AlliedNews.com - Grove City, Pennsylvania

Sports

March 12, 2010

60 Odd Miles Up 79: Be patient before judging 'Big Ben'

In the battle for western Pennsylvania’s afternoon radio waves this week, WXDX’s Mark Madden had perhaps the most interesting interview in what may have become the most compelling 7-day offseason stretch in Pittsburgh Steelers’ history.

Amidst a week where the Steelers resigned safety Ryan Clark and inked deals with other free agents, Madden had Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on his show Thursday afternoon to add insight into Ben Roethlisberger’s misadventures in Milledgeville, Ga.

Madden asked listeners why Pittsburgh fans find it easy to hate their favorite team’s quarterback at seemingly the drop of a hat. Steelers’ fans did it with Terry Bradshaw, Neil O’Donnell, Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox and now that he’s seemed to put himself in unfavorable situations off the field time and time again, Roethlisberger.

Speculation has been steaming off the Steelers’ organization that with his latest ordeal, Roethlisberger could be down to his last chance in Pittsburgh, Madden said.

“I think it’s thinner than anyone realizes,” Florio noted. “If he finds himself on the wrong side of one more allegation, I think he’s going to be gone. He’s not bulletproof. He is vulnerable.”

Florio went on to tell Madden he believes the organization may already be pondering what step to take should Roethlisberger be charged and he “would not be shocked” if the Steelers make a move.

The key to everything, Florio said, rests on whether or not charges stem from the incident at the Georgia bar. Reports this week said Roethlisberger admitted to police that things between him and the 20-year-old woman had become intimate before she slipped and hit her head.

“That just doesn’t sound good,” said Florio, who in addition to being Pro Football Talk’s main contributor is an attorney. “Even if it’s true, it doesn’t sound good.”

The latest report will make authorities look at the incident very closely and charges could come down to what the Georgia prosecutor assigned to the case is willing to risk, Florio said.

“A lot of times prosecutors just go the other way and don’t file charges when they feel it’s going to be too difficult to get a conviction,” he said.

Like with the news that emerged last summer out of Lake Tahoe, Nev., I believe fans have been far too quick to crucify the 28-year-old two-time Super Bowl winner.

If no charges come out of this incident, Roethlisberger could look for a way out of his contract with the team because of the way he’s viewed by the fans.

With his style of play on the field, I’ve never been a believer Roethlisberger will have a long career in the NFL like that of Brett Favre. Even without the off-the-field issues, I always envisioned Roethlisberger playing out his current five-year contract and signing another short one with the team before retiring from the game when he’s around 34 or 35.

To see him leave the Steelers in any other fashion would make me sick, and I hope I’m not alone.

Although the alleged misconduct is awful, none of it has yet to become fact in a court of law. If that ever comes to fruition, my opinion will change.

But until then, I remain a supporter of Roethlisberger and I encourage you to do the same. Quarterbacks of his talent and more importantly level of character aside from the alleged incidents are hard to come by.

I’m sticking with him.



Patrick Connelly is sports editor at The Allied News. He can be reached at pconnelly@alliednews.com or 724-458-5010.

Text Only
Sports
  • Turning 2 Errors costly to GC 9

    Grove City High baseball coach Pat Forese has been cautioning Eagle fans all year that his squad was an extremely youthful one.
    The Eagles (8-5) proved their veteran coach right Monday afternoon by committing three actual errors and many other ‘mental’ errors in a 5-4 inter-region loss to General McLane at Grove City Memorial Park.

    May 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Eye on the action HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS: GC girls team hot, then cold

    Katy Perry may not have known it when she was singing ‘Hot N Cold’ that she was talking about the Grove City High School softball team’s offensive performance through 9 games this year.
    The Lady Eagles’ offense has been ‘hot then cold’ for much of the 2012 campaign and unfortunately, they were ‘cold’ Monday afternoon in a 5-0 loss to visiting Titusville at Grove City Memorial Park.
    “(The Lady Eagles’ offense) has been off and on,” said a coincidentally named Katie — first-year Grove City coach Katie Calano. “Sometimes, we’re on fire and sometimes, we’re not. Hopefully, we’ll be more consistent at the plate. We’re going to be working on that in practice.”

    April 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • Close race Even in cold, Grove City spikers run hot

    SLIPPERY ROCK -- The conditions weren’t exactly inviting Tuesday, but they weren’t any different than what most track teams practice in on a daily basis.
    But as Grove City coach Mickey Hardenburg likes to tell his boys and girls squads, they may be what they face at the District 10 meet in a month and at the state meet in Shippensburg a week later.

    April 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U

    Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).

    October 19, 2011

  • steez pc.jpg NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return

    Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.

    October 19, 2011 1 Photo

  • wheldon, dan pc.jpg IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life

    Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.

    October 19, 2011 3 Photos

  • pens pc.jpg NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2

    The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.

    October 19, 2011 1 Photo

  • canadiens logo pc.jpg NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh

    A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.

    October 19, 2011 4 Photos

  • High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011

    A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.

    October 19, 2011

  • washington, ron pc.jpg Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011

    News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.

    October 19, 2011 5 Photos

Featured Ads
AP Video
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do' Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.