Steelers great isn’t rooting for Roethlisberger
Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans today only know Terry Bradshaw as the guy everyone makes fun of on the Sunday Morning FOX Pre-Game Show, but I remember actually watching him play and while giving a speech today in Shreveport at the Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon, he basically said he’s not rooting for the league to reduce Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension. In fact Bradshaw had a lot to say and it wasn’t just limited to Ben Roethlisberger.
Terry Bradshaw said he was concerned about the lack of “great guys” and the abundance of prima donas in the league. He said that “(Today’s athletes) put a little more value in who they are because they are special athletes. Really what they are is a human being”.
In speaking about Ben Roethlisberger, Bradshaw said, “Going to bars–treating women like that; oh my God. I pray that they don’t cut (his NFL suspension) to four games. I hope they leave it at six. There is no excuse for that. The egos get out of hand”.
It wasn’t just Ben Roethlisberger which drew Bradshaws’ ire, he took on two other icons of the NFL and the media, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. “Once they start becoming stars, Favre, Manning-it’s hard to get to them. Before that you can get to them, but then they are protected and you lose your contacts. You’ll never see them here giving speeches”.
I agree with Bradshaw on the Roethlisberger suspension though I have a feeling the league will reduce it to 4, perhaps 3 games. And I do agree with Bradshaw on the quarterbacks like Manning and Favre becoming bigger than the game itself, but then again, it’s a direct result of the media in which Bradshaw is actually a part of. Yes, he is only a commentator on a pre-game show, but it’s the number 1 rated pre-game show and the pre-game shows simply feature stories on top players week after week and fuel the hype surrounding key players in the league. Then again Brett Favre is basically off limits to any questions surrounding him, even sending alleged sex pictures? Even that.
Steelers Dennis Dixon should start- says Jon Gruden
I think the Pittsburgh Steelers should start Dennis Dixon over Byron Leftwich at quarterback, and now Super Bowl winning head coach Jon Gruden feels the same way. His arguments are exactly what I’ve written in this space over the past three weeks. So, Dennis Dixon threw a few interceptions against the Denver Broncos, so what. Interceptions happen, and if you think Byron Leftwich is as clean as the wind driven snow about turnovers, you haven’t watched any game film from the past few years of his play.
Gruden told reporters, “The guy that fits them (Steelers) the best right now, the guy I would go with is Dixon.”I agree with Gruden that the Steelers early schedule is winnable if they have the right qquarterback under center. Gruden continued on that Dixon’s mobility and his experience in the Steelers’ system should give him the edge.
I totally agree with Gruden, even if Dixon can’t make a throw, he adds the mobility that Leftwich will not bring to the Steelers game. If Dixon is going to be punished for tossing two picks in Denver, just wait until week three, when Leftwich has launched about 5 interceptions and fumbled a few times. Oh trust me, it will happen.
Steeler’s Roethlisberger to live like he’s dying
The off field troubles for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger have been well documented, but in a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he told reporters that he has now turned to the Bible for leadership in order to get his life back on track. Ben Roethlisberger has made a concerted effort this off season to try to get his life back on track and win back the trust of his fans and team mates.
Roethlisberger told reporters from the paper that he most likely will never tell his side of the story as to what happened in Georgia this off season. He claims that he has closed that chapter in his life and is moving forward. He equated the event to throwing an interception in a game, forget about it and move forward.
He told reporters too that he has turned his life over to the Lord as he tries to find inner peace, though he was skeptical in the past, he calls his new found relationship a “great thing”.
When questioned about how he will deal with adversity when he has bad days, Roethlisberger responded,
“Nothing in life is easy. I wear this bracelet, ‘Live like you were dying.’ And every day you deal with it. I think when you have calmness and a peace and a love for your family, friends, football, your day; it makes things easier. And that’s what is making this fun. This has helped me. During this time I hope to coach at a high school, volunteer. And taking it back to what it used to be, and how it really is and how fun football should be. Because I think I lost that a little bit with the business. Yes, it’s a business, but it’s supposed to be about having fun and playing football. That’s what I’m getting back to”.
Roethlisberger will win back his team mates and eventually the fans once he returns and the Steelers are winning with him on the field. However, ownership has most likely informed him that he has no more “second chances” and any more transgressions will be dealt with appropriately.
Dixon, Leftwich unimpressive in quarterback race
In what could have been the best platform for Pittsburgh Steelers backup QB to stake his claim to start, Dennis Dixon failed to deliver. The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to determine who will be the named starting quarterback during the 4-6 game suspension of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and while Dixon has had some shining moments this preseason, last night against the Denver Broncos was not one of them.
Ben Roethlisberger played only 1 quarter against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, and went 4-6 for 67 yards. He had hoped to get more playing time and was disappointed when he was removed from the game. Roethlisberger told reporters after the game, “I was shocked. It was at the end of the quarter and he (Mike Tomlin) said I was done. I still wanted to go in, but he wasn’t going to have it”. Well now Ben, perhaps you should understand that your offseason activities which landed you a 4-6 game suspension are creating problems for the Steelers organization and now the coaching staff needs to determine who will fill your spot while you serve your NFL Timeout.
In the race for the quarterback who will fill that void, there was no clear cut winner Sunday night, but one player who took a giant step backwards, Dennis Dixon. I’ve been a supporter of Dixon, but he played horribly, throwing two interceptions in the course of the evening. Byron Leftwich failed to complete a pass and both quarterbacks finished the night with a passer rating under 40. If that doesn’t instill confidence for the start of the season, I don’t know what does.
The only Steelers QB to throw for a score was 35 year old Charlie Batch midway through the 4th quarter.
Yes, Ben Roethlisberger can complain all he wants about getting yanked after 1 quarter of duty last night, but he is responsible for the situation the Steelers are in and he just needs to deal with it. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has to move forward and come up with a solution to winning games while he’s serving his suspension.
Dennis Dixon advances in QB race
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to determine who with start at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger serves his suspension; Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich. I have suggested Dennis Dixon all along. I believe Leftwich’s delivery is too slow, he’s not mobile and he creates too many turnovers. Dennis Dixon gives the Steelers many more options under center.
It appears that I’m not the only one who feels this way. While Ben Roethlisberger will start the preseason game Sunday against the Denver Broncos, Dixon will get an opportunity to work with the first team offense for the first time this preseason. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Dixon has “earned” the chance to play with the first team.
I have no idea why, at this point, there is even any debate about Dixon and Leftwich if you look at how the two have played this preseason. All Dixon has done is compile a perfect passing rating in two games, throw for two scores and drive the team to score 4 touchdowns.
Speaking with the media, Steelers WR Mike Wallace had complimentary words about Dixon as well. “He did good in preseason last year, but Dennis is so much better. I’m looking forward to seeing him out there with the top guys. If he can continue that, I don’t know…”
