No guarantee that Ben will be the starting quarterback when suspension ends

[venom]

Can someone say Dixon starts 4-0 ?? Unleash Hell !!!!!


Read article---> http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5543326

[Crow-Magnon]

I'd bet cutting my sac off and feeding it to the hogs that Ben is the starter in Week 5...no matter what Dixon does.

[Delraich]

I'd bet cutting my sac off and feeding it to the hogs that Ben is the starter in Week 5...no matter what Dixon does.

It's goinna hurt dude. We have a bye in week 5. But yeah Dixon can be 4-0 with a 120 QB rating and Ben would still get his job back.

[stillers4me]

It's goinna hurt dude. We have a bye in week 5. But yeah Dixon can be 4-0 with a 120 QB rating and Ben would still get his job back.

[Stlrs4Life]

I'd bet cutting my sac off and feeding it to the hogs that Ben is the starter in Week 5...no matter what Dixon does.

Exactly, that's why ESPN is second class.

[Butch]

Yeah Mike we'll unleash hell in December!!!

I think James Walker is drinking Johnny Walker if he expects us to believe that.

[TatarMongol]

Like Hometown girl said, unless Dixon or Lefty gets 4 W's with at least 4 TDs on each game, there is no way he'd lose the starting job. Besides he better start on that vs. the Browns game cuz that's the game my brothers & i want 2 watch.

Yeah Mike we'll unleash hell in December!!!

I think James Walker is drinking Johnny Walker if he expects us to believe that.

Hey Coach T didn't exactly say which December now, did he? Just U wait.

[MULLDOG24]

No way in HELL that Ben doesn't start when he comes back!!!!!! Dixon is still learning and Lefty is a statue behind a porous O-line I just don't see something like that happening!!!

[ALLD]

Lefty is listed only as questionable and that he could be back in Week 2. Who the QB will be in Week 5 is all posturing, and very transparent at that. Tomlin better push himself away from the buffet and start thinking about winning football games more than what's for dinner.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Tomlin better push himself away from the buffet and start thinking about winning football games more than what's for dinner.

LOL! I thought I was the only one that noticed how he's been putting on the lbs.

[steelerdude15]

That would be a dumb decision not to bring Ben back as the starter.

[fansince'76]

Yeah, OK. Unless we not only go 4-0, but Dixon/Lefty throws 5-6 TDs a game with a perfect QBR of 158.3 every week, it's a pretty safe bet Ben will be starting game 5.

[Craic]

Yeah, OK. Unless we not only go 4-0, but Dixon/Lefty throws 5-6 TDs a game with a perfect QBR of 158.3 every week, it's a pretty safe bet Ben will be starting game 5.

Yep. But I also wonder if it isn't a subtle way for Tomlin to be communicating with Ben, "Its not enough just to hire a QB coach, make sure you stick to your workouts the ENTIRE 4 weeks!" Also have to remember, he hardly EVER announces starters more than a week in advance.

[siss]

Yep. But I also wonder if it isn't a subtle way for Tomlin to be communicating with Ben, "Its not enough just to hire a QB coach, make sure you stick to your workouts the ENTIRE 4 weeks!" Also have to remember, he hardly EVER announces starters more than a week in advance.

If Ben isn't in good shape when he gets back then all this crap about working out and having a better work ethic will be nothing but BS and all the head way he has made will have been nothing but BS. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but if Ben sits on his toned rear end for 4 weeks then I will beat Ben with a wet noodle!

[GBMelBlount]

Yep. But I also wonder if it isn't a subtle way for Tomlin to be communicating with Ben, "Its not enough just to hire a QB coach, make sure you stick to your workouts the ENTIRE 4 weeks!" Also have to remember, he hardly EVER announces starters more than a week in advance.

Subtle?

Personally I think it is he's rubbing Ben's nose in his own shit one last time to help ensure this doesn't happen again.

[ShoeHorn]

If Tomlin benches Ben when he returns from the suspension, Ben will be done as a Steeler (he won't want to be here anymore) and Tomlin would need to be fired. There is no way that Dixon, or gulp, Byron Leftwich start over a healthy and non-suspended Big Ben.

[tube517]

Mike Tomlin is trying to channel Chuck Noll (circa 1974)

[GoSlash27]

Ben is going to be working his butt off during his hiatus, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be ready.
In all likelihood, Ben *will* be starting, but that's not the sort of thing you guarantee a month out.

[siss]

I would bet the first born that even IF Dennis Dixon averages a perfect passer rating, 10 TDs and a 80% pass completion rating, he is NOT beating out our 102 million dollar 2X winning QB.

[SteelerEmpire]

A terrible QB (lefty) and one that has .001 % of NFL experience (Dixon) starts over a 2 time SB, $100+ Million QB ...? ONLY if Ben has a 1) nervous break-down or 2) loses a limb... not likely...

[siss]

A terrible QB (lefty) and one that has .001 % of NFL experience (Dixon) starts over a 2 time SB, $100+ Million QB ...? ONLY if Ben has a 1) nervous break-down or 2) loses a limb... not likely...

1. was more likely 4 months ago.
2. Will happen if he gets in trouble again.

[Craic]

A terrible QB (lefty)

I wouldn't go that far... he beat our Steelers a fewof times. He did start for four years for JAX-and except for the last year when he was injured, his QB rating was steadily climbing-up to 89.3, which put him just a tad below average for NFL QB's in 2004, his second year there, and in the top third of passers (9th of 32) in his third year. Not terrible at all. Worthy if a 7th overall pick? Nope. But not a terrible QB.

and one that has .001 % of NFL experience (Dixon)

That would be .0021%, just to be argumentative

starts over a 2 time SB, $100+ Million QB ...? ONLY if Ben has a 1) nervous break-down or 2) loses a limb... not likely...

I agree, not likely. As I have said before, I COULD see it in a few different cases. The biggest of which is Ben coming back and not quite having the timing with the receivers necessary to start. However, with that week being a bye week, I doubt very much that will happen. So the only other scenario I could really fathom is Dixon playing lights out the first four weeks, and the staff is angling to trade Dixon for more draft picks next year to get younger... since our 5th game is against the Browns, and we are what, 9-1 against them over the last 5 years? Good way to up trade value. --though the Rooney's don't really play that game. Now if it was Snyder, well.......

[HometownGal]

I wouldn't go that far... he beat our Steelers a fewof times. He did start for four years for JAX-and except for the last year when he was injured, his QB rating was steadily climbing-up to 89.3, which put him just a tad below average for NFL QB's in 2004, his second year there, and in the top third of passers (9th of 32) in his third year. Not terrible at all. Worthy if a 7th overall pick? Nope. But not a terrible QB.

Spot on. When he said "terrible", I think he must have been referring to Botch.

The Rooneys have always stayed out of coaching decisions, but they are hungry for another Lombardi to adorn the executive hallways, and thus I believe if Coach T decided to keep Dixon in there and Ben on the pine when he returns, Art II would definitely have something to say about it. He may be a little pissed at Ben but he's a businessman first and foremost and far from stupid. He's not going to bite the hand that has fed him. Besides, I think Coach T is smart enough to know that our O thrives with Ben at the helm, so I don't see him sitting Ben no matter how well Dixon (or Lefty) performs.

I will dance naked in front of Kaufmann's (Macy's) clock in downtown Pittsburgh if Ben doesn't return to his starter position after his suspension.

[BlastFurnace]

I will dance naked in front of Kaufmann's (Macy's) clock in downtown Pittsburgh if Ben doesn't return to his starter position after his suspension.

I will buy a ticket and fly to Pittsburgh to witness this...

[steeldevil]

Ben will be the starter in game 5.... Obviously.

[BlastFurnace]

Do you guys actually believe half the cr@p that Tomlin says anyway?

[SteelerFanInStl]

There's no reason for anyone to even ask Tomlin that question. If anything, his answer is only trying to give support to Dixon. There's no controversy here. Ben will be the starter at QB for game 5.

[BlastFurnace]

If...and this is a big If...Ben ever does get traded because of fan unrest or anything like that...for the first time in my life...when the Steelers play Ben's team...I will hope that Ben's team kicks the living cr@p out of the Steelers.

I am listening to 93.7 The Fan right now and I simply cannot believe some of the callers right now. Tomlin needs to make a definitive statement that Ben is our starter and quit playing his stupid mind games with Ben, the media, the team, etc. Unbelievable!!!! Tomlin is helping fuel the fire to this kind of cr@p we are hearing from the fanbase. If Tomlin does not start Ben when Ben is available...I am officially done with any kind of support for Tomlin and will pull for his firing.

In 1976, Mike Krucseck won 6 straight games to help save the season...what did Noll do...he put Bradshaw right back in as a starter. Tomlin needs to follow suit.

Here we have a guy on the roster who still can't run the entire playbook 3 years after being drafted...and these Steelers fans are talking about him replacing Ben.

[stillers4me]

If...and this is a big If...Ben ever does get traded because of fan unrest or anything like that...for the first time in my life...when the Steelers play Ben's team...I will hope that Ben's team kicks the living cr@p out of the Steelers.

I am listening to 93.7 The Fan right now and I simply cannot believe some of the callers right now. Tomlin needs to make a definitive statement that Ben is our starter and quit playing his stupid mind games with Ben, the media, the team, etc. Unbelievable!!!! Tomlin is helping fuel the fire to this kind of cr@p we are hearing from the fanbase. If Tomlin does not start Ben when Ben is available...I am officially done with any kind of support for Tomlin and will pull for his firing.

In 1976, Mike Krucseck won 9 straight games to help save the season...what did Noll do...he put Bradshaw right back in as a starter. Tomlin needs to follow suit.

Here we have a guy on the roster who still can't run the entire playbook 3 years after being drafted...and these Steelers fans are talking about him replacing Ben.

This.

It's this crap that fueled the whole lynch mob to begin with.

[Craic]

This.

It's this crap that fueled the whole lynch mob to begin with.

Actually, I think it was Ben's questionable actions with two separate women that fueled the lynch mob in the beginning. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." Regardless of whether what Ben did meets the "legal" definition of rape, I think many fans feel betrayed for defending him once, just to see him back in the same position again.