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Patrick Connelly / Allied News sports editor.
Discussion
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.
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