By Michael Pisano
News of trade rumors of QB Ben Roethlisberger started to swirl around Sunday reported by Ian Rapport of the NFL Network.
Pittsburgh won against the injury riddled Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but Pittsburgh fans were more concerned about the trade rumors of their franchise quarterback.
The Steelers front office denies all reports of the rumors and after the win on Sunday Big Ben was quoted as saying that the trade accusations were “a load of BS”. But maybe it is time to part ways.
Hey, I am the first one to defend Ben in an argument but things have just not been the same since their last Super Bowl win against the Cardinals in 2008.
Let’s face it, Ben has been injury prone, battled numerous off the field issues (looks like he has cleaned up his act these past couple of years) and the team has missed the playoffs the past two seasons and is looking like they are going to miss a third.
Ben is having one of his worst statistical seasons of his career.
I get it Pittsburgh has many holes. The offensive line can be abysmal at times, the running game can disappear and the receivers drop passes more often than not. But, Ben just signed for a $100 million dollar contract not too long ago.
Pittsburgh signed him to a 100 million dollar contract in the offseason coming off the Super bowl.
Yes, he made another Super bowl appearance in 2010 but we lost and haven’t really done anything since then. Guys like; Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are guys that have contracts of or over $100 million dollar quarterbacks.
The NFL is a what have you done for me lately league (Joe Flacco for example) and at the time when Ben signed that contract the Steelers were comfortable saying “Hey this is the guy we want for a long time”, but doubt might be starting to creep in their mind.
Since Bruce Arians left, this whole offense has struggled including Ben.
Ben had a great relationship with Arians and the road has been rocky between Ben and Todd Haley thus far. Changes are going to come in this off-season, whether its Mike Tomlin leaving, changes at coordinators, (and yes that could include the greatest defensive mind of all time, Dick Lebeau) or cutting loose ends with standup guys like Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.
But Pittsburgh at least needs to listen to offers and see if it is worth revamping this team and not having Ben at the helm. Not to mention the fact that Ben is due for a contract extension and it doesn’t help that Pittsburgh is strapped for cash. The cap has been an issue for them.
Let’s look at the facts, Ben is 31 years old and isn’t getting any younger.
He is one of the highest paid quarterbacks in this league and is simply not playing like one. With recent success of Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and RG3, it is looking easier and easier for quarterbacks to come and succeed.
The upcoming 2014 draft if littered with quarterback talent.
At the end of the day Pittsburgh needs to see how this season turns out and see if they feel comfortable with Ben leading this team for the next 5 to 6 years.
Let’s not be so quick to shoot down these trade rumors. I have a sneaky suspicion that there will be major changes to come this off season and it could start with Ben.
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bigrahk
November 12, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Other than Tom Brady, Ben has been the most successful QB in the past 10yrs. He was playing fine until they wanted to come along and “fine tune” his game. Let Ben be Ben and look more at the talent they are surrounding him with!!!
Alisa Ferraro
November 13, 2013 at 1:32 am
Finally, someone who gets it! Our Leadership in Ben Rothlisberger is so unappreciated!! Thanks for being a true fan and supporting the one’s who matter! They left Ben with no Offense, thanks for noticing! Yet he still plays as hard as he always has for our team!!!
michael pisano
November 13, 2013 at 12:34 am
uhhhhh just tom brady? cmon now. aaron rodgers drew brees peyton manning the list goes on. If you want to say big ben has two superbowl rings then ok, but our defense and coaching won us that first superbowl. now the second superbowl is a diffrent story. But you are being narrow minded to think only tom brady and ben have been the only successful quarterbacks in the past 10 years. Does Pittsburgh really want to give a 31 year old going on 32 with injury concerns a big extension ina year or two. I just dont think Ben is a elite quarterback. He falls in the next tier of “almost elite guys”. Eli manning won two superbowls bt you dont see anyone calling him an elite quarterback.
Alisa Ferraro
November 13, 2013 at 1:27 am
You are stupid, don’t even cut on Ben Rothlisberger, he has done more for this team than any player, with the even exception of Troy in Defense. Ben had EVERYTHING to do with every Superbowl we won, He is our Leader! Always has been. You don’t seem to know football making comments like yours. It appears that you’re a jealous fan. I suppose you were a big fan of Terry Bradshaw who cheated on his wife and sold every last piece of Steeler Superbowl rings, shirts, and everything else, another one who has always been jealous of Ben, a real man! Why don’t you move somewhere else or since you think all of these quarterbacks, especially ours, isn’t good enough, try out yourself!
bigrahk
November 13, 2013 at 9:31 am
I never said only successful. I said most successful. It’s called reading comprehension. You can’t blame Ben for dropped passes and always being hurried in the pocket. You also can’t blame my boy for an insufficient defense that can’t get off the field on 3rd downs. And he is the same guy who has restructured his contract 2 years in a row to keep guys around. He also has broken quite a few of the team QB records in less time than any other. Peace
Alisa Ferraro
November 13, 2013 at 1:11 am
Are you kidding me???? It was not enough to trade every great player to save money for the Rooney’s! But you have Ben & Heath Miller as the offense. Ben has, as always, no time to move in the pocket without having to make plays on his own!! He is our offense!! I’ve lived here and have been a Steelers fan all of my live and I’m 44 years old, but if the rumor turns to be true, I will never look back and follow Ben Rothlisberger anywhere He goes!! This Organization should be ashamed of themselves for even letting this hit the Media! The Rooney’s are Rich, greedy people who have never appreciated the TRUE fanbase the Pittsburgh Steelers have created!!! It’s all about money no matter who they hurt! You totally took our entire team and spread them all throughout the league! It pains me to watch the players each week that I loved, not wearing a Steelers Jersey! The City of Pittsburgh have always been a football town and so much money has been made by our team. But if this Organization lets MY BEN ROTHLISBERGER go………………I’m done. Good luck finding a new quarterback, let alone fans!!!!!
Steelfan
November 13, 2013 at 5:01 am
Ben did not just sign a 100 million dollar contract, that was 5 seasons ago. If he had we’d probably have more salary cap space. I remember the 25 seasons between Super Bowls 4 and 5 for the Steelers and the mediocre QB and I am in no hurry to get back to that. Stay as long as possible and thank you Ben.
Andrew Butler
November 13, 2013 at 8:46 am
Steelers didn’t miss the playoffs two years in a row. Remember they lost in the playoffs to Denver. Might want to check your facts before you publish and article.
Mike Pisano
November 13, 2013 at 5:42 pm
When did I ever say Ben wasn’t playing hard? Guy goes out there and plays injuired more than any other quarterback. What I’m trying to say is with direction this team is going do you really want to keep him and offer him a big extension, which they were along about giving him one after seasons end or in the near future. Hey man what’s your definition of most successful then? Eli manning has two superbowls you would have to consider him in your category of most successful then right? Also, did you forget about Peyton manning. Now who would you rather have at quaterback him or Ben? I understand that Ben is at the least of our concerns, we have holes at every position. But it’s time to stop being so narrow minded and think about the future. As much as I love guys like Troy and Ben, but these guys are not gonna be around forever. I understand he signed the contract give years ago. An extension is to be coming and I am simply implying to if you want to lock up Ben for another 4 or 5 years.
bigrahk
November 14, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Eli and Peyton have been successful. But not as. Peyton has one ring Eli has two. Ben has two as well but has been to three super bowls. But neither of those organizations or QB’s have had as much success in the past 10yrs. That’s what I mean by the most successful. And I’m ride or die steelers. If I have to watch and endure us losing to see my quarterback stay here then so be it. We supported in the wins. Let’s also support in bad times. If we were winning and had the same money issues in ph no one would be saying a word. A true fan supports win lose or draw. They don’t turn on the franchise QB when things go south!
crazydad
November 14, 2013 at 2:23 pm
…misst the playoffs THE LAST TWO SEASONS…What an inside knowledge.
I am from Germany but know it better…!!
crazydadfrankfurt
michael pisano
November 14, 2013 at 3:30 pm
sorry i do MY OWN EDITING. Its called i am human and make mistakes. i forgot you were perfect.