AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 26
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Chiming in on Big Ben
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Tuesday that one of the Falcons players taunted him during the third-quarter hit that left him lying motionless and woozy. Roethlisberger didn’t say who it was or what was said other than that the player said he was targeting Roethlisberger’s face, which was damaged in a June motorcycle accident.
First off, far worse things are said during the course of a football game, whether a player gets hurt or not.
Secondly, the players involved in the hit, defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Chauncey Davis, as well as linebacker Michael Boley, all denied saying or hearing anything being said to Roethlisberger on the play.
“I was right there and I certainly didn’t hear anything like that,� Kerney said. “It’s interesting that an injury, as unfortunate as it is, has become such a big deal and that talking on the field has, as well. I think [talking on the field] is a time-honored tradition since the 1950s for people to say some things that aren’t popular.�
Added Boley: “I was right there on the play when he got hurt. I didn’t hear anybody say anything to him. If they did it had to be one of those things where somebody went up to him and whispered in his ear. I don’t think anybody on this team would say anything like that. That was just something good to print. That was just something that he wanted to say. I guess after being knocked out like that he just wanted to get something out there in the paper.”
