Ben issues a statement

[stillers4me]

This guy........wow.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEnbjE_XsAUxmrz?format=jpg&name=large

- - - Updated - - -

1173710218762629120

[vasteeler]

:cry02::cry02:

[BlackAndGold]

https://media.giphy.com/media/Ty9Sg8oHghPWg/giphy.gif

[Squeegee Thompson]

I think privately Ben wants Mason to completely fall on his face. He knows he's at the tail end of his career, his play and decisions have been borderline for the last ~15-20 games, and he sees what's happening to Eli in NY.

If Mason lights it up, or even shows he's a competent NFL QB, Ben ... and most likely the coaching staff are done in Pittsburgh. If Mason is pedestrian, then that sets the stage for Ben to come back and make one last run at it.

[steelreserve]

I think privately Ben wants Mason to completely fall on his face. He knows he's at the tail end of his career, his play and decisions have been borderline for the last ~15-20 games, and he sees what's happening to Eli in NY.

If Mason lights it up, or even shows he's a competent NFL QB, Ben ... and most likely the coaching staff are done in Pittsburgh. If Mason is pedestrian, then that sets the stage for Ben to come back and make one last run at it.

If Rudolph falls on his face, there is a very very high probability that we draft a blue-chip QB prospect with the resulting top-5 pick. And that we would not want to keep that guy sitting on the bench for more than a season or so, and that any question marks about Ben's play could hasten that guy into the lineup. At most, that buys him a year, and only then if his arm is back to normal quickly. I don't really see a way that Ben gains anything either way. About the only thing that works in his favor is if Rudolph struggles to an 8-8 or 7-9 record and doesn't look great doing it.

[DesertSteel]

There could be a QB controversy in the making if Rudy puts up big numbers...

[Born2Steel]

I think privately Ben wants Mason to completely fall on his face. He knows he's at the tail end of his career, his play and decisions have been borderline for the last ~15-20 games, and he sees what's happening to Eli in NY.

If Mason lights it up, or even shows he's a competent NFL QB, Ben ... and most likely the coaching staff are done in Pittsburgh. If Mason is pedestrian, then that sets the stage for Ben to come back and make one last run at it.

SEE POST #1

"I will do all I can to support Mason and the team..."

(In my best Chris Carter voice directed at ST) C'mon MAN! With your stupid post. That's just DUMB!

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

There could be a QB controversy in the making if Rudy puts up big numbers... If Rudy does good, Ben's career in Pitt is done and no reason to pay the cap hit Ben will cost next season.

[vasteeler]

I think privately Ben wants Mason to completely fall on his face. He knows he's at the tail end of his career, his play and decisions have been borderline for the last ~15-20 games, and he sees what's happening to Eli in NY.

If Mason lights it up, or even shows he's a competent NFL QB, Ben ... and most likely the coaching staff are done in Pittsburgh. If Mason is pedestrian, then that sets the stage for Ben to come back and make one last run at it.

I don't think that's true at all. I bet Ben will be very supportive of Mason .

[Fire Goodell]

There could be a QB controversy in the making if Rudy puts up big numbers...

If he puts up big numbers, Ben is as good as gone. You don't bench a young star in the making for one who's 1-2 years from retirement at best. In this scenario, it'd be safe to say that Mason would have earned the trust of his teammates, would they want to see him benched for ben to come back for a year or 2? Would Mason ever want to be a Steeler after playing his ass off only to ride the bench again? Bank it, if Mason balls out this year, Ben played his last game as a Steeler already. This would be a replay of the Montana / Steve Young situation, kind of a no-win situation between the vet who you'd want to see go out in a blaze of glory, and the front office which has to make difficult business decisions to keep the team on a winning track, not only now, but into the future.

Love Ben and I'm thankful for all he's done, but honestly the decline started years ago. Yes he put up good seasons in the past couple years, but has been slow out of the gate, and sometimes those slow starts cost us in playoff positioning (or outright not qualifying last year)

[86WARD]

Doesn’t matter if Rudolph throws for 6500 yards and 65 TDs...when Ben returns he will be the starter and Rudolph will be the back up.

[Fire Goodell]

Doesn’t matter if Rudolph throws for 6500 yards and 65 TDs...when Ben returns he will be the starter and Rudolph will be the back up.

I'm willing to take that bet if you're serious. Let's say if it's 3500 yards, 30 TD's, Mason is our new QB regardless of Ben's health.

If I win, you change your avatar to Mason Rudolph. If I lose then I change mine to Ben and say 86Ward was right all along in my sig (or something like that, w/e)

But the stipulation is that Mason's gotta have a season that at least meets the 3500/30TD mark. Deal? :D

[Shoes]

I'm not concerned about Ben returning, right now his mission is to help Mason win football games.

[Six Rings]

Ben's a warrior and a great QB. Fans should not doubt him.

- - - Updated - - -


Doesn’t matter if Rudolph throws for 6500 yards and 65 TDs...when Ben returns he will be the starter and Rudolph will be the back up.



I have given this some thought. Hypothetically speaking if Rudolph can take a 0-2 team, and win two playoff games its a real debate. If the Steelers won the Super Bowl this year...he deserved to keep the job.


I don't see the playoffs this year. Would love to be proven wrong.

[steelreserve]

Ben's a warrior and a great QB. Fans should not doubt him.

- - - Updated - - -





I have given this some thought. Hypothetically speaking if Rudolph can take a 0-2 team, and win two playoff games its a real debate. If the Steelers won the Super Bowl this year...he deserved to keep the job.


I don't see the playoffs this year. Would love to be proven wrong.

If Rudolph wins the Super Bowl, or even makes the conference championship game, then we should give him the job and let Ben ride off into the sunset with a huge pile of cocaine. The odds of that happening are like 0.1%, but one can always hope.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

I'm willing to take that bet if you're serious. Let's say if it's 3500 yards, 30 TD's, Mason is our new QB regardless of Ben's health.

If I win, you change your avatar to Mason Rudolph. If I lose then I change mine to Ben and say 86Ward was right all along in my sig (or something like that, w/e)

But the stipulation is that Mason's gotta have a season that at least meets the 3500/30TD mark. Deal? :D I think he was being sarcastic.

[86WARD]

I'm willing to take that bet if you're serious. Let's say if it's 3500 yards, 30 TD's, Mason is our new QB regardless of Ben's health.

If I win, you change your avatar to Mason Rudolph. If I lose then I change mine to Ben and say 86Ward was right all along in my sig (or something like that, w/e)

But the stipulation is that Mason's gotta have a season that at least meets the 3500/30TD mark. Deal? :D

I’m not sure I understand the bet and I’m not sure I wouldn’t change my avatar to Rudolph on my own...lol.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

The only scenario I see Ben playing for the Steelers next season is. Rudolph sucks the rest of the season or just looks average. If that is the case Pitt will take a QB with their 1 and have Ben groom him till Ben's contract is up. Most likely Ben will hang it up at the end of the season even though what he said now.

[cubanstogie]

If Rudolph wins the Super Bowl, or even makes the conference championship game, then we should give him the job and let Ben ride off into the sunset with a huge pile of cocaine. The odds of that happening are like 0.1%, but one can always hope.
I think if mason leads them to 7-9 record it would be a success, anything more I will be shocked but excited. I think Rudolph can be as good as any from his draft, assuming Lamar comes back to earth. I read Bens statement but don’t see him coming back unless Rudolph stinks it up.

[Bluecoat96]

Right now, i feel like whatever positive outcome that happens with this whole scenario that Mason is our starter is like playing with house money. If we suck, we get a high draft pick. If not, we've found our new starting QB.

Personally, i could see this playing out like a Favre/Rodgers scenario. Ben strikes me as a super proud and stubborn person that would struggle with a new guy taking the reigns of his team....that is if Rudy plays well.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

[steelreserve]

Right now, i feel like whatever positive outcome that happens with this whole scenario that Mason is our starter is like playing with house money. If we suck, we get a high draft pick.

Not anymore, we don't!

[stillers4me]

1173895619339051010

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

1173895619339051010 Cool good news.

[86WARD]

Well that sucks...lol...I was hoping his arm would be stronger...

[Hawkman]

Well that sucks...lol...I was hoping his arm would be stronger...

Still might be.

[EzraTank]

What statement would people expect him to make? These guys say what their publicist type up for them.

I was watching Jim Kelly's "A Football Life" last night and he said he DID NOT want to get drafted by Buffalo and when they did drafted him they played back his phone conversion and of course he said all the standard cliche stuff and said, "That was all lies."

With our first round pick now gone we better hope Mason lights it up or Ben comes back otherwise next year might be the 3-13 season after a 6-10 season.

[Squeegee Thompson]

SEE POST #1

"I will do all I can to support Mason and the team..."

(In my best Chris Carter voice directed at ST) C'mon MAN! With your stupid post. That's just DUMB!

Ben always says the right things in scripted releases. It's when he goes off-prompter, like on his radio show - then you get a little more insight into what makes him tick.

Of course he publicly said he'll support Mason and his progress. But don't you remember how pissed off he got and how he openly mulled retirement when Mason was drafted? All the great ones are wired this way, Ben's no exception.

Farve was furious when Rogers was drafted. Montana was furious when Young was brought on the team. Ben was seething when the Steelers traded up in the 3rd to draft a QB higher than at any other time in his career. Maddox was pissed when Ben got drafted for chrissake. Flacco (though not great) wouldn't throw to a wide open Lamar Jackson purely out of spite since he saw his own writing on the wall.

Ben can say all the right things, but he knows his window is slamming shut and would really like to have a job to come back to next year. Let's face it, he's no spring chicken - and unlike Brady, his diet doesn't consist of solely of wheat grass and unicorn tears.

[stillers4me]

Ben always says the right things in scripted releases. It's when he goes off-prompter, like on his radio show - then you get a little more insight into what makes him tick.

Of course he publicly said he'll support Mason and his progress. But don't you remember how pissed off he got and how he openly mulled retirement when Mason was drafted? All the great ones are wired this way, Ben's no exception.

Farve was furious when Rogers was drafted. Montana was furious when Young was brought on the team. Ben was seething when the Steelers traded up in the 3rd to draft a QB higher than at any other time in his career. Maddox was pissed when Ben got drafted for chrissake. Flacco (though not great) wouldn't throw to a wide open Lamar Jackson purely out of spite since he saw his own writing on the wall.

Ben can say all the right things, but he knows his window is slamming shut and would really like to have a job to come back to next year. Let's face it, he's no spring chicken - and unlike Brady, his diet doesn't consist of solely of wheat grass and unicorn tears.And fairy dust doesn't sprinkle on the field like it does for Brady.

[Rotorhead]

Regardless of what Mason does this year (other than a Lombardy) Ben will be the starter next season if healthy. We are lucky to have Mason on his rookie contract, and even luckier still to be able to see if he is Ben’s future replacement. Last season 2 things killed our season, the kicking game lost 2-3 games for us and our defense couldn’t make crucial stops late in games where we were ahead.

I hope Mason plays like he can be a starter, I hope Ben comes back next season with some fire and ready to get one more ring. I hope our defense improves throughout the season enough to help us out when we need them. I hope if we have to have a down year, it is only one year and all our young players improve enough to win next year.

[Fire Goodell]

Regardless of what Mason does this year (other than a Lombardy) Ben will be the starter next season if healthy. We are lucky to have Mason on his rookie contract, and even luckier still to be able to see if he is Ben’s future replacement. Last season 2 things killed our season, the kicking game lost 2-3 games for us and our defense couldn’t make crucial stops late in games where we were ahead.

I hope Mason plays like he can be a starter, I hope Ben comes back next season with some fire and ready to get one more ring. I hope our defense improves throughout the season enough to help us out when we need them. I hope if we have to have a down year, it is only one year and all our young players improve enough to win next year.

What if he leads us to 14-2 and loses in the AFC championship? Then Pouncey says he's going to retire, but Mason goes "I promise I'll get you to the super bowl next year" ;)