Down Goes Roethlisberger?

[theFRANCHISE]

Via [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/20/down-goes-roethlisberger/"]ProFootballTalk[/url] and Twitter (retweeted by ESPN's [url="http://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/3435349358"]Jemele Hill[/url]):

[quote]Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered an injury during practice on Thursday, and he currently is being tended to by trainers.

Per our buddy Mike Logan of ESPN 1250 in Pittsburgh (yes, the same Mike Logan who played for the Steelers and West Virginia University), left tackle Max Starks fell and rolled up on Roethlisberger's leg.

Logan advises that, according to ESPN 1250's Ken Laird, Roethlisberger's leg is "heavily wrapped" and he couldn't put pressure on it when trying to stand.
[/quote]
If this is true, perhaps Mike Tomlin's idea of toughening up his guys by cancelling Movie Day at the last minute to instead practice was a HORRIBLE idea. I get that players need to learn to deal with adversity and disappointment (and it seemed like a great idea in principle), but men can only take so much and it honestly makes Tomlin look a little bit arrogant for sneaking in an extra practice and assuming nothing would happen.

As much as this would make our games with the Steelers easier this season, I'd rather have a healthy Ben Roethlisberger playing. It's not as much fun beating a Steelers team without Big Ben and all their best players in.

[Moderator 2]

Agreed! I want Ben healthy.

[AwakenTheDemon]

So I assume it's a potentially serious injury? We don't play the Steelers at all until week 12, so I'm sure he'll be back by then. That is unless, he's going to be this year's Brady and be out for the season.

Honestly, from the stand point of a Ravens' fan wanting to see us once again in the Playoffs and in the Super Bowl mix, I'd say Ben being out for our two games would be great. Instead of having to worry about an extra loss (if this season's series follows the usual, PIT wins in PIT, BAL wins in BAL forumla), we'd have an even better chance of winning in Pittsburgh.

However, after last year's arrogance in Steeler Nation about beating the Ravens three times, beating them this year when they do not have Ben would just unleash more arrogance. I could hear it now "You only won because we didn't have Ben."

So.. *shrugs*. I guess I'd rather just have Ben in. If only to shut up the Steeler fans. We have a great chance this year anyways.

[JO_75]

Isn't this similar to Brady's injury last year? That would suck if he went down because if Ben went down the Steelers would have what everybody calls, "The Super Bowl Hangover." They didn't re-sign Leftwich so if Ben goes down than the Steelers are done. I see this ending in two ways:

1) Big Ben goes on IR for the season, much like Brady did.

2) Ben misses the rest of pre-season and 5-8 weeks of the regular season.

I'm sure hearing this has gotten Pittsburgh fans worried.

[thewarden86]

He's fine.

[ROH522155]

How do u know Ward?

[mhead66]

Roethlisberger takes a hit in practice, limps off
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went down with a right foot or ankle injury today in the final practice of training camp.

Asked after practice if Roethlisberger would be all right, Coach Mike Tomlin told the Post-Gazette, "Yup."

Several of his teammates concurred, including backup quarterback Charlie Batch, who said he believes Roethlisberger will be OK. However, it's possible he will not play Saturday night in Washington against the Redskins.

Seelers spokesman Dave Lockett, after talking to Tomlin following practice, acknowledged that Roethlisberger's foot was stepped on, but provided no further details on the injury.


[url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09232...#ixzz0OlJ3qXIQ"]http://www.post-gaze....#ixzz0OlJ3qXIQ[/url]

[thewarden86]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' date='20 August 2009 - 05:43 PM' timestamp='1250804583' post='221704']
How do u know Ward?
[/quote]


I knew one of you pains in the butt would ask me that. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif[/img] I should have included the article to begin with, my bad.

[quote]Twenty minutes after the ice was placed on his right ankle, it was removed by trainer John Norwig. Roethlisberger pulled his right shoe back on and limped to the sideline. There, team president Art Rooney asked him how it was.

Roethlisberger replied, with a slight smile, "Oh, it just feels great. It feels like a car ran over it."

A minute later, someone else asked him how he was. Roethlisberger said, "Oh, I'll be all right."



Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09232/992218-66.stm#ixzz0OlKTJsQL"]http://www.post-gaze...m#ixzz0OlKTJsQL[/url]
[/quote]

[Mishel]

According to articles on RotoWorld he's fine.

[theFRANCHISE]

Good, I'm glad he's OK. I want the Steelers at their best in November (though that's unlikely) when the two teams meet, than without their star QB. I still think Tomlin's idea, while well-intentioned, was a horrible idea. There [i]are[/i] other ways of teaching players how to deal with disappointment...

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='20 August 2009 - 06:13 PM' timestamp='1250806399' post='221727']
Good, I'm glad he's OK. I want the Steelers at their best in November (though that's unlikely) when the two teams meet, than without their star QB. [b]I still think Tomlin's idea, while well-intentioned, was a horrible idea. There [i]are[/i] other ways of teaching players how to deal with disappointment...
[/b][/quote]


Franny, one has nothing to do with the other.

I LOVED Tomlins tactic. If they want to repeat then they need to know what complacency feels like so they can recognize and destroy it.

[neepo13]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='20 August 2009 - 05:09 PM' timestamp='1250802595' post='221683']
Via [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/20/down-goes-roethlisberger/"]ProFootballTalk[/url] and Twitter (retweeted by ESPN's [url="http://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/3435349358"]Jemele Hill[/url]):


If this is true, perhaps Mike Tomlin's idea of toughening up his guys by cancelling Movie Day at the last minute to instead practice was a HORRIBLE idea. I get that players need to learn to deal with adversity and disappointment (and it seemed like a great idea in principle), but men can only take so much and it honestly makes Tomlin look a little bit arrogant for sneaking in an extra practice and assuming nothing would happen.

As much as this would make our games with the Steelers easier this season, I'd rather have a healthy Ben Roethlisberger playing. It's not as much fun beating a Steelers team without Big Ben and all their best players in.
[/quote]
But honestly another practice shouldnt be anything to them. Based on reports I've seen their training camp hasnt been that tough on the vets anyway. I read somewhere that Polamalu hadnt practiced at all before the first preseason game and that Ward had only been in there for a couple of them.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='20 August 2009 - 06:21 PM' timestamp='1250806891' post='221732']
Franny, one has nothing to do with the other.

I LOVED Tomlins tactic. If they want to repeat then they need to know what complacency feels like so they can recognize and destroy it.
[/quote]
[quote name='neepo13' date='20 August 2009 - 06:26 PM' timestamp='1250807174' post='221737']
But honestly another practice shouldnt be anything to them. Based on reports I've seen their training camp hasnt been that tough on the vets anyway. I read somewhere that Polamalu hadnt practiced at all before the first preseason game and that Ward had only been in there for a couple of them.
[/quote]
I had actually heard/read differently, that they've ran a tougher camp than in recent years because of their fear of complacency. I only assumed that they were being pushed too hard, and even though I don't believe the players should be coddled, it doesn't do any good to beat up the players too much before real games are played. You can only push the human body so far, and if the team is going full-tilt through the regular season, that's when bodies break.

But, philosophically, we'll agree to disagree.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='20 August 2009 - 06:33 PM' timestamp='1250807639' post='221740']
I had actually heard/read differently, that they've ran a tougher camp than in recent years because of their fear of complacency. I only assumed that they were being pushed too hard, and even though I don't believe the players should be coddled, it doesn't do any good to beat up the players too much before real games are played. You can only push the human body so far, and if the team is going full-tilt through the regular season, that's when bodies break.

But, philosophically, we'll agree to disagree.
[/quote]


I don't think it was a more physically tough camp. I think Tomlin made it metally tougher; made them think about the game and being tougher upstairs. I can't think of a better means of getting that "we're the champs...." crap out of their heads.

[thewarden86]

Apparently my boy Franny does not wish to debate this with me. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Fine Franny, agree to disagree then. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif[/img]

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='20 August 2009 - 08:42 PM' timestamp='1250815371' post='221808']
Apparently my boy Franny does not wish to debate this with me. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Fine Franny, agree to disagree then. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif[/img]
[/quote]
My bad, I was on Twitter, getting pissed at Jamie Dukes.

But anyways...I can understand getting the team mentally tougher, and that's fine. But forcing an extra practice on a day that was scheduled to be off? Still risking unnecessary physical injury. On the flipside, at least the players will come to expect anything from the coach and respond (which I guess was his intent to begin with.) I just don't agree on ambush tactics to counter complacency. Creative? I guess. But I would think that forcing them to swallow hard pills in film study would've been a better alternative to the faked-out Movie Day.

For instance, Tomlin could've made them watch each victory from last season and quiz the players at random on what they did wrong on each positive play. That way, the players see that they didn't play perfectly and there's always room to improve. Put them on the spot, force them to react mentally so that it's ingrained in them that they can always fight for extra yardage or do something differently to make a positive play better. (After all, most traditional film study consists of studying how negative plays went wrong first, and complimenting positive plays. This is the opposite.)

[nextgen_RavensFan]

If ben gets hurt i want it to be at the hands of Suggs driving him into the ground.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-ben-roethlisberger-820,0,1405349.story

[flynismo]

Yeah, hope that Big Jen is okay. Never cool to see someone get hurt.
Besides, I dont want to hear any excuses when we kick their asses this year!

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='20 August 2009 - 09:02 PM' timestamp='1250816521' post='221821']
My bad, I was on Twitter, getting pissed at Jamie Dukes. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

But anyways...I can understand getting the team mentally tougher, and that's fine. But forcing an extra practice on a day that was scheduled to be off? Still risking unnecessary physical injury. On the flipside, at least the players will come to expect anything from the coach and respond (which I guess was his intent to begin with.) I just don't agree on ambush tactics to counter complacency. Creative? I guess. But I would think that forcing them to swallow hard pills in film study would've been a better alternative to the faked-out Movie Day.

For instance, Tomlin could've made them watch each victory from last season and quiz the players at random on what they did wrong on each positive play. That way, the players see that they didn't play perfectly and there's always room to improve. Put them on the spot, force them to react mentally so that it's ingrained in them that they can always fight for extra yardage or do something differently to make a positive play better. (After all, most traditional film study consists of studying how negative plays went wrong first, and complimenting positive plays. This is the opposite.)
[/quote]


LOL. There was a guy on sirius today who said, "Hey Solly (Soloman Wilcots) I love you man and I'll listen to you any day over Jamie Dukes." I loved it!


As a military man, I believe in tough love I guess. It always seems to pay off.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='flynismo' date='20 August 2009 - 09:34 PM' timestamp='1250818469' post='221838']
Yeah, hope that Big Jen is okay. Never cool to see someone get hurt.
Besides, I dont want to hear any excuses when we kick their asses this year! [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img]
[/quote]


I think we'll split this year (as usual). Unless Flacco has some sort of sophemore slump. I doubt it, but there are those (Chris Berman?) who have suggested it. Don't quote me on the Berman part. I forget where I heard it.

[Wacco4Flacco]

As a Ravens fan i want Ben out 6 to 8 Weeks So The Ravens would be in a position to win the Divison and let the Steelers be a Wildcard team and then if they want to go back to the Super Bowl theyre have to do it in Baltimore AFC championship game.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Wacco4Flacco' date='20 August 2009 - 11:14 PM' timestamp='1250824470' post='221860']
As a Ravens fan i want Ben out 6 to 8 Weeks So The Ravens would be in a position to win the Divison and let the Steelers be a Wildcard team and then if they want to go back to the Super Bowl theyre have to do it in Baltimore AFC championship game.
[/quote]

That's a bit harsh don't ya think? I'm hoping Ben does not lose much playing time and that he will be ready to play us in November. A Ravens-Steelers game without Ben just takes away from the rivarly just a bit. I know it's a new season, but I still have images of Ben driving them down the field in OT last season to win, and the 92 yard drive to beat us in Baltimore. Ben helps make it a rivarly.

My only concern is this, Merriman last year was in a situation where he could play and risk his career or get surgery and sit out the year. With Ben, I'm hoping that everything is fine like they say it is. Just its going to suck if something happens and he gets sacked and gets injured, and we find out that he did more damage to his leg by continuing to play.

[Wacco4Flacco]

Well i dont enjoy this rivarly. The only rivarly i like is Ravens vs Titans. Ravens dont belong in AFCN they belong on AFCS. Colts should go in in AFCN cause it makes geography sense.Indiana borders next to Ohio, and Ohio borders next Penn. Steelers and Ravens rivarly goes way back to the old days of the Browns. But theyre not the Browns anymore its time to break up these old rivaries.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='JO_75' date='20 August 2009 - 11:37 PM' timestamp='1250825849' post='221864']
That's a bit harsh don't ya think? I'm hoping Ben does not lose much playing time and that he will be ready to play us in November. A Ravens-Steelers game without Ben just takes away from the rivarly just a bit. I know it's a new season, but I still have images of Ben driving them down the field in OT last season to win, and the 92 yard drive to beat us in Baltimore. Ben helps make it a rivarly.

My only concern is this, Merriman last year was in a situation where he could play and risk his career or get surgery and sit out the year. With Ben, I'm hoping that everything is fine like they say it is. Just its going to suck if something happens and he gets sacked and gets injured, and we find out that he did more damage to his leg by continuing to play.
[/quote]
I agree that Ben makes it a rivalry, and I truly hope that this doesn't turn out to be a more serious injury later and he ends up doing worse damage by playing.

It'll be a sad day when Roethlisberger is no longer a Steeler. Why? Because as much as we despise him on gameday, things could be far worse. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, so who's to say that Roethlisberger's replacement down the line wouldn't do even more damage to the Ravens? I'd rather hedge my bets with someone that the Ravens have beaten before, and someone who has an erratic history against the Ravens. (Remember, for every blowout against Baltimore, Ben's also had some sloppy games)

[Wacco4Flacco]

When is Big Ben up for free agency? I wonder will Steelers pay Big Ben as much Peyton Manning is making? He deserves it. That will hurt Steelers cap.

[mhead66]

[quote name='Wacco4Flacco' date='21 August 2009 - 03:50 AM' timestamp='1250841020' post='221916']
When is Big Ben up for free agency? I wonder will Steelers pay Big Ben as much Peyton Manning is making? He deserves it. That will hurt Steelers cap.
[/quote]
Roethlisberger is signed through 2015 - he signed an 8 year deal last year for $102 million.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/clubhouse_contracts.aspx?sport=NFL&majteam=PIT

[FlaccoFlicker]

i can't say how i really feel about ben without getting bashed,so i'll just say i hope he's ok because ravens vs. steerler football wouldn't be any fun without ben on the field.

[PuRock]

I miss Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='PuRock' date='21 August 2009 - 09:51 AM' timestamp='1250862662' post='221958']
I miss Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox.
[/quote]


LOL!!

Well, Kordell did have the longest past in Raven history (92 yards?) along with Bobby Shaw. Plus, he used to give Billick fits which is why you guys signed him right after we let him go.
Maddox was a good passer, but the Ravens never gave him time to throw. We never could have kept him around.

[WinnipegRaven]

Nuts to that. I want to beat the 2008 SuperBowl Champs. If Ben were on the sidelines it wouldn't be a "true" victory imho. I want to DESERVE to win the division, not be awarded it by default.

But ouch - last 1/2 hour of the last practice.