AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USChiming 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.”
Comments
By Moonlight Mile
October 26, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this
Can’t stand Big Ben. Good player. Annoying personality.
By KneeJerk
October 26, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
Are the Steelers really any worse off with Batch starting?
By Bodacious
October 26, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this
Don’t know what the Bird boyz said, but here’s what Ben said after coming to from the hit, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”.
By knowitall
October 26, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this
Funny that Ben says that he remembers hearing the taunt right before he passed out. It looked like to me that he was out immediatley. Do you think he could be imagining things? He did get hit in the head afterall.
By larry w.
October 26, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
Right now I could care less about Big Ben. Steve, can we please have an update on Rod Coleman? How is Roddy handling his demotion? Does the promotion of Lelie mean that the passing game will continue to aggressively go down field? How is Mike’s shoulder?
By CJ2
October 26, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this
Big Ben is a liar.
First of all, the play happened too quickly for any of the Falcons to taunt him while the play was happening.
Secondly, after he was hit, he was knocked out so he couldn’t have heard anything.
By newkid
October 26, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this
Way to go larry w.
By Steelers=Whiners!
October 26, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this
Geez, I hadn’t realized what a bunch of whiners these Steelers are…coaches, front office, and fans! It is just soooo hard for them to admit, it was a great game and they LOST. I was at the game and it seemed like there were calls that went against them and against us but in the end, it was a wash. But NOOOOOOOO, the Steelers have to keep complaining about every little thing. I had tivo’d the game and watched it over again and you know what, that hit on Ben wasn’t as bad as the Steelers make it out to be…he just got crushed by 3 Falcons lineman, up high (but not helmet-to-helmet), in the middle and from below. No wonder he thinks he’s hearing things…
For more of their whining, check out the local Pittsburgh paper at postgazette.com where they just continue to complain. Grow up Steelers and act like the champs that you were…
By Thomas
October 26, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this
I agree with larry w — how about some news/updates regarding the Falcons.
By Dan M.
October 26, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this
Frankly, if the Steelers or the Steeler fans want to whine about some calls or hits…….we’re enTITLED to…..WE’VE EARNED THE RIGHT….would the Falcons fans ever show up 20,000 strong at an away game???!!!
By Jeff
October 26, 2006 05:58 PM | Link to this
Where’s the whining chief? Ben calls it a clean hit. Says he heard something before the lights went out. Wouldn’t name names. The Steeler nation is more critical of Cowher, the misuse of timeouts, and turnovers. Believe me, little time has been spent complaining about the hit. We have been seeing legit hits like this since the days of Lambert and Ham. I know for the Falcon fans it’s a novelty, but you’ll get another one to hoop and holler at in a few years.
By KneeJerk
October 26, 2006 06:10 PM | Link to this
Why are Steeler fans here after they lost. Shouldn’t you be on the Raider board saying stuff like “We’re the best 2-4 team in the league?” I get it Dan M. You can’t belittle our team, because we beat you, so you talk about the fans. What’s next? Are you going to compare skylines? You’ve earned the right to NOT complain about calls, after the Bettis lovefest in SBXL. Steelers have one of, if not THE bast fanbases in the NFL. You lost this game. Move on to next week.
By Phat Phalcon
October 26, 2006 06:20 PM | Link to this
Go ahead Dan and stick to your story about earning that trophy. Talk about questionable officiating. And what about that third down phantom D holding or the D holding on a run up the middle or the neutral zone infraction where Kerney never moved forward? And the reason PGH fans travel so well is that they are a bunch of inbred hillbillies with nothing to do! Say hi to your mom/aunt for me!
By Bruce
October 26, 2006 07:12 PM | Link to this
Steve, For real….Here it is Thursday afternoon and all you give us is information on a Quarterback from another team. Who cares about Ben R. That game was last Sunday. What is OUR team doing in preperation for THIS Sunday’s game. How are our injured players? What is the latest news from Flowery Branch? Geez…
By Boots
October 27, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
If there was helmet to helmet contact on Big Ben —- or, if there was a helmet to helmet induced injury to Vick, Falcon fans would be outraged. I don’t understand why we’re putting a bullseye on Vick’s back by belittling what happen last Sunday.
By THL
October 27, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this
Whether something was said or not is irrevelant. Noone hit him in his jaw trying to end his career. His account of the event is not credible because he was supposedly unconscious.
Maybe the league should add “Allegedly taunting a QB” to the list of things that can’t be done to the QB that can be done to everyone else on the field.
By THL
October 27, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
It’s funny how the Steelers fans and players want to complain about this LEGAL hit but they don’t have time for anyone talking about the biased officiating that helped in their Super Bowl win. If anyone still needs to be complaining, it’s those people in Seattle.
By Charlie
October 27, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this
You can’t say the Pittsburgh fans came to Atlanta just for this game, because they already live here! Just like from every other city in the North. They have all moved down here to take advantage of our weather, jobs, lifestyle, and all the entertainment Atlanta has to offer. Think anyone actually wants to move to/live in Pittsburgh? Pleeeeeease!
Also, I agree with Bruce. Who cares about Pittspurge and what Worthlessbooger has to say? This is a Falcons blog and we want to know about the next game…not the last one.
What I want to know is how our secondary is going to come back from the two week vacation they have been on. While I give credit to D.Hall for FINALLY keeping his mouth shut, truth is he has been burned lately.
And here’s news for Mora…Webster is still Webster…he’s lost a step, can’t tackle and can’t cover. The last two games have shown opposing QB’s dropping passes in right over his shoulder and he isn’t even seeing the ball.
Putting Jimmy Williams in the game for that play after Webster had been blowing it was totally unfair to the rookie. Expecting him to come in cold off the bench and cover without getting into a rythym is bogus. Especially in a scoring situation. Then after the TD you pull him and put Webster back in there. Talk about a way to destroy a young players confidence! I say give the kid a chance to get some playing time and then we’ll see what he can do.
By She Luvs Falcons
October 27, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Amen, Charlie…you took the words right out of my mouth (or off my keyboard). :-)
By pitt sux
October 29, 2006 01:09 AM | Link to this
I have never like the steelers and never will. They stole the superbowl and their coaches tongue is too big for his crap talking mouth. To hell with pittsburgh they are history bottom line. Hines ward is a big big big AZZHOLE too.
By ATL
October 29, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this
I love the fan support we the team wins…let’s also support them when they lose. Oh and by the way…..to hell with Pittsburg, we won get over it!
By josey
October 31, 2006 09:55 PM | Link to this
BenR has had serious head trauma from the motorcycle accident..takes a year to recover,but this is the NFL,if you say you are ok, and are the QB, you play. Another mild bump on your helmet, and you have a concussion…other great QB’s have had to quit because of this problem. I suspect that Ben, a great competitor, will keep playing, and paying the price. Steve Young, what do you say?
By cindy
November 6, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this
The Falcins are a good team but just because they play well doesn’t mean their fans have to be arrogant