Despite multiple reports that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won’t play on Sunday night against the Ravens, the Steelers aren’t talking about the situation, according to Mike Bires of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Bires also reports that the Steelers are expected to sign Tyler Palko from the practice squad to the active roster, with Palko serving as the backup to Dennis Dixon. Roethlisberger is expected to dress — and to be the emergency quarterback.
And that makes no sense. If Roethlisberger can’t start due to the lingering effects of a concussion, he presumably wouldn’t be able to play if both Dixon and Palko are knocked out of the game.
Meanwhile, we can’t help but wonder whether Roethlisberger would be playing if this had occurred a year ago. With the league’s new sensitivity to concussions — fueled by the House Judiciary Committee’s decision to stick its nose into the NFL’s business when it comes to brain injuries — we get the feeling that the Steelers are taking one for the good of the game.
(Seahawks fans might argue that the Steelers already owed the league a huge favor.)
Also, it’s unclear whether the Steelers’ decision to “shit him down” (T-shirts will be ready in time for Christmas) comes from coach Mike Tomlin, from the team doctors, or from the independent neurologist who must clear concussed Pittsburgh players to return to action.
Regardless, Dennis Dixon will be making his debut on Sunday night, and it’ll be interesting to see how Dixon fares a full two years after tearing up his knee.
UPDATE: Glazer’s report indicates that the “medical staff” deemed Roethlisberger unfit for the game. Again, we wonder whether that decision would have been made a year ago.
“Shit” him down?
WTF?
They don’t want to have him when “Dixon and Palko are knocked out of the game”, they want to have him when they realize Dixon and Palko suck.
From what you state above, I would think that as soon as he started having the exercise-induced symptoms, that Tomlin and the team doctors decided he should not play.
Now if the INDEPENDENT doctors had said, “no,” then I wouldn’t think he’d be allowed to be the emergency QB. Or maybe the independent doctors put a time limit on how long he should be allowed to play; hence, he can be the emergency QB (slim chance and would probably be a short time).
But what do I know.
Also, it’s unclear whether the Steelers’ decision to “shit him down”
I mean he is Shit.. but really?
haha…”shit him down”. Nice!
I think Dixon is going to surprise some people. A lot of people forget that he probably would’ve won the Heisman trophy a couple years ago had he not torn up his knee at end of the year. He was dominating up until that injury.
Lets cut with the tired old Seattle talk. Seattle lost by 11 points. Talk about it if they lost by a TD or less. Besides, you dont hear Steelers whining about worst calls that went INdy’s way three weeks prior to that game or the call that went TN’s way 3 years prior.
Anyway, it makes sense for Ben to dress as an emergency QB. It’s all about reducing chances. If tests are not conclusive about the lingering effects, then dont play him unless you really have to. An emergency QB position allows him to do that. Though I still think getting Palko as the #2 is ridiculous. Garcia should ahve been contacted.
Yes the Steelers are going to bench Roethlisberger in a huge game to do the league a favor. You serious?
Florio, I think it’s obvious drama queenie Rapistberger is acting exactly like your wife – faking a headache so he won’t have to get boned.
“Steelers not talking about Roethlisberger”
Good, ’cause most people are sick of hearing about him.
Glazer said it was the team doctors.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10442146/Roethlisberger-won
Mike,
Please let me push the button that ejects that low-life “Nambla Limbaugh” from the site!!
If this was Mangini not talking about an injury or being secretive about anything football the media would be calling him every name in the book.
I watched Dixon play at Oregon and he is a hell of an athlete…maybe the pro game is too fast for him but I don’t think so. If it wasn’t for his knee injury at the end of the season he would’ve won the heisman and a national title with the Ducks. Steeler fans should be happy and excited to see what they have in him…he would’ve went a lot higher in the draft if not for that knee.
dennis dixon is the truth…actually got an arm mike wallace 3 tds
Who is this writer? Shit him down? Seahawks still crying? Give me a break. Those taking shots at Big Ben please give your team. Ben is top 5 in NFL
Loving the “shit him down” reference.
It’s fine to leave him as the emergency QB even if he can play. Just because he’s not showing any effects right now, or during practice, doesn’t mean that he won’t after the first time he gets sacked. They’re just playing it safe. And as a Bengals fan, I hope playing it safe leads to them losing to the Ravens.
For all you folks not getting the “shit him down” reference
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/11/28/glazer-roethlisberger-out-with-concussion/
WTG Lord Florio – Nice proofreading!
NBC must be so proud of you…….
I rarely if ever post a comment…But “shit him down”? Florio WTF? I think Dixon has been in the system long enough to be a decent backup. Arians will earn his pay this week!
A word of advice, Florio. The “shit him down” reference isn’t very funny. The low brow of the site will find it hilarious for a long time though. So you have to balance that one on your own.
Also? I find your little digs at the Steelers and other teams to be very amateur. I can appreciate WHY you do it–to get more people commenting and to give off the illusion that your site is very popular–but don’t you think it’s a bit bush league to take shots at popular teams to get people angry and thus compel them to comment–all for the sake of appearing more popular than you actually are to your bosses?
I have to agree with Namba Limbaugh! When was the last time you boned your woman Florio?
could it be any more obvious how Florio feels about the Steelers?
i guess he’s living proof that you don’t actually need to have talent to make a living sports writing.
If the medical staff deemed him “unfit” he can’t dress or play as “emergency” can he?
I think it was pretty dumb (selfish?) of Ben to take all the reps in practice this week if there was any chance of him not playing. They should have at least given Dixon some practice time, since he hasn’t even been running the scout team until this week. Bad deal.
I think this is the third thread in a row that starts with, “…not talking about…” you could just post these all day long, who else is not talking about what? Inquiring minds want to know…
The Steelers will be even more vulnerable in the middle of their offensive line w/out Kemoeatu. I expect the Ravens to use designed blitzes to overwhelm/confuse the backup lineman with Ngata and any number of inside linebackers. This will only increase the chance that Ben takes another shot to the head.
This is why Dixon might be the better option at this point. If Suggs does not play the outside pass rush for the Ravens will take a hit and the backup linebacker will have to be able to keep containment. Dixon has much better quickness and if the Ravens do not contain him he has the speed and ability to bust off some big runs.
Just my two cents…..no bold guarantees.
Its Rothisberger drama I wouldn’t be surprised is he didn’t start.
Game time decision … that’s why they won’t confirm. I say it’s 50-50 he starts. They don’t call him the drama queen for nothin’ …
It’s doesn’t have to make sense to you, Mr. Florio. The Steelers are erring on the side of caution. Dennis Dixon is in for a real initiation playing against the Baltimore Ravens. If the Steelers lose then they lose. One game isn’t worth shortening someone’s season or career for that matter.
GO STEELERS!
For those that do not understand the “shit him down” reference
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/11/28/glazer-roethlisberger-out-with-concussion/
Steelers are doing the right thing both for this game and for Ben’s future. The last time Ben played the week after a concusion in ’06 it wasn’t pretty. 4 ints. (2 for TDs) in a loss to OAK (one of their 2 wins). If, as is likely, Steelers lose to Balt. they will need to win rematch in Dec. and 3 of the other 4 (Oak, Clev., GB and Mia.) to get a wildcard. They will be favored in the last five games.
@ncsteeler
Patriots were 11-5 last year and didn’t make the playoffs. So keep telling yourself that.
4 concussions in 4 years is too much for any athlete. This is serious. You’ve got to hope he is alright.
Balt will be the team they want to be come Dec, so I see them winning that game as well. I think pitt and balt both might get the wildcards, we need the dolphins and the jags to lose a couple times, even tho i don’t see the jags making it anyway, possibly the dolphins but they will get to the playoffs just to lose in the first round again if they do.. so.
“Its Rothisberger drama I wouldn’t be surprised is he didn’t start.”
Speaking of brain damage…….
ben isnt playing. the game is for balto to lose. more likely, win fairly easily.
and seattle had a td stolen in the sb. bogus pi call. they got no points instead of 7.
and pit was given a td cause they let ben keep moving after he was down, thus the faulty spot. if they hadnt, then pitt would have settled for a field goal. they got 7 points instead of 3.
there’s yer 11 point swing moron.
and people complain about the pats!
Good post, praveen.
The Steelers won that SB legitimately over Seattle.
The call that Indy got on that Polamalu interception was FAR worse than any questionable call that went against Seattle, but the Steelers dealt with it instead of whining about it like the Seattle punk bitches.
tomorrow is going to be ugly…
in the (in)famous words of nancy kerrigan….”WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY?”
So…Charlie Batch got knocked out, too? What am I missing here?
Still crying about a super bowl that was 3 years ago; wahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! F’n cry babies.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
# bonecity7 says: November 28, 2009 3:49 PM
Mike,
Please let me push the button that ejects that low-life “Nambla Limbaugh” from the site!!
Nambla = North American Man Boy Love Association….all the more reason to ban the fugtard.
Pocket:
By Dec. rematch Ben, Troy and Kemo will be back for Steelers; Suggs will be back for Ravens. If Ravens can’t win tomorrow, what chance will they have in Dec. in Pittsburgh? A lot can happen between now and then – either team could suffer crippling injuries. Bottom line is Ravens desperately need to win this one; Steelers would love to win this one and knock Ravens out but they’ll live to fight another day with a loss.
Not that it matters, but Mike Bires writes for the Beaver County Times, not the Tribune-Review.
tatum32:
Batch got injured filling in for Ben last week – broke his left wrist and had surgery on it this week.
@sflajimmy
Yeah, we all know what nambla stands for, jackass.
I feel like every time (since the NBC crossover) I come on this site I lose 10 IQ points.
More evidence of the stupidity that passes for posting here:
—————————————————–
slipkid says:
November 28, 2009 6:53 PM
ben isnt playing. the game is for balto to lose. more likely, win fairly easily.
and seattle had a td stolen in the sb. bogus pi call. they got no points instead of 7.
and pit was given a td cause they let ben keep moving after he was down, thus the faulty spot. if they hadnt, then pitt would have settled for a field goal. they got 7 points instead of 3.
there’s yer 11 point swing moron.
and people complain about the pats!
———————————————-
Yeah because nothing will ever surpass the Tuck Rule for illegitimate wins… guilty much?
Now then…
Fact: The Seattle WR DID push off in the end zone, as was shown on the NFL Network which broke down the play the week after that Super Bowl. So the Seahawks lost NOTHING there, chum.
And your amazing godlike powers of clairvoyance allow you to know the Steelers kick a field goal — kick a field goal! — from what, the .00001 yard line, where the ball would’ve been spotted had the call been overturned? Wow you should be hosting your own psychic hotline or something, Miss Cleo.
Amazing. Just amazing.
does this mean deangelo hall and pacman jones are “shit down” corners?