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.

[Butch]

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

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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[steeldevil]

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

[tube517]

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

[BlastFurnace]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[siss]

Ben= Elway of his generation.
Dixon=????????????


Nuff said!

[Nadroj 20]

I would be shocked if Ben wasnt the starter week 5 because they left someone else in that would be considered "hot"...i just dont see it happening.

[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.

[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.

[zulater]

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.

Great post!

[fansince'76]

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.

If he plays like he did when he was here in Denver (depressingly reminiscent of another recent QB who wore #10) and we wind up in a 1-3 or 0-4 hole going into the bye week as a result, watch how fast that tune changes.

[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.

[SteelGhost]

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.

And you will not be alone BF, a lot of fans will be asking for his head, but I HOPE Mike Tomlin is only trying to "punish" Big Ben ...

That said, the best for the team, fans and the NFL is Ben starts against the Browns