Big Ben crying about his hit

[Dan2330]

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger won't have any trouble remembering the hit that gave the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback his latest concussion.

"It felt like it busted my whole jaw," he said Wednesday.

He also won't forget the crude comment made by one of the three Atlanta Falcons players who, while sacking him Sunday, apparently taunted Roethlisberger by saying he wanted to hit him in his surgically repaired face.

Roethlisberger took part in limited work during practice Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Oakland, despite receiving his second concussion in about four months. He has not been cleared by doctors to play but, if he is, plans to "beg and plead" with coach Bill Cowher to do so.

"If you ask me, I'm always leaning toward playing, no matter what it is," he said Wednesday. "But it's something we have to be smart about."

Roethlisberger, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win last season, was injured during a helmet-to-helmet hit by defensive end Chauncey Davis immediately after releasing a pass during the third quarter. Roethlisberger also was sandwiched by defensive lineman Patrick Kerney and linebacker Ed Hartwell.

"They got me from every angle," he said.

Roethlisberger lay motionless for several minutes, and at least one teammate said he was unconscious on the turf. He was visibly dazed while being taken to the locker room but felt better within a few minutes and later returned to the sideline.

"The last thing I remember is throwing to Hines [Ward] and I tried to duck out of it, and as I tried to duck out of it I remember getting hit in the chin -- it felt like I busted my whole jaw or something," he said. "One of their players said something to me, and that's the last thing I remember."

He declined to identify the player who talked about the facial injuries the quarterback received during his June motorcycle crash but said: "I'll remember his number."

"They made a little comment, but I won't bring it up right now," he said. "When I got hit, I wasn't worried about the front of it [the jaw] -- it's stronger than it was before -- but the back of it was a little sore."

Roethlisberger needed seven hours of surgery to repair the facial damage caused during the crash, with strips of titanium placed in the jaw to strengthen it. He also received a concussion during an accident that occurred while he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Despite another head injury, he doesn't plan to switch to the recently designed football helmet that affords a player more protection from concussions.

Roethlisberger has had headaches since Sunday, though they are not as bad as they initially were. Still, Cowher is encouraged by the tests Roethlisberger has taken at least twice this week.

The tests measure a player's memory, attention, mental processing speed and reaction time. The results are compared to those taken when the player was healthy, and are used to determine when he can play again after a concussion.

Although those close to Roethlisberger labeled the concussion as "mild" and not worrisome, the symptoms he describes suggest otherwise.

According to widely recognized grading systems used by neurosurgeons and other medical professionals, any concussion that involves a loss of consciousness cannot be labeled as mild. Loss of consciousness, headaches and memory loss are more often associated with severe concussions.

The concussion tests NFL players take were largely designed by doctors who work in the medical complex where the Steelers practice, so Cowher isn't worried Roethlisberger might be cleared prematurely to play.

"The biggest thing is we get clearance from the medical people," Cowher said. "Once that has been decided then I have to sit down and talk to Ben and see how comfortable he is and see where he is."

Long-term medical studies have suggested that players who receive multiple concussions can be increasingly susceptible to others. Roethlisberger acknowledged he may have had others in his career.

"I've been playing football a long time," the 24-year-old said. "I'm sure I've had a few mild dings here and there."

OK, my question is this: he gets hit so hard he is unconscious and has a concussion but recalls just seconds before passing out after getting smacked around that some dude said something to him....whatever

[Mark S. R.]

I was listening to PTI the other day, and they were talking about Matt Hasselbeck complaining about the Vikings trying to hurt him.

They asked if Dick Butkus or Ray Nitsche(sic?) were trying to "put quarterbacks out of the game?"

The answer is YES! Now, I'm not for dirty hits, or ending careers, but football is a violent game and violent people tend to play violent games. The league is not the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It's gonna hurt from time to time.

That said, Ben's initial injury happened outside of the spectrum of football and, last I checked, there was no penalty for hurting someone's feelings!

Whether or not the Falcons' hit was dirty, I don't know. I haven't seen it. But as for complaining about them making fun of his ILL ADVISED HELMETLESS GHOST RIDER ANTICS........

Deal.

[SteelerFan87]

Well, if the guy taunted him, that kind of suggests he was trying to injure Ben purposely, and if that's the case, the guy should not only be fined, he should be suspended, or perhaps kicked out of the league. It is totally unacceptable to try to injure people, especially when you're talking about concussions, as they can not only end a guy's career, they can screw him up in his life after football too.

[Kazkal]

Well, if the guy taunted him, that kind of suggests he was trying to injure Ben purposely,

No it just means the guy was talking sh3t.

[duus]

Well, if the guy taunted him, that kind of suggests he was trying to injure Ben purposely, and if that's the case, the guy should not only be fined, he should be suspended, or perhaps kicked out of the league. It is totally unacceptable to try to injure people, especially when you're talking about concussions, as they can not only end a guy's career, they can screw him up in his life after football too.

How so? Because a guy 'taunts', it suggest he was trying to purposefully hurt? Seriously, that is some pretty screwed up thinking. Try to step out from being a fan for a second ... JUST ONE LITTLE SECOND! ... and see this for what it is. It's either just a guy yapping ... or a guy who got hit making something up. Given the past stories we have heard, anyone want to make a bet which it is?

Ugh.

[agreen_112]

All I know is that Ben isn't doing as good as many have thought. He takes a couple of more hits like this, an he will, Ben could be in trouble. You don't just run your motorcyle into a car and smash your face all up and expect to be okay playing in the NFL. He better start to wear that big foam thing over his helmet like your man from Buffalo used to wear. I think we'll see Batch in and out this whole season, Ben's still hurtin'.

I'm waiting to see Batch actually play a team that is any good. They keep saying he's the best backup in the NFL, well, I'm not buying it. He beat Miami and had a couple of good throws against ATL and now we might see him take on Oakland. That would be great if they sit Ben to play Oak. thinking it'll be a pushover win and then Batch come out and suck it up and the Steelers lose to the worst team in the NFL.

[bengalboomer7]

Well, if the guy taunted him, that kind of suggests he was trying to injure Ben purposely, and if that's the case, the guy should not only be fined, he should be suspended, or perhaps kicked out of the league. It is totally unacceptable to try to injure people, especially when you're talking about concussions, as they can not only end a guy's career, they can screw him up in his life after football too.

A Steeler fan typing something like this is hypocrisy at it's finest

Big Ben is a Big drame queen

[Tasher]

Oh, isn't this just precious. Boy how the situation changes when the injury is on the other foot, huh?

So, tell us how it feels, please won't you?

Let me see, I think I remember how this goes: Football is a rough sport. People get hit and people get hurt. It is part of the game. That is how the cookie crumbles...

Ya da, ya da, ya da, ya da.

[crttylr]

Oh, isn't this just precious. Boy how the situation changes when the injury is on the other foot, huh?

So, tell us how it feels, please won't you?

Let me see, I think I remember how this goes: Football is a rough sport. People get hit and people get hurt. It is part of the game. That is how the cookie crumbles...

Ya da, ya da, ya da, ya da.

Agreed Tasher, I am so sick of hearing Ben's excuses, like "Well we lost because I forgot to take my tampon out" its ridiculous, and this guy is a quarterback, come on now!!!!

Yes Stealer fans CRY TO US ABOUT YOUR QB GETTING HURT!!!! BABIES!!!!

[redsbengalsbucks]

I only saw the hit once on ESPN, but wasnt it a sack?

Why is Ben saying that the last thing he remembers is throwing the ball to Whines Hard? Sounds like this was not a mild concussion.

If I am wrong somebody let me know, please.

[agreen_112]

I only saw the hit once on ESPN, but wasnt it a sack?

Why is Ben saying that the last thing he remembers is throwing the ball to Whines Hard? Sounds like this was not a mild concussion.

If I am wrong somebody let me know, please.

Good point, I'm not for sure either. Sounds kinda strange. All I know is that he got JAAAACKED UP!!!

[Tasher]

Wait a minute! All the reports said that he was unconscious. How does he remember being taunted if he was unconscious? Hmmmm?

[duus]

Well, on the play, he released the ball at the last second, and it was an incomplete pass to Ward (who actually dropped the pass ... right in the gut). Benji ducked his head ... and then the defenders hit him from multiple sides. The one from the front apparently caught his helmet as he was ducking to avoid the hit.

... and he gets knocked out. He initially says he remembers nothing after releasing the pass. Then all of a sudden he remembers some statement from the defender. Yeah, right. This guy is amazing. I am serious ... there has to be a medical condition for a guy who feels the need to make up things every chance he gets. The history of his little stories is nothing short of amazing.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Well, on the play, he released the ball at the last second, and it was an incomplete pass to Ward (who actually dropped the pass ... right in the gut). Benji ducked his head ... and then the defenders hit him from multiple sides. The one from the front apparently caught his helmet as he was ducking to avoid the hit.

... and he gets knocked out. He initially says he remembers nothing after releasing the pass. Then all of a sudden he remembers some statement from the defender. Yeah, right. This guy is amazing. I am serious ... there has to be a medical condition for a guy who feels the need to make up things every chance he gets. The history of his little stories is nothing short of amazing.

I think the medical name your searching for is "the Democratic candidate"

[Tasher]

Well, on the play, he released the ball at the last second, and it was an incomplete pass to Ward (who actually dropped the pass ... right in the gut). Benji ducked his head ... and then the defenders hit him from multiple sides. The one from the front apparently caught his helmet as he was ducking to avoid the hit.

... and he gets knocked out. He initially says he remembers nothing after releasing the pass. Then all of a sudden he remembers some statement from the defender. Yeah, right. This guy is amazing. I am serious ... there has to be a medical condition for a guy who feels the need to make up things every chance he gets. The history of his little stories is nothing short of amazing.

The affliction is called "Compulsive, Pathological Liar."

Maybe he is also Schizophrenic. His other personality, Leedle Benji heard the comments and relayed them to him later.

[duus]

Well, on the play, he released the ball at the last second, and it was an incomplete pass to Ward (who actually dropped the pass ... right in the gut). Benji ducked his head ... and then the defenders hit him from multiple sides. The one from the front apparently caught his helmet as he was ducking to avoid the hit.

... and he gets knocked out. He initially says he remembers nothing after releasing the pass. Then all of a sudden he remembers some statement from the defender. Yeah, right. This guy is amazing. I am serious ... there has to be a medical condition for a guy who feels the need to make up things every chance he gets. The history of his little stories is nothing short of amazing.

I think the medical name your searching for is "the Democratic candidate"

Oh boy, I think you are just asking for it on this forum! (of course, I didn't bother to disagree, however)

Actually, I think the guy is nothing more than a guy addicted to attention and lying.

[semiotter]

All I can say is the kid(BEN) has had one hell of a rough year!!!!

[redsbengalsbucks]

Oh boy, I think you are just asking for it on this forum! (of course, I didn't bother to disagree, however)

Actually, I think the guy is nothing more than a guy addicted to attention and lying.

Oh well, cant hide my opinions just because a bunch of blow-hards cant handle it when someone has a different opinion than they do. This is still America, untill the rich,eilte libs hand it over to the islamic extremists.

[duus]

Oh well, cant hide my opinions just because a bunch of blow-hards cant handle it when someone has a different opinion than they do. This is still America, untill the rich,eilte libs hand it over to the islamic extremists.

Oh boy.

Well ... I know this ... Benji is a great storyteller. Hmmm ... who are the greatest storytellers in history? Trying to think of a new nickname for Sir Benji.

[bengalboomer7]

Oh well, cant hide my opinions just because a bunch of blow-hards cant handle it when someone has a different opinion than they do. This is still America, untill the rich,eilte libs hand it over to the islamic extremists.

Bitter republican J/K

[redsbengalsbucks]

Oh well, cant hide my opinions just because a bunch of blow-hards cant handle it when someone has a different opinion than they do. This is still America, untill the rich,eilte libs hand it over to the islamic extremists.

Oh boy.

Well ... I know this ... Benji is a great storyteller. Hmmm ... who are the greatest storytellers in history? Trying to think of a new nickname for Sir Benji.

How about Aesop, Homer, the girl side kick from Xena warrior princess(cant remember her name) or John Kerry.

[Jeffro35744]

I think the medical name your searching for is "the Democratic candidate"

[MacD BengalFan]

Well, if the guy taunted him, that kind of suggests he was trying to injure Ben purposely, and if that's the case, the guy should not only be fined, he should be suspended, or perhaps kicked out of the league. It is totally unacceptable to try to injure people, especially when you're talking about concussions, as they can not only end a guy's career, they can screw him up in his life after football too.

So I guess when an opposing player taunts one of your beloved Steeler players, they should be suspended. If that is the case, then every player who taunts will be suspended because this kind of activity occurs every game on every play. I understand you running to the defense of your boy, rational thinking is in order here. Based on your thought process, then Kimo Von Ollhoffen should have been suspended for his hit on Carson Palmer in the playoffs. It sure looked like he did "try to injure" Carson.

[PMThor]

How does one taunt someone who is knocked unconscious, no less face down on the turf?

Apparently Ben can see out the back of his head, through his helmet, and can see the Atlanta players taunting him.

Oh and taunting? How about this one. It was the celebrations of three defensive players all meeting simultaneously at the source that they all go after, the opposing QB.

Wow. Ben sure does talk and whine a lot about the hits he takes....

[duus]

Am I the only one who sees some incredible irony that a Steeler player is bothered that another player might have taunted him after a big hit?