TPOP: Requiem for a Backup

[teegre]

Here is my article for The Point of Pittsburgh. They asked me to write a "reaction" to the BB knee injury. I skip past the details of the injury, and talk more about the "what now?"


Requiem for a Backup
by Tiger Rowan

Stop me when this sounds familiar: Ben Roethlisberger is injured.

As a Steelers fan, you simply accept the fact that every so often, Ben will take a viscous hit that knocks him out of a few games. Likewise, as a Steelers fan, you have grown accustomed to the play of the back-up quarterback paling in comparison. What makes matters worse is that while Roethlisberger is mending, not only does the team generally lose games, Roethlisberger feels compelled to return (sooner than he should), which in turn aggravates his injury and/or prolongs his recovery.

So, after the Rams knocked Ben’s knee sideways, we have once again arrived at the age-old debate for Steelers fans: start the back-up at one hundred percent, or, go with Big Ben at sixty percent?



Read more:
http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com/requiem-for-a-backup/

If you enjoyed it, feel free to pass it along to anyone who you think might be interested in reading it.

[katmandu]

Good read Teegre!

[teegre]

Good read Teegre!

I appreciate the kind words.

[Count Steeler]

Nice article as usual.

Barron won't be fined. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/29/report-fine-not-coming-for-mark-barrons-hit-on-ben-roethlisberger/

[teegre]

Nice article as usual.

Barron won't be fined. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/29/report-fine-not-coming-for-mark-barrons-hit-on-ben-roethlisberger/

Thanks, man.

The comments are golden.

"Pollard wasn't fined."
Of course not... that was the play that started the rule. Any & all plays prior to that incident are not going to be posthumously fined.

[teegre]

I'm surprised that the quasi-defense of the "Landry Jones pick" didn't receive more backlash...

[GBMelBlount]

Nice read.

I have never been so angry about anything Steelers as that one referenced end of season game in 2011 game when they played Ben severely hobbled.

It was a flat out neanderthal decision.

I think it is best to make a game by game decision based on both Ben's health and the standings.

As long as we are still in the thick of things I would prefer Ben as close to 100% possible before coming back.

[86WARD]

Good read!

[teegre]

Nice read.

I have never been so angry about anything Steelers as that one referenced end of season game in 2011 game when they played Ben severely hobbled.

It was a flat out neanderthal decision.

I think it is best to make a game by game decision based on both Ben's health and the standings.

As long as we are still in the thick of things I would prefer Ben as close to 100% possible before coming back.

If I recall correctly, it was 2010 against the Browns... and BB took a big hit. It turned out to be nothing, but I remember thinking: "There goes the playoffs."

The worst part: the Steelers were up by 4 TDs.

Why was BB still playing!?!

[Craic]

I could almost understand Barron not being fined since Ben pulled the ball down, except Harrison got fined in a situation where the QB was definitely a runner and then at the last moment, flicked the ball away.

Bad decision, NFL, bad decision.

[teegre]

Good read!

Thanks, man.


After last night's loss, I would now wager that BB comes back after only 3 weeks off. If they had won last night, he might have stayed out 5 games. Now... no way.

[teegre]

I'm watching Brian Hoyer look GREAT tonight. Too bad he was never Pittsburgh's backup.

Oh... right. :doh:

[StillCurtains]

Nice article it was right on. That boneheaded decision to play Ben just coming out of a boot against that violent defense was ridiculous. Part of the reason we always seem to face this is, only in 2004, 2005 and just recently has Ben had a good line. Many years was an absolute jailbreak coming at him.

He holds on to the ball too long at times, but the organization put so much pressure on Ben's arm to win it by ignoring addressing the offensive line. I also think for awhile, the organization took Ben's size and stature for granted by not addressing the line, until the injuries really started to mount up.

Ben's a warrior and will continue to fight despite of what he's working with. He hangs in there despite all odds and injuries. I also feel the refs have a big part in Ben's health over the years. Once again judging he can take those hits because of his size when a flag would be thrown for Brady.

It's kind of like Ben gets the NFL version of the HackaShaq treatment. As you said, let's hope he's 100%.

Very nice article!

[teegre]

Nice article it was right on. That boneheaded decision to play Ben just coming out of a boot against that violent defense was ridiculous. Part of the reason we always seem to face this is, only in 2004, 2005 and just recently has Ben had a good line. Many years was an absolute jailbreak coming at him.

He holds on to the ball too long at times, but the organization put so much pressure on Ben's arm to win it by ignoring addressing the offensive line. I also think for awhile, the organization took Ben's size and stature for granted by not addressing the line, until the injuries really started to mount up.

Ben's a warrior and will continue to fight despite of what he's working with. He hangs in there despite all odds and injuries. I also feel the refs have a big part in Ben's health over the years. Once again judging he can take those hits because of his size when a flag would be thrown for Brady.

It's kind of like Ben gets the NFL version of the HackaShaq treatment. As you said, let's hope he's 100%.

Very nice article!

Great post.

I have often said that the refs look at those hits and say: "BB's tough, he can take it." Hence, no flag... which should NOT be the case. A flag is a flas is a flag. Period.

Likewise, the front office (and the former OC) relied on BB's size and toughness and thus, ignored the most critical unit on a team. "BB's tough, he can take it."

[fansince'76]

I could almost understand Barron not being fined since Ben pulled the ball down, except Harrison got fined in a situation where the QB was definitely a runner and then at the last moment, flicked the ball away.

Bad decision, NFL, bad decision.


In part because of the season-ending left knee injury that Brady suffered in the Patriots' 2008 season opener against the Chiefs, the league's Competition Committee adopted a clarification of the current rule on hits to a quarterback in the knee area or below. The clarification specifically prohibits a defender on the ground who hasn't been blocked or fouled directly into the quarterback from lunging or diving at the quarterback's lower legs.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/03/24/brady_rule_steps_taken_to_protect_qbs_knees/?page=full

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yh2j3pisg-D_pXInvY0i3zRleC0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4101510/br.0.gif

Like I said in another thread, either call it for everybody or don't call it at all.

However, I am somewhat surprised that Timmons didn't get fined for drilling Smith in the back.

[teegre]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/03/24/brady_rule_steps_taken_to_protect_qbs_knees/?page=full

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yh2j3pisg-D_pXInvY0i3zRleC0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4101510/br.0.gif

Like I said in another thread, either call it for everybody or don't call it at all.

However, I am somewhat surprised that Timmons didn't get fined for drilling Smith in the back.


This is how the refs view BB:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikssfUhAlgg

[teegre]

Today was EXACTLY why he was drafted.

[Count Steeler]

Today was EXACTLY why he was drafted.

Looks like all that pre season work paid off. Good on Haley and Tomlin.

[teegre]

Looks like all that pre season work paid off. Good on Haley and Tomlin.

Indeed.

All that time behind the 3rd string O-line, all that time against scrubs, all that time learning the playbook...

...paid off when Jones was put behind the 1st string O-line, against a stellar secondary, showing that he can actually execute the playbook.