From Head To Shoulders, Troy Polamalu Outweighs Clay Matthews

It's too bad only one player can win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, especially when the two star players pose as the most handsome, gorgeous and stylish figures in the history of professional football. It's not too bad the Super Bowl is being played in Northern Texas at one of the nicest and most spacious venues in football, a modern-age stadium built as if it's the world's colossal palace.

But it's too bad no one has parodied the latest faddish in the NFL this week, a trendy hairdo featured by two stylish celebrities, two of the toughest, hard-driven defenders. In perspective, with a precious hairstyle, nobody has made this the funniest tease in sports, but either way, Troy Polamalu can easily be mistaken for a rock star from the '80s by his long, twirling and curly hair.

There might be a clearer understanding for why his hair is long, from his personal background—Polamalu is of Samoan descent. The cultural principles from the Samoan customs develop an identity and their own agendas, as long hair signifies "strong warrior," a common trait in such an ideal heritage. So does this mean he's a strong warrior, probably considered the mightiest, fastest safety in Steelers history, since he dominates as a defensive force and has the warrior-type mentality?

When he emerges onto the field by game time, Polamalu is the most noticeable player with his ponytail, a trademark that characterizes the long-haired veteran. Polamalu, having endured lots of Super Bowl triumph in his accomplished career, is already loved heavily in Pittsburgh and constantly boosts jersey sales—a perceptible signal that he's one of the premiere stars. With all the fans sending their tributes, he is a stalwart strong safety and captivates the spectators by his toughness and explosiveness.

Other than his hair, a simple description to remember Polamalu in the event a person forgets: he is equipped with natural powers on the turf and has the finesse to close out games defensively. Without him, the Steelers aren't the same, but are still alarming to watch to some degree. They aren't bullies, either, but are a bit harmless in his absence. They aren't scary, but are still dangerous.

The all-around defensive back is always a factor in the secondary and transforms the dynamic of games, not because of his hair but his relentless and wildest routes on the field to discombobulate a solid offense.


By logic, he is one of the most basic defensive playmakers in the league, a five-time Pro Bowler and an extremely versatile player to blend in perfectly with a defensive-oriented team. It satisfies Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, privileged to coach a priceless superstar as almighty as Polamalu. Not too many defenders in the league travel across the football field with incredible, out-of-this-world speed that rattles and defers opponents of making plays.

All you need to know is that he's quicker than a jack rabbit or cheetah, and it wouldn't be surprising if he could match the speed of Usain Bolt. Not one bit. The fame was earned, sooner rather than later, when he allowed his hair to grow and became the first Samoan to seize attention in the national spotlight, not only a stylist but an aggressor.

Likewise Clay Matthews, his antagonist for Super Bowl XLV, is similar in many ways.

When it comes to hair, he knows it better than women, it seems; certainly by the way he lets it down on the field. The hefty linebacker from a family that culturally has football in its genes. When he was drafted by the Packers in 2009, the critics made the situation worse and doubted Matthews' performance level, his NFL potential and his pedigree.

And now, he definitely won't forget what could have been an insult to Matthews, after he was two votes shy of taking home the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, motivated and ready to take out his frustration on the field. But he's classy and now carries a lifelong tradition into the modern generation, rising in the national scene with the Green Bay Packers. His father, Clay Jr., played 19 seasons in the NFL, and spent three seasons with Cleveland. His uncle, Bruce, a Hall of Famer, played 19 seasons in the league, too.


This football trait runs in the family and persists, given the Matthews family genre. Even his grandfather, Clay, who played four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Now, in this generation, Matthews is a factor for the Packers in the Super Bowl come Sunday, only in his second season and already he's a perennial attacker. A few months from now, his younger brother, Casey, a linebacker at Oregon, will be selected in the 2011 NFL draft.

The legacy continues, and better yet, Matthews is probably the best one in the family as long as he continues to hit and pounce on opponents wildly to make an unbelievable play. As for the hair comparisons, the former Californians from USC, where they both earned their rightful names in football, Troy beats Clay remotely.

While Tom Brady tries to cover his bald spots, Polamalu and Matthews' hair keeps growing and growing, sort of how the Energizer Bunny keeps going and going, right? On media day, he was imitated when his teammate Ryan Clark put on a Polamalu wig and smiled for the cameras, having too much fun.

That's why I use Head & Shoulders for Men to shampoo my hair regularly. That's why I like to use it constantly.

Thanks to Polamalu, my hygiene is better than ever before!

Ben Roethlisberger Joshing at Media Day Illustrate Different Man

ARLINGTON, Texas--As he rested calmly at a table inside Cowboys Stadium surrounded by cameras and swarms of reporters intrigued to talk with the media, Ben Roethlisberger viewed the scene with a relaxed stare, and noticed he had directly borrowed all attention on Media Day for Super Bowl XLV—the wildest circus where reporters are allowed to ask players most bizarre or convenient things.

It didn't come as a surprise when Roethlisberger was named the featured athlete—one of professional sports' most headstrong daredevils. He just might be one of the most reckless, daring quarterbacks any one could ever imagine. Regularly comfortable with risking his body, he almost jeopardized his career when his head was slammed to the turf as he got sandwiched between a pair of defenders a few seasons ago. Big Ben seems like a superhuman or a robot, capable of enduring any daunting task—mechanically-built to defy the laws of fortitude and firmness.

We can only consider that a proud, character-oriented, hard-driven franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers are very content with his drastic turnaround and recent displays of maturity and humbleness. He is, without question, a changed man—ready to pursue and capture his third Super Bowl title with the Steelers, a brand-name franchise that has allowed Roethlisberger ample opportunities to behave like a decent human being; not a hideous criminal with the potential to sabotage the class of a franchise symbolized to articulate dignity and civility.

The Super Bowl is approaching rapidly, and for a moment we glance at the Steelers, who will become America's Team if Pittsburgh takes home another Lombardi Trophy. For a change, Roethlisberger tried not to reflect on the heinous past, but was humorous and playful, joshing with the media. He even seemed to take pleasure in his hour of interrogation. At the end of the session, he smiled widely, counted down the last seven seconds of media availability and walked off the stage.

Being in front of thousands of reporters and media outlets, he handled the scrutiny, publicity and anxiety with maturity and class. Soon enough, he'll be forgiven of his wrongdoings, earning his shot of redemption on the national stage. It won't take long—not if he's staying out of trouble and avoiding college campuses and college girls—for Roethlisberger to wholeheartedly become a different man, unlike when he was a careless and adolescent fool.

Over the last two days, he dealt with the adversity and criticism. Today, he was talkative with the media, joking, laughing and smiling. You could tell he was at ease, as Roethlisberger shot video with his cellphone as he arrived to the podium, while being bombarded with questions from the media.

"I'm very close with a lot of the guys," said Roethlisberger. "One of my best friends is sitting over there next to me. I knew that I always had—there was a big group of guys I always had their support. There were just a couple that I wasn't as close to as I wanted to be and needed to be and I have really worked hard to be closer with and be a better teammate with."

He needed to mature and repair an image, blemished since now being twice-accused of sexual assault. In doing so, he will clear his name of guilt and stupidity for slip-ups, which almost destroyed his great reputation—clearly the savior for the Steelers in a pair of championships.

With a win, given the multiple titles he won in his incredible career, he will earn his rightful place in the company of NFL history's great Quarterbacks with the likes of Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman. He is on the verge of leading the Steelers franchise to an unprecedented accomplishment—wining their seventh championship. The tenacious Steelers, decorated with six Super Bowl titles, are on the verge of an impressive three championships in the past six seasons.

"I'm not pretty when I play the game," said Roethlisberger. I'll be the first to admit it, but I don't try to be. When I say these things, I'm not trying to knock on any of those guys. I've said they're the best. I just play the game to win it. Like I said, I'll probably never ever win a passing title. I'll probably never win MVP of the NFL and I'm okay with that. Really, I am. People may think I'm crazy, but to me at the end of the day it's about wins and losses and championships."

For the first time all season, it seemed Roethlisberger was capable to handle any predicament. With a win, maybe he could earn back his endorsement deal with a Pittsburgh company that markets food products after it had dropped because of his unlawful accusations of sexual assault, although he was never charged in either case.

If he leads the Steelers to glory again, in a couple of months, you could see his face on beef jerky bags in Giant Eagle supermarkets. The point is, no matter what the nay-sayers think of Roethlisberger's legal troubles and allegations in the past, he's a beloved superstar in an enthusiastic football region that culturally worships the sport each week.

In recent years, the Terrible Towels exist by virtue of the fraternity of delirious supporters in a town where Big Ben has repossessed his respective nickname. He has sincerely made an effort to use great judgment and has regained the respect of the Steelers ownership, teammates and fans.

He has finally stopped partying, drinking too much and manipulating women.

That's what we want to believe with Roethlisberger. That is what he wants us to believe, and we should take his word for it. He is easily either the most despised athlete or the most admired, given that not all have forgiven him for his poor judgment.

The moment now is for America to become a country of forgiveness. No, we don't have to forget about the gruesome allegations, but the bitter folks can lose the animosity and forget about the past. To his credit, he's an iconic hero, despite his off-the-field misconduct.

The most troubling incident happened last April, when a 21-year old college student filed a sexual assault complaint, but the prosecutor couldn't garner enough evidence to prove that Roethlisberger was guilty of trapping a woman in the bathroom in the small town of Milledgeville, Ga. No matter how he is described among those who dislike him, this turns out to be a redemptive tale in which he enriches his likability as an individual and player.

The star of Super Bowl Media Day wasn't Aaron Rodgers or Troy Polamalu.


When Roethlisberger arrived so calmly, everybody crowded around, and treated him as if he was the superhero in sports. It really would be something beautiful if Roethlisberger could orchestrate another compelling drive as the final minutes trickle down in the Super Bowl and deliver a game-winning pass to one of his prolific receivers. This wouldn't just refresh the memory of the breathtaking finish two years ago, but add to the incredible history of indelible Super Bowl moments.

The storyline is that Big Ben has redeemed himself, and once again, is every bit as popular as London's historic clock. He is considered an elite quarterback in the NFL, filled with much promise in the near future as long as he stays out of trouble. Without a doubt, come Sunday, it won't be a surprise to hear him cheered by thousands, and see thousands more donning his No. 7 jersey.

Never mind that he served a four-game suspension to begin the season, because the gritty Steelers are contrived to survive off their defensive principles. Never mind that he was a distraction, instead it just brought the Steelers closer and made his teammates stronger—instilling the importance of unity and spirit.

With that, the Steelers bonded together and compiled victories to qualify for the postseason, and dominated in the playoffs with urgency, mental toughness and a boisterous defense led by legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

And so after all the adversity and tribulations—disturbing episodes that almost ruined not only his profession as an NFL quarterback but his life in general, Roethlisberger has recovered from his downfall. Finally, there is much kindness within Roethlisberger, living his life differently and rightfully—realizing how close he came to blowing his eight-year, $102 million contract.

"It's such a blessing, that's where the inner peace starts is with your faith, with my faith—like I said, by counting my blessings, because every day is a blessing to be alive and a blessing to do this," said Roethlisberger. "To have forgiveness, the ultimate forgiveness, to pray—that was my main thing, talking to God, reading the before I came up here."

From here, we can infer that Roethlisberger very much appreciates and admires the game. I guess it's a blessing. God bless Big Ben.

Changed Man? Ben Roethlisberger Defies Every Law of Redemption

By now, he deserves to be treated as if he's a modest man, bearing the emphasis of humankind and goodness as a matured human being with a clear understanding of how to value the essence of life with a gracious and humbled disposition.

If he's not typified as a malefactor accused of sex crimes, simply when he wasn't charged in either case of his sexual assault allegations within the last three years, it's because Ben Roethlisberger happened to change his way of living to escape an impending doom. It's very telling that Roethlisberger is a different man when he acts respectful towards women, no longer feels he's above the law, no longer behaves as if he's superior with a powerful mind to influence weak-minded women into his abnormal trap.

Maybe at one point in his life, putting himself in jeopardy by partying on college campuses and mingling with women, he was an immature, reckless individual. Nowadays, he shows gratitude toward not only football, but life in general. And perhaps never have the Pittsburgh Steelers, a franchise that symbolizes personal excellence and emphasizes strong character, been caught in a dire crisis until its franchise quarterback faced repugnant accusations.

Shortly after, he wasn't identified as a savior, but classified as Rapethlisberger, wrongly accused of accusations although he was never charged with a crime in either incident given the lack of evidence. But any humane person in a forgiving nation has not forgotten the allegations of his horrific past. In the meantime, living in America, we have forgiven him of his wrongdoings, if he ever committed a pair of crimes. The frequent patterns of his unlawful occurrences nearly ravaged his credibility as the likeable figure.


Amidst all the personal issues and off-the-field misconduct that erased the nostalgia of his heroics for Pittsburgh's Super Bowl achievements, Roethlisberger finally has healed from the downfall and restored the memories of an accomplished career. If he leads the Steelers to a third title, giving Pittsburgh a total of seven titles in franchise history, he'll once again reign as the star quarterback, recapture endorsements and salvage his 8-year, $102 million contract.

In the brightest game of his redemptive story, when no one ever imagined the Steelers advancing to the Super Bowl after Roethlisberger had been forced to serve a 4-game suspension handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, he still engineered the Steelers to another Super Bowl appearance. Despite all of his boneheaded decisions in the past, along with all the distractions earlier in the season, a win cures everything. No more turmoil that nearly impelled the Rooneys to move forward without Roethlisberger by trading or releasing the troubled quarterback.

To his credit, he has handled the scrutiny and criticism with maturity, ready to move forward and release the dreadful memories on a mission to win his third NFL championship. In the midst of a dramatic week, he'll be the focal point of attention and surrounded by a swarm of reporters come Super Bowl Media Day held at Cowboys Stadium. It hardly seems as if he ever was accused of wrongdoings, unwilling to reflect on his troubled past and focus strictly on sustaining the hardware in Dallas.

Ever since he had the sexual assault complaint filed against him by a 20-year-old college student at the time in a small Georgia town, he was lambasted and despised by many for disrespecting women. Very quickly, the quarterback who led the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl victories and proclaimed as a well-known hero in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger was defined as the polarizing athlete and forgotten in a town that applauded the god-like superstar.

This season is clear evidence of a redemptive period, a moment for Roethlisberger to clear his name of any unlawful madness that almost damaged his remarkable future and life as a respectable NFL star. The Steelers allowed him a second chance, an opportunity to confirm that he can rectify his mistakes to behave like a modest individual with a knowledgeable mind.

It's such a beautiful story, at a point in his life when he's not too reckless, dumb-minded or careless, but instead more serious and discerning about the concepts of life, willing to adjust his way of living to avoid poor judgment and potentially self-destruction. So really, it looks as if he has turned himself around and earned back the respect among ownership, players, coaches and fans.

Suddenly, he's the new Big Ben. Out with the old and in with the new.

For him, this is the road to redemption.

Pittsburgh Steelers Takes Advantage of Sloppy Ravens, But Can't Be Discounted

By now, however, a rivalry of bitterness was inexplicably in full bloom. The prior history, of course, has developed an intense clash, centering a pair of divisional foes by cast members of the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It reminded us, upon hearing the hype of what has become an attractive event in the NFL, about the past episodes with the Steelers and Ravens.

In specifics, it reminded us of the time when the Ravens threatened to place a bounty on Hines Ward, when Bart Scott threatened to "kill" the Steelers' veteran receiver or when the Ravens delivered a nasty blow to the Steelers quarterback's nose. Each time they meet, it turns into a verbal altercation and eventually escalates into a physical skirmish on the field, a heavyweight battle like no other in a contest that becomes so brutal.

Now, along comes the sudden impact of Rashard Mendenhall in a pivotal matchup of mutual hostility, of boundless violence and hard hits that identify a hard-nose, turnover-forcing defense. This wouldn't be a rivalry without any feisty trash talk that notably fueled the meanest rivalry in the NFL, which accelerated earlier this week after Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs wore a T-Shirt featuring a bird with a murky gesture and read, "Hey Pittsburgh."

All of this trash talk formulated a wonderful theater, just as earlier in the week when Suggs called it the "best rivalry in sports." Consider it, however, not only a breakout game for the Steelers, but a breakthrough for the skilled running back Mendenhall. And he never disappointed, even after he declined as a factor in the Steelers' enigmatic running game in prior weeks. So the Steelers survived on the Ravens' second-half meltdown, and clinched a berth to the AFC Championship Game by the heroics of the stud running back.

He's a third-year speedster out of Illinois, a beneficiary who emerged into the spotlight, and if he continues to advertise his knack by bursting to the end zone, he'll clearly be known as an icon with his heroics and athleticism. Between now and as early as February, his presence will be felt immensely—another way to reduce the workload off Ben Roethlisberger, who has proven unflappable in critical situations but also vulnerable at times.

Because it's entirely a total team effort, even though Mendenhall was the primary difference-maker in such a tense, must-needed bout, he probably won't be heard of much over the next week. That is unfair for a helpful player after lifting the momentum and exciting the fans with his explosive eight-yard dash to the 4-yard line on Pittsburgh's first drive. The masses at Heinz Field, dressed in Steeler yellow and black, screamed loudly and swung the Terrible Towels, a frenzy that traditionally defines a die-hard Steelers fan.

He didn't have to finish with all-purpose yards or have to conclude his impressive statement with 50-plus yards, but settled for merely 46 yards on 20 carries. Rather remarkably, he scored two touchdowns and caught a 13-yard pass. In a sense that the Steelers are America's favorite, we were all convinced by the Steelers rally, thanks to the Ravens miscues that contributed to Pittsburgh's miraculous comeback.

As minutes dwindled on the clock, with 1:33 remaining in a tight, nerve-racking AFC divisional playoff game, Mendenhall pushed into the end zone from the 2-yard line to give the Steelers a 31-24 comeback win over the clumsy Ravens on Saturday. That's partly because the Ravens collapsed and inexcusably stumbled. Presumably because they were too relax and took a lead for granted, Baltimore was doomed by the second half in its hardest matchup against the Steelers, a championship-caliber team that trailed 21-7 at halftime when turnovers produced two Ravens touchdowns.

The timing couldn't have been worse, as the Ravens bailed on their aggressive defense and no longer seemed vicious. For whatever reason, they abandoned the bull-rushes and stopped harassing Roethlisberger, which allowed him ample opportunities to elude pressure and find his intended receivers late in the game. Once, they were the fiercest defense around, known for punishing opponents. But by the third quarter the Ravens were harmless—a rarity in their everyday approach that was a non-factor with so much on the line.

If you believed in the Ravens, a monstrous, defensive-minded unit, it's because Baltimore nearly walked out of a hostile territory in celebration. If so, Ray Lewis and Suggs would have flew out of the town with bragging rights, granted by an appearance in the AFC Championship Game next weekend against either the New York Jets or the New England Patriots. As in any hurtful loss, the Ravens were left in despair at the end, and the bench stared hopelessly in disbelief and mourned a dreadful letdown.

It was an avalanche of costly mistakes committed by the Ravens in the second half. All together, Baltimore had three turnovers, and a holding penalty to deny Lardarius Webb's punt return score. It seemed the Ravens, entering the contest with much firepower and confidence, were in position to tie the game late, but Anquan Bolden dropped a pass in the end zone. Then, came the missed opportunity when T.J. Houshmandzadeh, on 4th-and-18 on Baltimore's final drive at Pittsburgh, lost control of the ball that bounced off his mitts.

This certainly wasn't the Steelers' finest game, nor was it Roethlisberger's greatest. Early on, he had trouble with his accuracy, but somehow, he completed a pass to Ward on 3rd-and-10. And on a few plays later, on a third down and sudden-death situation, he heaved one to Antonio Brown, following a shrewd call by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. But mostly his passes were short or either incomplete, pretty much creating a scare for the Steelers by his faulty performance.

The point is, the Steelers' relentless, brutal defense conducted by the brilliant defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who calls useful plays to complete stops, bailed out Pittsburgh with the persistent rushes by James Harrison, the aggressor on the Steelers defense. Perhaps, the toughness from a hard-driven defense saved the Steelers. And as a result, the Steelers sacked Joe Flacco five times, with only very limited protection in the backfield.

And yes, there are plenty of people rooting for the Steelers, as usual, when Roethlisberger has already won two championships with a 9-2 postseason record. The die-hards in Pittsburgh, once furious and irritable with Big Ben over his sexual harassment allegations, can finally eulogize not only him as the franchise quarterback but the Steelers in general for defeating their divisional enemies on the day that defied the laws of wills and resiliency.

The humanity in a city that honors football, among other sports in the town is contagious and spiritual as the fans celebrate in delight, elated by the Steelers. Sure, they took advantage of the Ravens miscues, but either way, they won it.

Ben Roethlisberger Doesn't Hold His Nose In Bloody Duel To Ravens

In truth, I fear for his life. I’ve witnessed too many reckless hits, too many smashmouth poundings and too many collisions.

Ever seen a franchise quarterback withstand the repetition of harassment and brutality on any giving Sunday?

So how does the mind of a man with a hollow, adventurous and mindless skull survive a brutal three-hour marathon in a Sunday night event, a meeting that has no boundaries but features unlimited onslaughts and sends him dropping to the frigid grass on a bone-chilling night in Baltimore?

It’s one thing for Ben Roethlisberger to act as if he’s a headstrong daredevil like another Evil Kenevil, arousing our senses with an enormous stunt scene on turf. The Pittsburgh Steelers, once as cuddly as stuffed-animals before forming into elites in the National Football League, are now greedy and stingy and earn victories from an elevating mindset fueled by the intensity of arguably the fiercest and greediest defense in the league.

And so it’s one thing for a rowdy crowd to provoke a physical altercation at M&T Bank Stadium as Ravens and Steelers fans initiated a fracas, thus ending when two Baltimore police officers slammed a Steelers fan’s face directly into a white wall and escorted him away from the venue as the incensed fan screamed in anger, it was surely the epitome for a much-malign opposition.

The uprising in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry percolates bad blood, fueled by the hard-hitting Ravens veteran linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, who always physically attacks the Steelers’ offensive line when he suddenly steamrolls his way pass the lineman to draw pressure and negate the capability of a durable passing game.

There is, believe it or not, a rivalry increasingly capturing our consciousness every time the Ravens play the Steelers in an alienated wrestling match. The certainty with the Steelers-Ravens ultimate tale, in afterthought, is that they both respect each other.

Well, to some extent.

It reminds us that the Steelers and Ravens dislike each other, and desperately deliver physical hits in the coolest and hottest rivalry in the NFL to cement a sense of eminence among two teams in a fight for claiming its division and transforming as the most exciting team in the league itself.


Now that the Steelers appears in control of the division race, a testament in reaching a climax or defying the odds of common reasoning again as a forgotten competitor, it’s almost believable to gather an assumption for which the Steelers could actually be the team to beat come this postseason.

The NFL is an unpredictable league. But just when it appeared the Ravens might crucify the Steelers with the scariest and deepest depth in the game, the only star player Baltimore pestered was a courageous Roethlisberger, coming on a reckless hit in the face during a pass attempt at the 12 minute mark in the first quarter. In this series, he was fiercely sacked by Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and suffered a bloody nose in a bloody challenge against its archrivals as a bundle of unsympathetic hits sent players crashing to the turf and sidelined injured players.

Somehow, he has managed to perform through pain without missing action and, as usual, he led the Steelers to a nail-biting 13-10 comeback win.

The amazing thing that happened to Roethlisberger, in retrospect, was when he conquered his travails and has been given a second chance at redemption after he was accused of sexual assault charges for the second time in a year by a 20-year old student at a nightclub in a small Georgia college town.

With that in mind, he used to believe he was superhuman and had an apathetic attitude, putting his health in jeopardy by his foolish judgment on the field and off the field, either assuming he was above the law or god on the field each Sunday. For sure, he’s a risk-taker who is willing to take on a rigid or daring task.

Remember, he almost left the face of this earth in a near-death situation for riding his motorcycle without a helmet. Remember, there was a time when he periodically sustained concussions and recovered from severe head trauma quickly without becoming a human vegetable. And all the while he had an ailing right foot that was roughly taped and protected, on a night he sustained a broken nose in the first series, he threw for 253 yards and settled for a lone touchdown.

“Someone just came through and a hand got through my facemask,” Roethlisberger said after the game. “The next thing you know, I feel blood running down my face.”

Indeed.


It felt as if he was just involved in a street fight and punched directly in the face by a thug from the streets of Baltimore. As hard of a hit it was monstrously, his nose crooked to the side and blood drained down Roethlisberger’s face, leaving behind a stain on his white No. 7 jersey. During it all, he was attended to by trainers, and painfully, they tried to bend his nose back into shape.

Ouch!!!

“I look like I just went 12 rounds with [Manny] Pacquiao,” Roethlisberger said.

This after he delivered the knockout punch on a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Isaac Redman with 2:51 left in a developing rivalry. It’s not hard to emphasize that he’s still healing from the wounds in the most physical test, potent enough to endure the nagging pain of a broken nose and a damaged foot. The facet of this annual Baltimore-Pittsburgh duel, along with the brawls and continuous trash talk, is that Roethlisberger plays with emotion and heart.

And then lastly, he plays with a sense of fortitude, even if he can endure painful jolts on his ailing body. As he is on the path towards redeeming himself, this is a chance to restore his credibility and reputation, finally performing with grace and guts by leading the Steelers late in the fourth quarter.

If ever there has been a season in which redemption is the gist of saving his legacy, relieving all the dismay from an ill-sicken resume, it’s this season when the Steelers are 9-3 and can possibly win its division and surprise us again with Super Bowl triumph?

In all, the Ravens never trailed until late in the fourth as time dwindled and had a shot to waste a bulk of time on the clock, but on a second-and-5 from the Ravens 43, Joe Flacco stepped back to fire a pass when safety Troy Polamalu blitzed the Ravens star quarterback from behind and capitalized on a blindsided hit, while the Ravens lineman fell asleep and left Flacco unprotected.

“I just saw his back turned,” Polamalu said. “I felt like I saw the ball come down…The ball just came out.”

With consistent play, Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley corralled the fumble and returned the ball 19 yards to the Ravens 9, which led to Roethlisberger’s late game heroics.

Beyond all, he is the factor in the Steelers pursuit, along with his charisma and smartness as to leading Pittsburgh. He’s a franchise quarterback, which tells us why the Rooneys gave the star quarterback a $102 million deal, embraced as symbolic hero within a franchise that pinpoints strong character, a trait Big Ben has shown since he was given a second chance to remain on his best behavior and conduct the Steelers as a franchise leader.

This always has a fitting end for a team with lots of firepower and star power.

NFL Needs To Protect Its League Before it's Too Late

So now, as if the scary trauma has barely created an everlasting debate, one discussion that has everyone fussing about hard blows to the head is that the NFL is refusing to ignore hamlet-to-hamlet hits. What they can do is set stricter barriers to eliminate the vicious, violent hits and finally realize the risk of players suffering concussions.

At last, the richest enterprise in sports has become medically aware of head injuries, a health issue that can risk long-term dangers to the brain. If an athlete suffers a concussion from a helmet-to-helmet blow, the league should respond proactively and levy suspensions to hard-hitting players who makes contact with opponents and sympathetically avoids a punishment after a brutal collision.

In theory, it should surprise no one that the NFL is contemplating whether or not a suspension will mitigate the head shots.

For a long time, this has been a heavy burden, and now that it is clearly evident in which fines aren’t enough to deter players from making nasty hits to the head, the league is closely evaluating the violent scenes, ready to enforce a harsher sanction.

Finally, the NFL is reacting to unnecessary violence and realizes players are sustaining serious injuries for dangerous hits or intentionally late shots.

Fair enough. The NFL, in a way, is compromising with the welfare of injured players, but the idea of possible suspensions doesn’t settle too well for some players. In fact, the latest fuss involving hits to the head is mandated in some ways, but viewed as an overreaction prior to three controversial incidents last Sunday. There has been much dialogue about brutality in football over the past week.

And before it is too late, the NFL must protect its league from tragedies, especially when the red flags are alarming and have shown signs of possible death. It’s not an issue the league can sugarcoat, but a common crisis that can quickly turn into a devastating scene if the NFL ignores the incidents and fails to address a perpetual dilemma.

At this very moment, it’s acceptable to assume that the league is considering suspending players for violent helmet-to-helmet hits. Earlier in the week, NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said he could impose harsher fines and possible suspensions immediately.

“It could happen immediately,” Anderson said of the hazardous hits after several players sustained concussions Sunday. “The level of discipline on those types of hits is going to be much more aggressive…and that could include a suspension even for a first-time offender.”

You heard that? No warnings.

By the abundance of concussions lately, the uncompassionate hits to the head finally have caught the league’s attention. So no longer is the league lagging on a controversial trend, willing to protect their players from suffering a blow to the head and limiting the staggering growth of head injuries.

Just as the Players Association and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell examines the possibilities of neck and head trauma and revisits a longtime concern, former safety Rodney Harrison and former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who can easily be the league’s peacemaker, now are football analysts for NBC and advocate suspensions for harmful hits.

“Fines aren’t getting it done,” Anderson said. “Suspensions will get their attention.”

Absolutely.

Every way, that is, the NFL has informed its officiating crew to start ejecting players for flagrant helmet-to-helmet shots, a new policy that was plotted in a memo from supervisor of officials Mike Pereira. Over the years, there have been career-threatening injuries and deaths, and suddenly, the league is handling the issue with stricter measures.

Every player understands the risk factor, knowingly realizing that merciless hits are part of the game. It’s good to know that the NFL is fundamentally concerned with the health dangers of players, aiming to abate the number of helmets slamming into other helmets.

“Officials will be reminded this week to pay strict attention to these rules and disqualify the fouling player if the action is judged to be flagrant,” Pereira wrote in the memo. “Actions that involve flagrant helmet to helmet contact are the likely acts that will include disqualification. Our commissioner and this office remain very focused on the safety of players.”

In an era in which so many hits and collisions have threatened players’ careers or diagnosed star players with long-term health issues, the NFL is proactive in reacting to the tragic hits. More importantly, the NFL has implemented barriers governing to players who sustain vital blows to the head.

It was just over two weeks ago when a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Houston quarterback Matt Schaub a concussion led to a $15,000 fine for San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence.

Few, if any, can recall the fine given to Washington safety LaRon Landry and will forfeit a game check of $16,764 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens.

Prior to his disastrous shot, Landry had been fined $7,500 for a pair of unnecessary roughness penalties. It’s a ruling that has been long overdue for a league with intense and violent plays and will lessen life-threatening injuries.

If nothing else, imposing rules and suspensions isn’t the toughest issue to tackle, given that concussions are inevitable in game of collisions and perilous hits. The NFL recently has had to address a battered crisis involving the well-being of players to avoid the possibilities of career-threatening injuries or even deaths.

There have been nightmarish moments that we can recall. A few years ago, former Bills’ player Kevin Everett suffered a life-threatening spinal-cord injury, a crestfallen incident that saddened us all.

Years ago, the late Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed for the rest of his life, was a depressing tragedy in the sport known as America’s pastime.

And now, the league is smart for suggesting a new protocol to reduce illegal hits on defenseless players, to constitute a rule to stop collisions and to lessen injuries by enforcing precise rules.

The league is most famous for enforcing rules, and since the league is losing players to injury, this would be a good time to address the issue. Ever since Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson delivered a vicious shot to DeSean Jackson, the images are clearly a reality check for the NFL. All on the same day, a fine was given to New England free safety Brandon Meriweather for his hits on Baltimore’s tight end Todd Heap.

And in comparison, Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison had a pair of hard hits and nearly beheaded Cleveland receiver Josh Cribbs on a play. Seen as a defensive assassin, he has been known for making hard hits and unluckily was handed a fine for his shot on Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, even when it was ruled a legal hit.

He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an interview on Tuesday that the hit on Massaquoi “was a legal hit.”

“All you have to do is look at the tape,” Harrison said.

Common sense tells us hard hits are triggering concussions. By enforcing stronger guidelines, it is considered the smartest idea.

Protect your league before it’s too late.

A Threshold of Redemption Already Redefines Humble Ben Roethlisberger

By early Sunday afternoon, Ben Roethlisberger took the field to partake in pregame warm-ups, and minutes before the game, he stood near his empty locker in his return from a four-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy.

If a stranger had sauntered into the conference room following his sensational performance while on the path to redemption, they wouldn’t have known that he was willing to restore his image and show true remorse. A middle-age man, ready to escape the troubles on his mind and return to dynamic form, is finally maturing and thinking wiser after he had been labeled a malefactor.


So, of course, it would be his chance, in a redemption stage, to prove to fans and teammates that he has taken accountability for his poor judgment and learned from his slip-ups. Haunted all offseason by his stupidity and sexual assault charges, although he wasn’t convicted in either case, Roethlisberger is more fascinating in a forgiving country and loyalists are kindhearted to welcome back the two-time Super Bowl champion.

In his absence, the Steelers were dominant without Big Ben orchestrating a stalwart offense. In his absence, the Steelers managed to win and relied heavily on their stingy defense, which usually defined a brand of resilience and toughness. Last week, he exchanged warmhearted hugs and smiles with his teammates and team executives in a friendly return.

If he has matured since the allegations, presumably he’ll avoid nightclubs on college campuses and intermingle with older women in his age group, not college girls at the wildest parties where numerous girls are intoxicated and, well, where Big Ben is horny.

By now, he clearly knows to avoid another sexual episode that could jeopardize his career and reputation with a franchise that emphasizes strong character. The Rooneys are committed to protecting their public image and exposing an excellent disposition. Though he wasn’t arrested or charged in either case, Roethlisberger had to face reality by serving a six-game suspension that eventually had been reduced to four games when he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL Sheriff who decided to take lenient measures on a mysterious ordeal.

As it stands, however, Big Ben is a modest and matured individual, ready to escape the lingering scrutiny of his disturbing sex stories. For now, at least, it seems Roethlisberger’s troubles with sexual assault accusations came about from stupidity, foolishly partying with college students and nearly throwing away his rare commodities.


The Steelers, the NFL's most loyal franchise, trusted in Roethlisberger and declared that he’d be the face of the franchise as a valuable team leader. It’s easy to see how he was given a $102-million deal, proudly serving a well-respected, decorated organization before almost damaging a glistening career as his stupidity and senselessness created a frenzy.

In reality, he’s not portrayed as a malefactor and has never been charged with a crime, but Roethlisberger has shown a pattern of allegedly committing rape and inviting college women into the club’s VIP rooms. A long time ago, he wasn't getting the message and wasn't leaving college women alone. Today, he realizes the ramifications involved when he recklessly parties and associates with immoral women who are only looking for a good time, and then once the night is over they suddenly scream "rape!"

The possibility of the Steelers taking up another pursuit is very likely, especially with the return of Roethlisberger, who joined his teammates and led the Steelers to a 28-10 romp over the Cleveland Browns. Surely, he is more humble and grateful, given a second chance to clean up his image and navigate a balanced attack on offense. The Steelers are well-balanced and a pesky team in the AFC North, and poses a viable threat.

Without Roethlisberger's assistance, the Steelers surprisingly have not stumbled, as anticipated, and won three of their first four games with an almighty defense and a relentless rushing attack. With that, the Steelers survived the likes of Atlanta and Tampa Bay, without Roethlisberger handling the snaps and flinging passes. So now, however, the Steelers' faithful believe he’s a changed man, a humble individual with the mindset to lead the Steelers back into title overdrive.

It wouldn’t be premature to admit that he’s remorseful and has been heavily appreciated in the Steel City, a place he has considered home and brought to life, guiding the Steelers to a breathtaking finish for a thrilling Super Bowl victory against the improbable Arizona Cardinals that gave Pittsburgh its sixth title.

The Terrible Towel crowd at Heinz Field still admires Roethlisberger's heroics and clutch finishes. The fans support the troubled megastar, despite accusations of him disrespecting women and evoking a national disturbance. Earlier in the year, the boorish fans pleaded for the Steelers to release Roethlisberger, disgusted by his alleged misdeeds with a college woman in a nightclub in a small-college Georgia town.


By the time he trotted out of the tunnel Sunday, a teary-eyed Roethlisberger greeted the roaring crowd and he received a standing ovation.

In the end, Roethlisberger talked about the crowd reaction, delighted that hundreds cheered loudly and wore his No. 7 jerseys.

“Amazing,” he said. “That was part of the emotion I was feeling. It put tears in my eyes, to hear them cheer like that.”

But in this world, you cannot please everybody.

Some people may never ever anoint Roethlisberger, furious over his off-the-field nonsense. His poor judgment was absolutely unnecessary and outrageous, but some people believe he paid the price when he served a suspension, minimizing the possibility of becoming a fallen star in the most famous league.

“You can tell he’s humbled to be where he’s at,” said Steelers tackle Max Starks. “He’s happy to be back. He appreciates it.”

Yes sir.

Sometimes, it takes an awful blunder to instill reality into the minds of big-headed athletes, and he certainly needed a reality check or the next time he might have been convicted on rape charges. Normally, a player is rusty for missing a number of games, but more than ever, Roethlisberger had an impressive 112.7 passer rating. Thrilled to be back with his teammates, he communicated on the sidelines and laughed, cherishing the moment in a game that he accounted for 257 yards and three touchdown passes.

It marked his first dazzling performance since he was accused of sexual assault. He reveled in the cheers that he felt were lost after the accusations, played brilliantly against the division rivals and spoiled Colt McCoy’s NFL debut on Sunday. All praise came in the third quarter on a drive that gave the Steelers a 14-3 lead, when Roethlisberger connected with wideout Mike Wallace for a 50-yard pass. Then, on the next play he tossed a 36-yard pass to tight end Heath Miller, which set up an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward.

On a threshold of redemption, Big Ben repossessed his righteous name and played like a two-time champion, with an aerial spectacle that intensified the crowd. As it seems, the Steelers are in pursuit of capturing instant gratification.

The Big Ben in Pittsburgh is maybe just as valuable as the structure in London.

Only time will tell.

No Holmes, No Ben; Are The Pittsburgh Steelers In Serious Trouble Now?

We’ve heard the latest news.

First, there was Santonio Holmes. A bad apple lately, the Steelers sent him off to the New York Jets.

Then there was Ben Roethlisberger, who was accused of sexual assault a year ago. The case continued, and he is now suspended for six games (four if he puts up good behavior).

With all this, are the Pittsburgh Steelers in serious trouble? Is this true? In fact, it is. The Steelers are now stuck in the draft, possibly needing to draft a receiver, a quarterback, and possibly a running back.

The Steelers need help, now. They look to start either Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon for those four games. I believe Roethlisberger will put up good behavior. But the question is, can the Steelers handle those four games?

Those games can be very critical in making the playoffs for Pittsburgh, who haven’t made it since the 2008-09 season, their championship year. So, can the Steelers do it? Probably not.

I really don’t see it. But they’re gonna have to find a way. They need to work together and back up Big Ben as much as possible.

I really don’t think he will be traded. It’s kind of stupid mentioning the Browns. Why in the world would they send Big Ben to a rival team? Why trade him at all? If anything, they should keep him for the playoffs.

I really wouldn’t trust Dixon or Leftwich leading the Steelers to the playoffs. It just doesn’t seem so likely. But Pittsburgh is in serious trouble, that’s for sure.

They need to find a way to fix themselves. And a receiver is needed in my opinion. Holmes is gone, Sweed drops balls. Their main weapons in the passing game would be Hines Ward and Miller, that’s all.

So there’s another reason. A quarterback would probably needed if the Steelers would be without Big Ben for six games. Also a running back, to help out with Rashard Mendenhall.

So what will the Steelers do?

Can they do it?

Ben Roethlisberger Deserves Suspension? Not a Chance!

The concern surrounding Ben Roethlisberger’s latest episode on sexual assault is misguided and strictly bias.

Either an ethical district attorney wants to punish the two-time Super Bowl champ for his stupidity, or an irritable father wants the NFL to suspend Roethlisberger of his accusations that has transpired—not once, but twice—and has raised concern within the Steelers family.

Not long ago, charges in the Lake Tahoe case were dismissed, when a woman and employee of the resort accused him of sexual assault. His teammates label him as a hero, but the general public has mixed emotions.

Within the last month, hands have either pointed at Big Ben as if he’s a guilty malefactor, rather than a hallowed sports figure that every citizen in Pittsburgh endears after anchoring the franchise to two championships in the last decade.

But lately, all the speculations that the league—or even the franchise—should suspend Roethlisberger, are utterly ridiculous.

I clearly understand that commissioner Roger Goodell inserted a conduct policy, established to take down the bad guys in the league. I gather an understanding that he’s the NFL sheriff, who usually seizes control by handing a misbehaved player a heavy sanction as a way to learn a valuable lesson.

But in this situation, Goodell doesn’t have to issue a suspension to Big Ben. What’s fascinating about this ordeal is that some believes he deserves a punishment, after replicating absurdity off-the-field more than once. What’s amazing is that some are willing to penalize him when he has never been indicted, or even arrested, on sexual assault charges.

For all we know, he could be guilty, but manipulated Goodell and team executives to think otherwise. For all we know, he could have associated and encountered the wrong type of women whose accusations could be fabricated and misleading.

Maybe that’s what Goodell assumes, yet to react or respond amid a troubling situation.

He’s the one commissioner who never hesitated to discipline a renegade player for his off-the-field conduct or any nonsense involving criminality such as DUIs, dogfighting scandals, strip club shootings, or even the incident when Plaxico Burress shot himself in the right thigh.

In this instance, Goodell doesn’t have to wear the police hat or a badge declaring himself as the sheriff in a league of unmanageable superstars.


From the near-deadly motorcycle accident to the Lake Tahoe alleged sexual assault to Milledgeville, Ga., Roethlisberger hasn’t learned a valuable lesson and has lacked maturity as a loyal Rooney family is getting tired of his turmoil which has developed an unfathomable distraction.

It has even made an impact on law enforcement, leaving behind enough headaches and forced police officer Jerry Blash to resign Wednesday, a day before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation made public documents related to its investigation of a 20-year-old woman and college student who claims that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted inside a nightclub restroom.

Roethlisberger issued a one-minute statement Monday evening and seemed very apologetic.

He hung his head in shame, deeply embarrassed, and regretted that he potentially placed ill-fortune on teammates, coaching staff, and an authentic ownership that bestowed him with riches.


Meanwhile, the Rooneys are tempted to punish the centerpiece of their franchise, indifferent about winning, and committed to protecting character—a religious facet that symbolizes the franchise’s classiness.

Art Rooney II alluded in a statement earlier in the week that he’s contemplating if he’ll issue any disciplinary action. Monday afternoon he said, “In the coming days, Ben will meet with commissioner Goodell to discuss his resolve to abide by the league’s personal conduct standards. After consultation with the commissioner, our organization will determine the next step in this process.”

By suspending Roethlisberger, it sends an example to team players, as well as the league. And if the Steelers—the fifth-oldest franchise in the NFL—traded its valuable wide receiver Santonio Holmes, the superstar whose heroics clinched Pittsburgh’s sixth title when he connected with Big Ben for arguably the biggest game-winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl history, to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick, that explains the organization is burnt out of pointless troubles.

The Steelers have no regrets jettisoning Holmes, who was benched for a game in 2008 after he was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

In fairness, that’s why some are suggesting he should be suspended. But it’s not a good explanation in suspending a player for someone else’s wrongdoing.

There’s a slight difference, Roethlisberger has never been liable of guilt, but Holmes was charged with a misdemeanor. That’s not a good explanation, even if the league or franchise believes they have to set an example and identify Big Ben as the next poster boy of the league, since Adam 'Pacman' Jones ran into unlawful troubles.

His first incident was a red flag, the second incident raised concerns. When a quarterback, team leader, or anybody for the matter, is accused by a different woman in a different state, there are indications that a player is immune to problems.

He wasn’t arrested or charged in either case, but next time he may not be too lucky to get away with his foolishness if he’s a criminal and not a victim. For the time being, we may never know the truth to the puzzling issue perturbing the Rooneys.

Twice in less than two years, Roethlisberger has been accused for sexual assault, the latest issue last month was inside a college bar where he was partying and drinking.

He invited women into the club’s VIP room to drink some of his shots, as one of the women was under the legal age of drinking and was intoxicated. Later, Roethlisberger followed her down the hallway and into the restroom.

It has turned into a perturbing situation for the Rooney family who signed him to an enormous $102 million paycheck, one of the richest deals for a pro football star.

Fred Bright, the district attorney, probably feels Roethlisberger deserves to serve a suspension. He said bruises and bleeding was seen on the victim when she underwent a hospital exam. Not to sound naïve, but who really knows if Roethlisberger was the one involved?

There’s not enough evidence to prove if he’s guilty or not, nor is there a reason to suspend him. But many think it’s fair to suspend Roethlisberger for numerous reasons.

One reason being that his name surfaces on a regular basis about sexual assault. Secondly, Goodell had the leverage and authority under the league’s conduct policy to suspend a player of ruining the NFL’s reputation. There’s no need to proactively set standards, especially if minor ramifications are falsified, something that could mark his image.

There’s speculation and buzz surrounding the Steelers as to whether they’ll trade the problematic quarterback. All of which seems logical, but it sounds as if he’ll remain in a Steelers uniform despite all the havoc circling the franchise and agitating a displeased Rooney family.

It’s rare to see the Steelers protect renegade superstars, solicitous about its image and pride. They’ll be willing to move and they like the potential of Dennis Dixon, but he’s inexperienced. The primary target among quarterbacks might be Charlie Batch, a 35-year-old who’s reliable and has veteran leadership that could take Pittsburgh a long way.

If someone is somber at the workplace, it’s head coach Mike Tomlin. He hasn’t really lashed out about the woes that have dragged down the spirit and divided Steelers Nation, but he is willing to move on and elude the uncontrollable debacles.

These days, Roethlisberger is running out of time and answers. He would be the fortunate one if he’s a Steeler by next season. Like many, he’s leaning towards self-destruction if he continues to follow this disturbing pattern.

It would be a real shame to put his career in jeopardy for his poor judgment off-the-field at nightclubs, intoxicated with bimbos.

Still, he shouldn’t be suspended when innocent.

You know the phrase, innocent until proven guilty.

Ben Roethlisberger Lacks Maturity, Foolish Nonsense Could Ravage Credibility

Every time accusations surface of a famous icon, a likable quarterback or any athlete, you’d like to believe such allegations are untruthful.

Instead we assume he’s a mistaken identity or hear deceitfulness shouts from a sinister woman’s mouth, out pursuing bundles of cash. That is exactly what we’ve assumed, hearing Ben Roethlisberger described as a hideous sexual predator of contemptible judgment.

Faced with public humiliation for obnoxious weak-mindedness and stupidity, he has initiated unexpected confusion, abruptly putting himself in a merciless predicament. And while some may suspect that Roethlisberger is the reckless daredevil on turf, others may have afterthoughts of his foolish recklessness off the field.

He’s been willing to venture all temptations, but was wrongly accused of rape inside a Lake Tahoe resort in 2008 when a senseless employee’s accusations were false. Though he’s viewed as a sexual assaulter, Roethlisberger is innocent until proven guilty.

In the meantime, he could be framed and targeted for millions, but is on the verge of self-destruction if he doesn’t turn away troubled little girls. Seen partying at a college bar in rural Georgia and another night in a Chicago club, were signs of trouble for the two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.

The recent allegations raise concern and questions, to whether he’s exposing himself as a sexual-addict or whether his accusers are identifying a convivial night as a fairytale. Until there are specifics provided, all accusations remain a mystery.

It’s now clear that he’s the most-scrutinized athlete, evaluated and labeled as a dangerous criminal. There’s a reaction that he has lost all credibility amid the heartless and eerie ailment. All of the sudden, the wide-eyed populace are putting him in similarities with the rape cases of Kobe Bryant and the Duke lacrosse players.

At least hearing of previous accusations in the past, you’d have liked to think he learned a valuable lesson. My instincts tell me Big Ben is a lovable athlete, a gifted quarterback, but also an unrelenting superstar lacking intelligence whenever women are involved.

What the hell is he doing, spending time at the bars where he’s targeted greatly by misleading women? At 28, Roethlisberger still lacks a significance of maturity, often partying in damn bars attracting some of the craziest women. Ever since encountering his first episode at the resort, he’s still fighting off accusations by a woman, Andrea McNulty, who accused him of attacking her at a charity golf tournament two years ago.

What are you THINKING!!!!

Relatively speaking, he has not been charged with any crime, but police in a little community at a Georgia college town are investigating the allegations to whether it’s true that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted a 20-year-old college student in a bar restroom in the wee hours of Friday morning.

It’s an absolute risk to endanger an NFL career by socializing and partying with college students. If he wanted to interact with women or party and drink at a bar, couldn’t he had found another venue where the women were a bit more mature and older? Absolutely!

The last incident was a wakeup call for Mr. Roethlisberger, a lesson that saved his credibility and the way we perceived him. But months later a resemblance of sexual assault reoccurs, making it complex to believe if he’s a victim or an anomalous individual.

In a die-hard sporting town, he’s the symbol of a town that elaborates much on its pride and sporting icons. The average Steelers fan converge a perception that he’s only accused of such malevolent crime.

Knowing that his reputation is spotless as the greatest quarterback and franchise curer, he’s not verified as a pernicious wrongdoer, but as the Big Ben everyone witnesses on Sunday afternoons. He’s the most preeminent quarterback, but involved in a serious situation that could endanger his $102 million contract. The organization has every reason to be concerned with the pending allegations and take serious measures on what has uncovered in the last 24 hours.

“All of us in the Steelers family are concerned about the recent incident involving Ben Roethlisberger in Georgia,” said team president Art Rooney. “We cannot comment on any of the specifics until law enforcement’s investigation is concluded. Certainly, we will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

Several witnesses said Roethlisberger was seen in Milledgeville with “O-Bombs,” a flavored rum and energy drink mixture he had brought for himself a few nights ago. According to reports, Roethlisberger and his friends welcomed unknown women into the VIP room and offered free drinks.

Throughout his travails, he had foolishly ridden a motorcycle without a helmet and suffered a terrifying accident that almost killed him, he had sustained four concussions within a span of four seasons, and now again is dealing with sexual assault.

Is anybody suspicious when he hired powerful Atlanta attorney Ed Garland? Sadly, the NFL has turned into a league of criminals, jailbirds persisting on committing notorious crimes. Michael Vick killed dogs, Donte’ Stallworth struck a pedestrian while driving drunk, and Adam Pacman Jones couldn’t stay away from strip clubs and faced two felony charges after a shooting in a Las Vegas strip club.

It’s disheartening to know he’s not wrapped to tight in the head, not understanding the ramifications of unlawfulness. While some believe he’s innocent, others may take a different outlook by accusing him given the pending civil case. Any player with a rational conscious realizes the consequence of similar issues in their lifetime. But not Big Ben, the man coping with much mishap that could lead to a gruesome crisis.

Hearing the devastating news of Roethlisberger facing yet another sexual assault charge is disturbing and shameful within a modest franchise. Sadly, his mystic reputation has stained his bittersweet nature, piercing the hearts and souls of many Pittsburghers.

If there’s truth to the allegations, then it’s a red flag that Big Ben may just be a reprehensible athlete, needing to avoid the childish nonsense and mature into a lovable gentleman. Until then, he’s a master of disguise.

As difficult as it is to believe him, we still compromise with him.

Denver Broncos' Flawless Drive is Wasteful, If Bothered By Pesky Steelers

It felt like a playoff game, I swear. Seems football fanatics are getting a head start in a sneak preview, and how a fascinating postseason may square off. Two bottomless defensive teams, and two flawless defensive coordinators describe the kind of teams assembled. As it turns out, the Denver Broncos are subjected to an unbelievable year, and survived disastrous turmoil that nearly battered an entire organization.

So now, it’s hard admitting that the Broncos are near the top of the AFC conference in the same year of a grotesque divorce with franchise quarterback Jay Cutler. Lack of communication between him and egotistic coach Josh McDaniels had apparently dismantled morale, including disputes with discontent wideout Brandon Marshall.

Judging all the disruptions, the Broncos weren’t speculated to have a flawless season. Although, they seemed unbeatable before losing to the Ravens last week, Denver musters likely the deepest defense in the league, an essential factor to their powerful rampancy facing most teams this season.

Of course, against Pittsburgh, exploiting defensive schemes normally doesn’t fair too well. In the game, hard-hitting, physical bulrushes and unsympathetic sacks identified physical toughness, which unleashes the heart of ambitious competitors willing to encounter an action-packed fray confirming legitimacy.

By now, our society can discern why the Steelers are defending champs, and the lone franchise with six Super Bowl titles. Despite a usual sluggish start, their reckless and daredevil quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lives up to his nickname Big Ben.

From most viewpoints, he’s the league’s best quarterback managing big plays and conserves the clock in critical moments. Considering he’s the greatest quarterback in clutch situations and rallies the Steelers to victories, the tenacious and fierce defense keeps the sluggish offense alive.

Coming off a bye week Pittsburgh might have been rusty, but recharged in the second-half against the resurgence of the Broncos. It’s a usual trait seen often by the Steelers, recovering from first-half droughts and escapes at the end with victories. After all, we are accustomed to the late heroics and savior defense salvaging applause at the end of the night.

Again, the defense was too massive and energetic, accelerating and rushing to force Denver’s Kyle Orton into three interceptions. Again, the defense pressured the Broncos, outplaying the flawless frontline and secondary and bullied an uneasy Orton.

Again, the Steelers had a matchless offense, arranged by a crafty Big Ben, who orchestrated three second-half touchdown passes en route to a 28-10 victory.

But bigger worries are the Broncos. In the Mile High City, folks are worried about Denver, whose record is 6-2 when two consecutive losses increase panic attacks. Being in a weak division there’s not much to worry about. Instead, they should be strongly bothered by the Steelers.

Later in the season, of course when postseason play arrives, the Broncos will need to garner concepts in ways to trounce the defending champs, a challenging mode to breakthrough in the playoffs. A Steelers-Broncos rematch is likely to reoccur in the playoffs, and contemplating sufficient tactics for mitigating a pesky defense of rushing on nearly each possession, is obligatory for defeating Pittsburgh.

Putting more pressure on Roethlisberger is pragmatic as well as limiting probability of the Steelers pulling off a heartbreaker in final moments. Known for stinginess and greediness, the Steelers are more powerful than Denver, unless they’re equipped to hinder Pittsburgh by outscoring them.

More staggering was their ability to dominate the Broncos on Monday night, scorching in the second-half and outscored Denver with an overwhelming score of 76-10.

Its painful not having the similar pedigree of a high caliber offense that could compile points instantly on the scoreboard. The Steelers were just prepared and formed the Blizburgh, trapping the line of scrimmage to disallow Orton of duplicating similar patterns, which led to early success.

But more problematic, the Broncos defense weakened, intimidated by the Steelers toughness and amazed with guru defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s intellectual play calling on the sideline. To be straightforward, his play calling was productive and usually finished on good terms, outcoaching Denver’s defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and the disappearing defense.

Where were the tough-minded defensive backs, such as Brian Dawkins or Champ Bailey? Where was rookie linebacker Robert Ayers, after the second-half when he sacked and forced a fumble before returning it 54-yards for a touchdown? Lastly, where were the nimble play calls by Nolan?

For much of the season, the Broncos have been very impressive in their pugnacious secondary. Instead the Steelers entered a hostile territory, sprinted out of the visitors’ tunnel rusty but pumped and comfortable for the challenge.

At halftime, Pittsburgh trailed 7-0 in a neutralized environment, where Pittsburgh fans swung the Terrible Towels spoiling a home game for the Broncos. Mostly, throughout, an uptight night Denver faithful booed Orton for throwing three interceptions.

Was it really his fault? The Broncos failed to run the no-huddle offense, designed to make opponents fatigued. I also think the Steelers were a better defensive force, in which the Broncos offensive line failed to cease. Hate to say this, but it felt like a game played in Pittsburgh. With less than two minutes left, Terrible Towels started swinging, and Steelers’ fans terribly celebrated in front of petulant Broncos fans.

Much of the game, the Steelers pushed the ball on the ground with the quickness of Rashard Mendenhall, blowing by Denver defenders in the low altitude for 155 yards. The sixth-ranked Steelers defense, though, shut down a swaggering rushing game. Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno were limited in stomping the Steelers knack on defense.

Of course, momentum shifted in the second quarter, when safety Tyrone Carter picked off one of his picks and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown. Most games don’t pass without a relentless Troy Polamalu slowing down the rush or picking off a wayward throw.

As usual, he exploited his speed and read all angles of the field in Denver. His intercepted pass on the Broncos’ 25-yard line put the Steelers in position to capitalize, and dictated the final outcome of an AFC showdown when Roethlisberger fired a pass to rookie Mike Wallace completing 21 of 29 passes for 233 yards.

By evaluating the game, the Broncos are working progress and have much to work on. In the upcoming weeks, Denver needs to accumulate defensive awareness and enhance tactics to trounce the Steelers. For now, if the Broncos look to thrive, they must beat the Steelers. Like getting off to a fast start, the Broncos will have to make adjustments fast.

If Denver ignores defensive woes, what a waste it would be.

Jeff Reed Cited After Steelers Victory

The Steelers had beaten the Browns 27- 14, Kicker Jeff Reed had two Field Goals. For party boy Jeff Reed this inevitably called for celebration.

After drinking at a bar just a few blocks from the stadium in which he just played an NFL game, Reed recieved a Citation for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. Reed will recieve a summons in the Mail and will have to appear in court.

This is the second time this year that Reed has had trouble with the law. In February he paid $543 in fines after pleading guilty to Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief for damaging a paper towel dispenser in a convenience store bathroom.

When asked about the incident team spokesman Dave Lockett says the team is still gathering information and has no comment

Cutler Redeems Nightmarish Blunders: Bears Aren't Done Just Yet

The images defined much about the game of football in a Sunday matinee. You can define it as momentum, or even a game of faltering on some occasions. Either way, the Chicago Bears might not be on the verge of hibernation. Instead they might have a chance of prolonging an auspicious season, with other teams faltering late in games.

Somehow, the Bears managed, escaping from a tense afternoon at Solider Field. And somehow they managed to survive in an uptight finish against the defending champs. Yes, the Bears outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers, notching a desperation 17-14 comeback victory. That’s a sigh of relief for them, having entered the season with high expectations after acquiring Jay Cutler, the proclaimed franchise quarterback.

It could’ve turned into an unpleasant afternoon, as disappointed fans would’ve left with doubt in their minds. Of course, fans were worried and felt uncomfortable watching them in the final quarter. They could have easily fallen to 0-2, a poor start that would have dictated the rest of their season.

But a dramatic comeback against the Steelers is enough to restore confidence for a franchise that was forlorn and seemed incapable a week ago. It seemed the Bears were done as Cutler had the worst game of his career. He threw four interceptions, and was confused, harassed, and belittled in a bitter loss at Green Bay.

Maybe a win over a potent team was needed, saving a potential season from wasting and blowing off with the gusty winds. In fact, a win this decisive favored Cutler and saved probability of him emerging into the next franchise quarterback in Chicago.

For weeks now, fans and media have dwelled on the fact that he’ll be the next to quarterback the Bears. For months now, fans have welcomed a disgruntled Cutler, defending and praising the Pro-Bowl quarterback.

His egotistic mindset cut an irreparable relationship short in Denver, when disputes with first year head coach Josh McDaniels failed and unfolded a grotesque separation all because of ego conflict.

So now, he has migrated to Chicago, where he’s quickly emerging as an icon. His jersey is a top-seller, and he’s likable, as most citizens are elated finally to have a precise quarterback. A long-suffering town feels Cutler’s presence is an unequivocal indication of multiple titles.

For a long time, the town has painfully suffered and long-awaited to embrace someone of Jim McMahon’s caliber. The mid 1980s was the last time lively fans have seen a championship-type quarterback who has shown his ability legitimately.

So the calm and thrilled fans waited to see him have a breakout game and win his first game in a Bears’ uniform. Fortunately, it came in his home debut, in front of thousands who wore a Cutler jersey. They were the same devotees who refused to surrender, allowing Cutler a chance for redemption in a notable homecoming.

He can finally sigh, capping his first victory and redeeming himself after a devastating collapse in the season opener, which led to more doubtful queries him being a cure for the long years of quarterback debacles.

Failures and different faces at the same position over the years have hindered success over the years, which is why now the average native in Chicago is exhilarated, having a reliable and more durable gunslinger.

But Sunday, fans were more pleased with the Bears managing its first win, discarding all the dismal scenes in Green Bay. To highlight this fearful and elusive contest, it came down to field goals.

The powerful foot of Robbie Gould, who’s as good as gold, not only dictated the season, but dictated the game. This saved Cutler getting belittled and doubted. More seriously, it gave the Bears life. So Gould, again, bailed out the team like he used to before Cutler even arrived.

Managing to stay composed, Gould calmly booted a game-winning field goal, outlasting Pittsburgh’s veteran kicker Jeff Reed in a kicker’s duel. Over on the sideline, Reed watched, upset with himself after missing two costly field goal attempts. That’s unusual for Reed, whose 82.8 percent career conversion rate automatically makes him the 10th accurate kicker in the league. Well, not on this particular afternoon.

If he wouldn’t had hooked his kicks too wide, the Steelers would have avoided an upset. They even would have still intimidated most with their natural ability to pull off a stunning win at the end. But on this occasion, the conversations were on how well Cutler performed, bouncing back from a sub-par week. In this game, he led a fourth-quarter rally and never turned over the ball.

He had excellent ball security, and went 9-for-10 in the fourth quarter for 92 yards. It was a solid performance, unlike last week and has giving the city a notion that he can renew quarterback heroics.

Against one of the league’s powerful defenses, Cutler wisely was careful with the ball and avoid defensive end James Harrison. Minus explosive safety Troy Polamalu, who abuses opposing quarterbacks with his speed wasn’t a factor, making times easier. Cutler finished 27-of-38 for 236 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Just a week ago, Cutler was criticized for his maturity level and arrogance. He was bashed by former coaching greats Jim Mora and Mike Martz for his rudeness at a press conference after the Bears first loss. Even irate Denver is still lambasting him for departing in such an awful way.

He was even criticized by the well-respected and former coach Tony Dungy, who said he wasn’t mature enough to establish as a leader. But willing to give him a chance was Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo. Instead the Bears were amazed with his talent more than personality, realizing his powerful arm and accurate downfield passes.

Being without their top defensive star Brian Urlacher for the rest of the season after he badly dislocated his wrist, more productivity from the offense is needed. So for the fans, it’s more of the joy to finally have a more potent passer and leader on offense.

There’s hope for the Bears after all.

Athletes Labeled as Sexual Predators, Big Ben, Too

Either way you envision sports athletes, sometimes we tend to ignore that they are vulnerable of being accused as sexual predators. Over the years, professional players in general have abruptly ended up being censured and liable for sexual assault.


Anytime fame and money is involved, sports figures will attract some of the freakiest and sickest women who are just out to force athletes into sexual fantasies, which usually leads to troubling accusations of sexual assault.

As we live in a time when finances are fragile, people will try anything if money is involved. And in this age, professional athletes are primary targets of robbery and murders. But in this decade, athletic superstars have being accused of rape charges, attracting misleading women who flirt with players and pressure them into sexual activities.

Suddenly, a one-night stand turns into a nightmarish crime scene and allegations, increasingly derailing a superstar's reputation. Then, a player’s tension rises, once a court date is set. The player then appears in front of a district attorney and judge, which ignites a case of oblivious attack. This has been a problem among athletes for a long time, and it's not uncommon to hear of athletes' problems with other women.

For women who are looking to have a good time, athletes are sometimes effortless in their manipulation while traveling or staying in suites. A few years back, Kobe Bryant had to appear in a Colorado courtroom on sexual assault charges. He allegedly raped a 20-year old woman and employee at a Vail resort where he stayed at the time.

By apologizing and admitting that their fling was consensual, the rape charges were dismissed when his accuser was reluctant to engage in a criminal trail.

Bryant was an example for other athletes to utilize smarter judgment and rebuff interest of weird vibes that might come back to sabotage someone’s life. He was a prime example that athletes have to be aware of their surroundings and the women they associate with. That’s why the Bryant case is similar to the latest allegations that have appeared on our websites, televisions and newspapers.

Shamelessly, players are still getting caught in the same unlawful attributes. But it doesn’t mean they are sexual predators, however these athletes aren’t careful of their surroundings. They choose to attach to partners who falsify the night as a nightmarish affliction.

Next thing you know, the disturbed woman is screaming RAPE!

Now, it is Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who is bothered with outrageous allegations. A 31-year old woman of Nevada filed a civil lawsuit alleging that the two-time Super Bowl champ raped her in a hotel penthouse last year when she was working as a VIP casino host at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe.

Now, Big Ben is considered as a Big Bungle, assuming the woman’s allegations are true of his indiscretions.

Big Ben is still one of the premier quarterbacks in the league, described as a fierce competitor.

As bravery reveals the true sides of Roethlisberger, he is the one superstar on Sundays who can bounce back from brutal concussions and take hard hits. It is enough information to describe him as an insane daredevil who applies a winning attitude.

Since emerging into a noticeable and lovable icon in Pittsburgh, there’s not a moment that passes without the sturdy leader building upon his legacy. Besides ascending a legacy, there’s not a minute that goes by without the explosive and mobile leader taking blows from the media, who are annoyed by his reckless troubles such as the recent lawsuit.

Despite an astonishing career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger has suffered from disastrous ramifications. At one point, he was venturous and lacked common sense, when he wasn’t wearing a helmet in a severe motorcycle wreck that damn-near cost him his life. Ever since, Roethlisberger’s health hasn’t being the same.

He became a victim of concussions, sustaining three blows to the head in three years. Still, he has grown into the epicenter in Pittsburgh, engineering them to two Super Bowl championships this decade. And he became the team leader, vowing to veteran running back Jerome Betts that he was seeking to win a title for Bettis to depart on top.

The Steelers won the title that year, as he stayed true to his words, engineering them to greater things in a new era. Just recently, Roethlisberger sustained his second title in five years on one play that changed dynamics instantly, when he hurled an astonishing pass to Super Bowl hero and prolific wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who made the most spectacular catch arguably in NFL history, managing to drag his toes inside to complete the remarkable game-winning touchdown.

Thus, Roethlisberger delivers in the clutch and translated into a late-game hero. Unlawful troubles are taunting him in the background and drawing distractions among the Steelers, who are seeking to move forward. They are preparing for training camp, and focused on the upcoming season.

Although the Steelers are amid hiatus, they are equipped to win it again, with a solid and tenacious defensive unit and a prolific offensive squad. The last thing the Steelers can't afford, are distractions to cloud up a potential run to the Super Bowl. Which is why, Roethlisberger should remain quiet after addressing the issue sincerely.

As daunting as it sounds, Roethlisberger took a stance, just as he has on the field. He took the accountability on the alleged assault in his first public comments on the dismal lawsuit at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

At the Steelers practice facility, Roethlisberger wore a brown pinstriped suit and read a prepared statement to clear his name, absolving guilt at least until further details are gathered on the “outrageous allegations”.

Sadly, in the upcoming weeks, he doesn’t know what to expect as he will ignore any comments. The lawsuit seeks a staggering $440,000 from Roethlisberger and Harrah’s seeks about $500,000. Right now, he is focusing on football and preparing for next season.

“The allegations against me are reckless and false,” he said softly. “As much as I’d like to answer everyone’s questions I’m going to respect the legal process and I’m confident that the truth will prevail.”

Good thing he is optimistic, which gives us enough sense to believe this was strictly about money. Then again, we don’t know until the truth surfaces. But now, Roethlisberger should allow his attorney and ESPN’s legal analyst, David Cornwell to communicate.

This is a moment when Roethlisberger has to remain silent, insisting that the allegations aren’t accurate. All he needed to be was concise to give us a better understanding of the weird accusations, so it wouldn’t add more distractions to a team that may be on verge of good things. With their experienced veterans and charismatic leader, the Steelers will need his tough-minded leadership and poise.

Earlier in the year when the Steelers won its sixth Super Bowl title, more than any team in the league, it was marked as one of the greatest historical accomplishments in the NFL.

On Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin was somber about the sudden allegations, which are increasingly obstructing the surrounding training camp. These allegations create a media circus, as the Steelers are seeking to make another run at a title.

And if expected to win, Roethlisberger will have to play as efficiently as he did in last season. But with all the turbulence circulating, to invoke stress is more problematic than taking severe abuse to the head. A life in jeopardy is more of a severe threat, if he is found guilty.

On the same day, Roethlisberger met with Shaquille O’Neal and ABC producers for a new reality show, which he is expected to co-host. The reality is he’ll probably be just fine, which can only make him famous and appreciated. It is a bit surreal, and might just be a setup by women absorbing his fame and riches.

The Steelers didn’t just sign him to an eight-year, $102 million deal. They signed him to a long-term deal because his trust level is reliable.

And in Steelers Country, he’ll get cheered.