Talking Heads Say Big Ben Needs to Be Center of Attention

1 February 2009

Late last night, I wrote a post about Pat Knight going ape#### that began with the cliche “imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.” Today, let me trot out another oft-used cliche: the pot calling the kettle black.

This morning on ESPN’s NFL Countdown, the talking heads (John Clayton, Steve Young, and Trent Dilfer, specifically) have been razzing Ben Roethlisberger for being a drama queen.

During a report about an hour ago, John Clayton downplayed any notion that Ben Roethlisberger’s rib injury, for which he needed X-Rays earlier in the week, would adversely affect him come game time. He also said that it always seems like something comes up related to injury with Ben Roethlisberger in big games.

Then, about five minutes ago, Steve Young and Trent Dilfer both spoke to the notion of Ben Roethlisberger needing to be the “center of attention” in big games. Steve Young surmised that it could relate to Ben Roethlisberger wanted a built-in excuse if something goes wrong. Trent Dilfer was a little more pro-Ben, saying that it is perhaps Roethliberger’s way of getting motivated for the game. Either way, Steve Young doesn’t think it will have any affect on the game, saying that the ribs are a perfect place of a pain-killing shot, so Ben Roethlisberger should be fine.

Of course, the irony of all of this being broadcast on ESPN jumped out at me immediately. ESPN’s outgoing ombudsman, LeAnne Schrieber, has chided the network for making itself the story far too often, as opposed to fulfilling the network’s stated purpose of covering news (not making it). ESPN consistently tries to make itself the center of attention and shine the spotlight on itself during big sporting events as stories, as much if not moreso than it shines the spotlight on the event.

Sure, Ben Roethlisberger has a history of drama-queenish actions. Heck, Matt Hasselbeck even called him a girl. And he does always seem to be fighting some nagging injury so he can look like Willis Reed out on the football field. So ESPN isn’t reporting anything erroneously. The juxtaposition is just ironic, and ESPN should probably look in the mirror before calling someone out for needing to be the center of attention.

Because, as the old cliche goes, don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house (or something like that).

And for the record, before you flame me Steelers fans, Big Ben is my pick for Super Bowl MVP. So while he is a drama queen and will probably milk the rib injury rumors for all they’re worth, I still think he comes up big tonight and brings another title to Pittsburgh.

Nice call, although not far fetched considering Big Jen's whine and cheese injury parties.

 

[Copeman]

Kind of ironic that so many people are calling him a "drama queen", yet so many people are discussing this issue like it has some kind of meaning as to how he performs on the field. Talk about drama.......

I feel like I am listening to a bunch of women talk.

 

[Godsbrother]

Kind of ironic that so many people are calling him a "drama queen", yet so many people are discussing this issue like it has some kind of meaning as to how he performs on the field. Talk about drama.......I feel like I am listening to a bunch of women talk.

So we can count you out of the "Does Big Ben have nice buns" thread?

 

[PatsWillWin]

Kind of ironic that so many people are calling him a "drama queen", yet so many people are discussing this issue like it has some kind of meaning as to how he performs on the field. Talk about drama.......I feel like I am listening to a bunch of women talk.

So we can count you out of the "Does Big Ben have nice buns" thread?

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

I feel like I am listening to a bunch of women talk.

No, that's just some old Myron Cope 8-Track you have on in the background.

 

[The Jerk]

(though we dont expect Pats fans to do anything [like paying attention] but poo-poo on all things Steelers)

Not sure why you seem to think that Pats fans have it out for the Steelers. Can't remember the last time you ended our season. It's a one-way rivalry if you ask me.

While it can be argued that the Steelers ended the 2008 Patriots season, officially the last time would be 1997.And if head-to-head is all that matters, then shouldn't the Broncos be the team of the decade? Weren't they 5-1 in their past six games this decade vs. NE before this year's debacle? Didn't they win the only playoff matchup between the two teams? Didn't the Steelers then pound the Broncos by 17 points one week later on the same field? Come on, you're better than this!

Although some Steeler fans may defend Ben's media antics, I don't know any of them personally. I'm sure you can find examples on this board, but most Steeler fans take this "drama queen" center of attention and media focus as part of the package. I'll defend Ben's on-field accomplishments and toughness as much as anyone, but I don't defend this at all. In fact, I don't even understand it.

The first injury-related oddity was after the Patriots won the 2004 AFC championship, when Ben said he played with broken toes. Then the 104 degree fever came up before the 2006 Week 2 game in Jacksonville. This year we had separated shoulder comments in September, finishing up with the ribs in the Super Bowl.

Those are four instances of injuries in three different seasons and two coaching staffs that were denied by the Steelers organization. I also believe the disclosures were to national media members in each case.

Is Ben showing up the local media?

Is Ben mocking the national media?

Is Ben exaggerating the extent of the injury and/or discussing what most other players would just not talk about?

Is there a breakdown in communication between the Steeler medical personnel and the coaching staff (or do they disagree on injury classification)?

The last item in that list is the only one that potentially should disturb a Steeler fan.

Some local media have commented on this behavior as if Ben somehow needs/tries to make himself look even tougher and more courageous and in general "bigger" than he really is, when in reality he's plenty "big" in Pittsburgh and even nationally as it is.

Whatever it is, I have no problem with anyone calling Ben a drama queen, although to be fair, it should be acknowledged that he is one courageous, resilient, talented, successful and accomplished drama queen.