Ben Roethlisberger: Not my job to deal with “player issues” like Chase Claypool

Someone needs to demand more from Steelers receiver Chase Claypool. Someone other than quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
After Thursday night’s loss to the Vikings, Roethlisberger made it clear that he doesn’t believe it’s his place to hold accountable Claypool or any other players who do things they shouldn’t do.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...hase-claypool/

Disarray in the Tomlin house. Shocking!

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Or you can read it as another reason Ben needs to retire. Because as the most decorated and tenured veteran player on the roster and the starting QB it is ABSOLUTELY your job to get on guys for things. That’s called leadership. If you don’t want to do it, time to get on with your life’s work.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Or you can read it as another reason Ben needs to retire. Because as the most decorated and tenured veteran player on the roster and the starting QB it is ABSOLUTELY your job to get on guys for things. That’s called leadership. If you don’t want to do it, time to get on with your life’s work.

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Ben needs to retire, no doubt but if we think the team has internal struggles now wait until the most senior member retires. Tomlin is not a strong leader, he's completely lost the locker room, he is incapable of building a competitive team. Ben is the glue holding the offense together and with his departure we can expect things to fall apart at the seems next season

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Originally Posted by that1guy

Ben needs to retire, no doubt but if we think the team has internal struggles now wait until the most senior member retires. Tomlin is not a strong leader, he's completely lost the locker room, he is incapable of building a competitive team. Ben is the glue holding the offense together and with his departure we can expect things to fall apart at the seems next season

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Totally disagree, but I guess we will see. A team with a lost locker room doesn't come back like they have all season. They would just roll over and quit. As a Flyers fan...I have recently seen a team where the coach lost them. This one isn't it.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Or you can read it as another reason Ben needs to retire. Because as the most decorated and tenured veteran player on the roster and the starting QB it is ABSOLUTELY your job to get on guys for things. That’s called leadership. If you don’t want to do it, time to get on with your life’s work.

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I agree. IMO Ben is not a natural leader and that has been my gut feeling for many years. It doesn't mean a person can't learn to be a good leader, but I've never seen Ben as fitting into either type. Tomlin still talks too much, he'll be happy with 8-8 and the parrots in the news box repeating the same mantra next year "Mike Tomlin Has Never Had a losing Season".

best comment ................. ( and true )

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the8man says:
December 10, 2021 at 9:24 am
Claypool is a mess. In his own world. Misses blocks, wastes time on a running clock, and commits stupid penalties to cripple drives.
I watched Big Ben spend the entire first half shaking his head.
You can’t coach talent, and you can’t fix selfish…and stupid.

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Claypool has a mind of a 12 year old. That is his issue.

Claypool has the mind of typical 23 year old that has been playing high level football for like 5 years. Only one of which did not feature a stopped clock for all first downs or whatever nonsense rules Canadian and college football have.

It doesn't make him right. But it isn't hard to understand.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

I agree. IMO Ben is not a natural leader and that has been my gut feeling for many years. It doesn't mean a person can't learn to be a good leader, but I've never seen Ben as fitting into either type. Tomlin still talks too much, he'll be happy with 8-8 and the parrots in the news box repeating the same mantra next year "Mike Tomlin Has Never Had a losing Season".

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I think Tomlin talks exactly as much as he is contractually obligated to. I also think he is a good enough leader and smart enough to know that what he says into a microphone and what he says behind closed doors are two different things. I believe that we, as fans, get the two confused very frequently.

For instance, I am willing to bet that Tomlin never publicly calls Schoebert out - specifically. But he benched him and I bet they talk about it outside of the spotlight.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Claypool has the mind of typical 23 year old that has been playing high level football for like 5 years. Only one of which did not feature a stopped clock for all first downs or whatever nonsense rules Canadian and college football have.

It doesn't make him right. But it isn't hard to understand.

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It is for me, but then again adulthood is a moving target these days :chuckle:

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Claypool has the mind of typical 23 year old that has been playing high level football for like 5 years. Only one of which did not feature a stopped clock for all first downs or whatever nonsense rules Canadian and college football have.

It doesn't make him right. But it isn't hard to understand.

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I think Tomlin talks exactly as much as he is contractually obligated to. I also think he is a good enough leader and smart enough to know that what he says into a microphone and what he says behind closed doors are two different things. I believe that we, as fans, get the two confused very frequently.

For instance, I am willing to bet that Tomlin never publicly calls Schoebert out - specifically. But he benched him and I bet they talk about it outside of the spotlight.

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Benching a player for a few plays until you need him really isn't doing any good except reinforcing the player that he is needed. I'm still convinced Tomlin missed his calling as a politician, but I suppose he still has time for that. :chuckle:

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Totally disagree, but I guess we will see. A team with a lost locker room doesn't come back like they have all season. They would just roll over and quit. As a Flyers fan...I have recently seen a team where the coach lost them. This one isn't it.

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Flyers rolled over and died in 1999 and haven’t rebounded since. But that’s a topic for another day…lol

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Originally Posted by Shoes

Benching a player for a few plays until you need him really isn't doing any good except reinforcing the player that he is needed.

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I disagree. Sometimes you bench a player for doing something stupid and he has that time to sit and stew about whether he wants to pout, or whether he wants to get his act together and get back into the game.

These are young men, not some freshman in college that you threaten by taking away his scholarship, or some bad puppy that you put in a kennel because he pissed on the rug. Take action, explain why, coach them up and give them an opportunity to improve upon their mistakes. Tell them the truth, treat them like men, coach them up.

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

I disagree. Sometimes you bench a player for doing something stupid and he has that time to sit and stew about whether he wants to pout, or whether he wants to get his act together and get back into the game.

These are young men, not some freshman in college that you threaten by taking away his scholarship, or some bad puppy that you put in a kennel because he pissed on the rug. Take action, explain why, coach them up and give them an opportunity to improve upon their mistakes. Tell them the truth, treat them like men, coach them up.

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Yes, sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

Yes, sometimes.

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Yup, in my experience, maybe 90% of the time. I did it with a young WR this fall that brought back a TD run because he committed a "crack back" block penalty. Told the WR coach to take him out of the rotation. Talked to him at halftime, coached him up and asked if he was ready to go back in and compete. He was, so he got back in and played hard the 2nd half.

Back to the original topic, I agree that Ben should hang it up if he doesnt want to lead. In the past there were guys like Pouncey, Ward, Bettis, Farrior, Porter, Vince Willaims etc. Now there is Ben, Cam and Minkah from what I can see that players look to for leadership. Minkah and Trai Turner were the only 2 guys I saw getting in players faces for that embarrassing effort. Ben just got in Tomlin's face on the way to look at the tablet.

Yeah, it’s all Ben’s fault . . .
Ben is a leader out there, the stupid penalties are on the coaches to clean up, especially when Ben has to wrestle control of the offense for a half before he can just take control and put up some offense, he has a few other things to worry about. When was Ben supposed to be coaching up Chase? In the huddle where he calling the plays? While he is lining everyone up in the hurry up? I get that you all want Ben gone, but it is getting ridiculous. I mean before it was he can’t throw deep, then he throws deep just fine, then it was he can’t throw over the middle, then last night he was threading needles across the middle, then it was he can’t carry the team, again he did that, now it is he isn’t a good leader. Gimme a break.

It's not Bens job to babysit or discipline other players, that would fall squarely at the foot of Tomlin.

Let's be honest about what we saw last night. First...Ben was gritty and gutty all day and even in a losing effort by the team this should burnish his legacy. As should last week.

BUT...he didn't succeed over the middle of the field. See that area between the hash marks and over 4 yards? It was a no go zone again.

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/...rger/ROE750381

And throwing deep? Sure they had success...but...I dont' know, man. Unless there was a ton of throws I didn't see in the variety of game cut-ups I saw...he heaved up prayers that a variety of WRs made simply jaw dropping catches on.

The final throw to PF was amazing and vintage Ben.

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Originally Posted by Rotorhead

Yeah, it’s all Ben’s fault . . .
Ben is a leader out there, the stupid penalties are on the coaches to clean up, especially when Ben has to wrestle control of the offense for a half before he can just take control and put up some offense, he has a few other things to worry about. When was Ben supposed to be coaching up Chase? In the huddle where he calling the plays? While he is lining everyone up in the hurry up? I get that you all want Ben gone, but it is getting ridiculous. I mean before it was he can’t throw deep, then he throws deep just fine, then it was he can’t throw over the middle, then last night he was threading needles across the middle, then it was he can’t carry the team, again he did that, now it is he isn’t a good leader. Gimme a break.

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Nobody said its all Ben's fault. It actually was the O line not protecting him in the first half and really not getting any push in the run game to be able to establish a run. Defensively the front 7 was just terrible, lacked physicality and intensity.

What they are saying is that if Ben is the leader, or if its Ben and his 52 kids out there, then he needs to step up and lead. Or else he needs to delegate his leadership authority on offense to some veteran who will lead. Make Trai Turner, or Derek Watt his "anger translator". When Claypool was celebrating a 1st down and not getting lined up fast, the only 2 guys that got in his face were Turner and Najee. Maybe Najee will grow to be a leader, but the Steelers need to find some guys in the offseason that will lead this team.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

The final throw to PF was amazing and vintage Ben.

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So true. If Harrison Smith doesnt make a great play on the ball, the Steelers are lining up for 2 point convert.

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

Nobody said its all Ben's fault. It actually was the O line not protecting him in the first half and really not getting any push in the run game to be able to establish a run. Defensively the front 7 was just terrible, lacked physicality and intensity.

What they are saying is that if Ben is the leader, or if its Ben and his 52 kids out there, then he needs to step up and lead. Or else he needs to delegate his leadership authority on offense to some veteran who will lead. Make Trai Turner, or Derek Watt his "anger translator". When Claypool was celebrating a 1st down and not getting lined up fast, the only 2 guys that got in his face were Turner and Najee. Maybe Najee will grow to be a leader, but the Steelers need to find some guys in the offseason that will lead this team.

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So true. If Harrison Smith doesnt make a great play on the ball, the Steelers are lining up for 2 point convert.

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For a visual of this. :chuckle:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-UhwbVlwmA

He’s right, It’s not Ben’s job to discipline players. It’s Tomlin’s job. Any players disciplining claypool is voluntary. If it’s Cam or Najee, great then that makes Tomlin’s job easier, but ultimately it’s the coaches responsibility to keep guys in line - like the group celebration after the int when they were down three scores….that’s Tomlin’s responsibility to reprimand those guys…it should’ve never happened in the first place but is known Tomlin misses small details like that in his meetings with players

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

Nobody said its all Ben's fault. It actually was the O line not protecting him in the first half and really not getting any push in the run game to be able to establish a run. Defensively the front 7 was just terrible, lacked physicality and intensity.

What they are saying is that if Ben is the leader, or if its Ben and his 52 kids out there, then he needs to step up and lead. Or else he needs to delegate his leadership authority on offense to some veteran who will lead. Make Trai Turner, or Derek Watt his "anger translator". When Claypool was celebrating a 1st down and not getting lined up fast, the only 2 guys that got in his face were Turner and Najee. Maybe Najee will grow to be a leader, but the Steelers need to find some guys in the offseason that will lead this team.

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So true. If Harrison Smith doesnt make a great play on the ball, the Steelers are lining up for 2 point convert.

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Smith did make a great play. And this play will likely be part of PF's rookie experience. I did not see enough of the play to know for sure, but maybe there was some vet savvy thing he could have done to still get to the ball and shield off Smith? Maybe not. Not blaming him. Just saying that MANY (again...not all) of this team's issues are what happens when you are reliant on 1st, 2nd year, or first time starters all over the field.

Also, Harris will be a leader, if he is not already. I saw several moments is just highlights and other video clips where he was shepherding players away from confrontations, exhorting guys after plays, etc. He also backs it up with his play on the field.

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I also loved the group celebration after the INT. Hell, yeah celebrate. The defense got gashed and had issues, but they kept battling. They kept coming and coming trying to get something done right. Celebrate that a bounce went your way and you were able to capitalize on it. Emotion is what feeds momentum.

Y'all are far too grumpy old geezers sometimes.

Thus highlights the problem with the Steelers for seasons now. No accountability and a lackdaisical "It's not my problem" attitude in the locker room. Its why this team comes out unprepared and not ready to play week after week. We can point fingers and point out the what-ifs and might have beens, but once again the team plays like total dogshit to get behind a very large deficit requiring heroic efforts to overcome. If the Steelers did even remotely one thing right in that first half, they might've won last night. Its a staple of the Ben/Tomlin era. You don't fall behind 29-0 against anyone and expect to win. They battled back and made the game interesting, just like the Jaguars and Browns playoff games, but the result is the same. Another L.

I don't expect any of this to change until Ben retires or Tomlin is let go.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Smith did make a great play. And this play will likely be part of PF's rookie experience. I did not see enough of the play to know for sure, but maybe there was some vet savvy thing he could have done to still get to the ball and shield off Smith? Maybe not. Not blaming him. Just saying that MANY (again...not all) of this team's issues are what happens when you are reliant on 1st, 2nd year, or first time starters all over the field.

Also, Harris will be a leader, if he is not already. I saw several moments is just highlights and other video clips where he was shepherding players away from confrontations, exhorting guys after plays, etc. He also backs it up with his play on the field.

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I also loved the group celebration after the INT. Hell, yeah celebrate. The defense got gashed and had issues, but they kept battling. They kept coming and coming trying to get something done right. Celebrate that a bounce went your way and you were able to capitalize on it. Emotion is what feeds momentum.

Y'all are far too grumpy old geezers sometimes.

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:chuckle: I say how I see it and move on. I sure don't stew over this stuff, if fact I didn't watch Tomlin's post game presser until now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AD_UBiBjFw

I thought the last time Ben chastised a WR (AB) worked out pretty well.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

:chuckle: I say how I see it and move on. I sure don't stew over this stuff, if fact I didn't watch Tomlin's post game presser until now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AD_UBiBjFw

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Fair enough! I just think the hand wringing and pearl clutching over celebrations is nonsense. Like, sure in 1967 that wasn't how it was done. Who cares? It is how it is done now. TJ Watt celebrates all the time. Cam Heyward celebrates. Multiple SB winning teams in recent seasons have engaged in all kinds of group celebrations. Let these dudes have some fun. NFL football seems like it is really hard and often times super boring to be in the weekly grind for the players. Bust some emotion out on game-days.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Smith did make a great play. And this play will likely be part of PF's rookie experience. I did not see enough of the play to know for sure, but maybe there was some vet savvy thing he could have done to still get to the ball and shield off Smith? Maybe not. Not blaming him. Just saying that MANY (again...not all) of this team's issues are what happens when you are reliant on 1st, 2nd year, or first time starters all over the field.

Also, Harris will be a leader, if he is not already. I saw several moments is just highlights and other video clips where he was shepherding players away from confrontations, exhorting guys after plays, etc. He also backs it up with his play on the field.

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I also loved the group celebration after the INT. Hell, yeah celebrate. The defense got gashed and had issues, but they kept battling. They kept coming and coming trying to get something done right. Celebrate that a bounce went your way and you were able to capitalize on it. Emotion is what feeds momentum.

Y'all are far too grumpy old geezers sometimes.

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I love when players celebrate great plays. But you have to prioritize what is more important.....saving time for a potential game winning drive vs. celebrating a fist down reception and it costing valuable seconds in a 2 minute drill?

What would Hines Ward do??

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

I love when players celebrate great plays. But you have to prioritize what is more important.....saving time for a potential game winning drive vs. celebrating a fist down reception and it costing valuable seconds in a 2 minute drill?

What would Hines Ward do??

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Notice that I was addressing the INT celebration and the comments specifically voicing grumpy old man displeasure about that.

Honestly, Hines Ward would get up and celebrate making the first down. Like he almost always did.

The focus on one thing as the reason for losing this game is insanity. I mean if we are going to focus on one thing, let's focus on the total inability of the LB corps to fill gaps. I mean, hell we don't even have to talk about filling the correct gaps -- just any gap.

Want to talk about mental miscues, no situation awareness, no head for the game, and football instincts? The total absence of those in run support in the first half by anyone not named Minkah was far more responsible for the Steelers losing than whether Claypool wasted 5 seconds or 500 seconds.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Notice that I was addressing the INT celebration and the comments specifically voicing grumpy old man displeasure about that.

Honestly, Hines Ward would get up and celebrate making the first down. Like he almost always did.

The focus on one thing as the reason for losing this game is insanity. I mean if we are going to focus on one thing, let's focus on the total inability of the LB corps to fill gaps. I mean, hell we don't even have to talk about filling the correct gaps -- just any gap.

Want to talk about mental miscues, no situation awareness, no head for the game, and football instincts? The total absence of those in run support in the first half by anyone not named Minkah was far more responsible for the Steelers losing than whether Claypool wasted 5 seconds or 500 seconds.

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Who's job is it to them prepared for that? Not Ben's.

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Originally Posted by Mach1

Who's job is it to them prepared for that? Not Ben's.

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Which I never said it was. Weird, it is almost like you are having an argument with a point that you only think I am making...

As to whose fault? Devin Bush, Joe Schoebert, TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith first and foremost. Mondeaux, Wormley, Adams, and Heyward next. Edmunds, Sutton, and Witherspoon next.

I saw one big run in the first half where Watt crashed hard inside, got washed out of the play and the back went right around his end. Either Watt guessed wrong and gave up edge contain or he was supposed to be backed up by another player and wasn't. I suspect that Watt was itching to make a play and guessed wrong. The Vikings exploited it for a big play of their own.

But...sure...let's keep talking about Claypool and coaching hot takes that appear to ripped wholesale from morning ESPN shows and drive-time sports radio.