What Would You Do?

Congrats to you, puckheads, hockey is back!  I know you're expecting that long awaited hockey post...well, it ain't happening here today.  Considering that the players and owners made us wait for three months while they debated over how unprofitable NHL hockey truly is, you all can wait for another week for me to drop puck on a center ice posting.

I'm thinking NFL mock draft today.  It's my normal custom to google up mock drafts the day following the Steelers' final game (beginning somewhat and disturbingly early this year), and I found some interesting and confusing predictions.  Five mock drafts visited, five different predictions for the Steelers in 2013.  I've seen ILB, OLB, DE, NT, and T.  Five drafts, five guys, so no clear direction here.  After more research, I've noticed a big name guy who seems to be lurking as available when the Steelers select with the #17 pick.

So, repeating the title of this post: what would you do?  Let's role play a bit.  Consider yourself Mike Tomlin, or even better, Kevin Colbert, and it's your turn to draft at #17.  You look up on the big board, and you see the slightly downgraded USC phenom quarterback Matt Barkley still undrafted.  You began noticing Barkley, the once projected top three pick, still hanging around at 15, and now he's there, yours for the taking.  Ok, I know you all must be thinking that I've gone down to the basement and broke into the wedding booze a bit early, right? I know, I know, the Steelers have an abundance of needs, and QB isn't one of them.  I know, I know, Big Ben Roethlisberger is still in his prime at 31 years old, and should be the Steelers' starting signal caller for four to six more seasons.  Yeah, I get all that.  Now think about the question some more.  Would it be wasteful or visionary to drop a first round pick on a guy like Barkley?  Is it too early to be grooming Ben's heir apparent?

Let's look at some other models.  The Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 knowing that Brett Favre wasn't going anywhere for a least a few more seasons.  Some cheddar heads actually prophesized that Rodgers would never start as a Packer. The Colts parted ways with Peyton Manning in favor of rookie Andrew Luck.  I believe that the Canton, Ohio sculptors have already molded the Manning and Favre busts years ago.  Both Indy and Green Bay knew it was smart money to work on the succession plans early. 

The Steelers of long ago made one feeble attempt to draft a Bradshaw replacement in the person of the much maligned Mark Malone, whose forgettable career was probably more notable as a wideout than as a franchise quarterback. The Dolphins are still hunting for the next Dan Marino.  Is it coincidence that both Pittsburgh and Miami endured decade long droughts of late January football while they auditioned endless marginal QBs?  Is it coincidence that the Packers and Colts have quickly rebuilt their programs under their new guns?  Would it be coincidence if Manning becomes the first Bronco QB to sniff a Superbowl since John Elway?

Big Ben is now 31, and sure, some great QBs have maintained championship caliber play into their mid 30's, but that list is much smaller than you might think it is. The reality is that Ben may have just a few strong seasons left in the tank before age and injuries start to run their course. With his style of play, coupled with the fact that he has started since his rookie year, it's not a stretch to consider Ben a high mileage vehicle these days. The Steelers waited until too late into Bradshaw's career to make a serious investment into finding his successor. I'd hate to see that happen again.

I'm sure a few of you have already concluded that today's post was a waste of our time, and that considering the next Ben is not on the things to do list for this offseason.  Me, I'm still intrigued.  I have said for years that Ben is the greatest Steeler since the Chuck Noll crafted dynasty teams of the 1970's.  I also think that a guy like Barkley doesn't fall into too many #17 carts that often.  I would consider it quite the luxury to have Barkley in the stable for three seasons, ready to take the reigns in 2016.  If the last two decades of football has shown me anything, it's that a lot of teams can be good with a strong defense and a solid quarterback.  To be great, you must have a great quarterback.  We often ask ourselves just how many more Lombardis would be on display in the Great Hall if the Steelers hadn't passed up on a young, skilled quarterback who slid almost to the bottom of the first round in the 1983 draft.  You know, that Marino guy.

I'll answer my own question with a yes, I'm drafting Barkley at #17 knowing that I now have one great QB and one potentially great QB.  Perhaps I work a trade in a few years, possibly bringing in some much needed replacement parts.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.  And no, I didn't break into the wedding hooch...yet.

If the Facts Don't Fit, You Must Acquit

So here we are, three whole weeks after the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault allegations rocked Steeler Nation and virtually every online sportsnews forum. So what have we gathered up to this point? Here's a list:

• Something went down between His Bigness and a local 20 year old female in or near a nightclub restroom.
• Certain anonymous witness(es) claim that someone in Ben's posse blocked the entrance to the bathroom.
• Apparently no DNA evidence will be extracted from Big Ben.
• Apparently no security video footage showing any misdoings is available.
• The investigating authorities have interviewed virtually every key person of the fateful night, with the exception of Ben.
• 22 days and counting, and still no charges filed.

Hmm, slam dunk, huh? Although this drama may not have yet reached the boiling point and national hype that previous cases involving guys like Michael Vick or Kobe Bryant have, this is still the most polarizing story engulfing sports fans in the Northeast. Just google the word Roethlisberger and you will find endless lists of links to articles that have all but concluded Ben's guilt as a rapist, not once, but twice. The term Rapistberger is plastered on blogs and websites throughout the country, and just last week Ben's infamy was chronicled in animation, as Southpark writers cashed in on the troubled QB's current predicament. Rumor has it that the cities of Baltimore, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are attempting to make March 5th an official holiday.

Of course, we can't forget the endless streams of stories, eyewitness accounts, and tall tales of Ben's boorish, rude, and el cheapo antics that have also inundated our computers and email inboxes over the past few weeks. How about the tales of Ben's debauchery told by a friend of a friend of a waiter's sister-in-law? We all know how Ben brazenly drove his Harley across the finely manacured greens of Sir Arnold Palmer's golf course. Or was he throwing dice with Arnie's caddies? I forget. How many more times do we need to see that picture of Ben, as a drunken rookie, posing with the hottie? That was the same picture that we all laughed at when we first saw it...in 2005. That was the same picture that filled us a with a certain pride, much like a picture of the Stanley Cup in a swimming pool.

So, once again, 22 days into this shitstorm, where does it leave the player, the team, and the fanbase? Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. The blogosphere reminds us of that every day. The 'geniuses' out there, both credentialed media members and hacks like me, have offered nearly every possible scenario: Ben will be found guilty, Ben will never play in the NFL again, Ben will never play in Pittsburgh again, Ben will start this season under suspension, the NFL, in a blatant display of racism, will let Ben slide with a scolding simply because he's white, this whole thing will just blow over. You name it, it's been speculated. The key word - speculated.

Now I ask you, what has Ben actually done? Why is it taking so long to produce any conclusion? Is the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that overrun with criminal cases? After three plus weeks, the only fact that anyone can truly report is that Ben is accused of wrongdoing, and nothing more. If the girl claims a foul was committed, and there is physical evidence or eyewitness accounts of a crime, then why no charges? This isn't the Kennedy assassination we're talking about. Sources continually point out that NFL commish and enforcer, Roger Goodell, will take some form of punitive action against Roethlisberger, regardless of criminal findings. How? Why? Based on what? Accusations?

Regardless of the findings by the GBI, Ben's reputation is now tarnished, and he will be forever linked to this. The amount of tarnish will depend on how the investigation and potential legal process play out. We all know that #7 will rise again, and he will resume his career as a stellar NFL quarterback. I am not defending Ben. I think it's high time that he quarantine his reckless abandon and cavalier demeanor to the gridiron, and exercise more caution in his private life. I just want to point out that after nearly a month, this farce has left us with more questions than answers. The question at hand is when we will actually get some hint of closure on this?

The Wise Old Michael Irvin

It isn't often that this blog, or probably any other blog, quotes former Pro Bowl receiver/bad boy, Michael Irvin, but I found this interview interesting. When a guy with Irvin's dubious reputation calls for better decision making, we should all take notice. We should also note that Irvin failed to specify if Dallas was one of the dozen or so teams that the blogosphere has rumored to be Ben's next home.

Heinz Field Showcasing New Benapalooza Apparel

A quick thanks to A Dawg for leaking us a preview of the new Benapalooza men's wear line that will soon be available in the 'Burgh. Well done A Dawg, now can you find me that Matt Cooke assassin tee shirt?



QUICK HITTERS:

• Milledgeville officials are now forecasting two to three weeks for the initial investigation to wrap up. After that, the decision of whether to pursue formal charges will be made.
• So the question has been raised: what happens if Randle El doesn't crack the top three wideout slots (which he probably won't), and he doesn't beat out Stefan Logan in the return game? Ed Bouchette raised an even more intriguing question: with all these receivers under contract, what happens if a super undervalued wideout slips in the draft? Do they pass him up, or draft him knowing that El or Battle will then most likely be cut?
• As the clock ticks, I continue to recalibrate my odds of a Fast Willie signing. As of press time, I'm saying 70/30 that the team extends a legitimate contract offer for FWP to return as a reserve.
• The word on the street is that Larry Foote should be seeing plenty of playing time in 2010. The potential to start over Farrior has been mentioned numerous times in last few days.

As the World Turns

All My Hotties, Beneral Hospital, Capital City, Love in the Ladies' Room, The Sins of Number Seven,...just a few candidates for the naming of the soap opera that stars Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and has engulfed the watchful eye of not only Steeler Nation, but basically every sports fan with nothing better to be engulfed by. Tune in at 4:00 pm today, as the newest episode shoots on location from Milledgeville, GA Police headquarters, scene of the forthcoming press conference. "Did Ben do it?" is the hottest question since "Who Shot JR?" riveted the airwaves nearly 30 years ago. This press conference, just like an old X Files rerun, promises to answer all.

The Milledgeville incident, involving accusations of sexual assault against His Bigness, appears to have set a flame to the Pittsburgh media. Not sure if you all are following this as closely as me (I understand that you all have lives), but there seems to be some tit-for-tat banter going back and forth between Post Gazette writers Ron Cook and Bob Smizik. A few days ago, Cook, the writer with the poison pen, wrote a scathing essay about Ben's lack of judgement. This morning, Smizik, who apparently is not on Cook's Christmas card mailing list, posted an equally damning article, however, his wrath seemed to be directly aimed at Cook's criticism.

The latest Roethlisberger fiasco is attaining pure polarization, an effect that all medias dream of. While Steeler Nation is a proud family that honors it's numerous triumphs and embraces it's heroes, we are a group that will quickly garner criticism from all of our wanna-be neighbors. You can't walk around with tee shirts emblazoned with the likeness of a half dozen Lombardi Trophies without producing a little animosity along the way. Yeah, the "Got Six?" tee shirts do tend to piss some people off. For as much as us towel twirlers hope these accusations are false, I have to believe that Hater Nation would just love to see an arrest warrant bearing the name Roethlisberger.

Let's hope that the 4:00 pm press conference absolves Ben of any wrongdoing, and puts this latest installment of unnecessary drama to bed. If not, prepare for sweeps week...

Big Ben or Big Bum???

Sitting in the serene of landscape of Alco Tailgate Lot Green 22, listening to that overly re-hashed collage of Copeisms and savoring the delicately blended aromas of perogies, puke, and piss, our good friend J.D. McNugent asked an important and oddly relevant question: "who was more popular, Ben or Bradshaw?" Contrary to what the legendary crooner Bob Dylan might expect us to believe, the answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind. As Ed Bouchette points out in his daily question, the starting quarterback on the North Shore is, and will always be, an amazingly scrutinized position.

a good question, indeed

Despite the short flashes of brilliance from journeymen like Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, Tommy Maddox, and the unforgettable Kordell Stewart, there have only been two blue chippers behind a Black and Gold clad center in the post-merger era...Ben and Bradshaw. Both have written their own bio's in the epic tale of Steeler football.

This blogger is not qualified or motivated to write the great comparison article. We'll leave that to the writers who are actually gifted enough to be paid for their work, not a hack writing free dribble for all of you who are simply one click away from beholding today's newest YouPorn files. This hack, however, would like to offer some opinion on Ben's current funk, in hopes of opening some healthy dialogue.

So what about Big Ben? Is this the first serious speed bump on his mercurial rise to superstardom? You know, 2006 can conveniently be dismissed as his post-motorcycle thing. Can the same excuse be made of his ailing shoulder, now that the Large One is no longer a brash 23 year old hot shot, but a wise, seasoned 26 year old veteran with a 102 million dollar check tucked next to the condoms in his sock drawer.

From the moment Ben stood behind center as a redshirt freshman at Miami of Ohio, he has basically been "the guy". Even Coach Bill Cowher's plan of bringing him along slowly as a rookie in 2004 was foiled as the team took injuries to veterans Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox. Essentially, Ben has been the guy that had been called upon to be the hero day in and day out for the last eight years. It's amazing to think that Ben has only been in the NFL for five seasons when you consider the accomplishments. If anyone understands (and responds to) pressure, it's Number 7. Reverting back to the original question, it's a safe argument to say that Ben has accomplished more in his 4+ years than Bradshaw did in his first 10. Maybe a few less Superbowls, but hey, a few less Hall of Famers around him, as well.

of course, Ben hasn't recorded a hit country album yet

It's hard to find a more textbook definition of golden boy. Since Week 2 of his rookie season, Roethlisberger has been the face of a franchise,...and not just any franchise, but a franchise that other programs are measured against. He is the oarsman that rows the lifeboat of Steeler Nation, and at the moment, the waters are somewhat choppy. NFL fans have short memories, and it won't take many more bad performances before Big Ben hears some Big Boohs.

This scenario is not unique to the Burgh. Just ask those few dozen Philadelphians that are still card carrying members of the Donovan McNabb Fan Club. When you are expected to win, you are expected to win. It's that simple. Ben is now at that lonely crossroads where guys like Favre, McNabb, Brady and Manning have stood before him. He's no longer the wunderkind, but the franchise guy who has been given the keys to the city along with a briefcase full of money, and the great commission to just "win, baby". Mike Tomlin says it clearly every week during his press conference: "the expectations do not change." One must wonder if the great gunslinger himself, Brett Favre, would be clinging to his career so zealously at the senior age of 39, had he not experienced all of his major success at the early stages of his career.

The optimist inside me says that Ben will rise above this as he does every time adversity knocks. Like Bradshaw, decades before, it's his job to lead this team. I truly believe that his performance, as well as his team's, over the next 9 days will dictate the balance of the 2008 season. Will the team re-group and make a drive for yet another AFC North title, or will we be remembering 2008 as the lost season?

life was so much simpler then

Comments please...I'm spent!