Big Lead Sports Bar

4/15/2010

ROONEY PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2:30; IS TRADE A POSSIBILITY?



I hope you enjoyed the brief dominance of the local headlines by the Penguins, because they're about to get turned back over to Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers at 2:30 or so, which is when Art Rooney II will be holding a press conference at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex.

Speculation is running wild as to what will be said, running from a simple Q&A to a suspension. Personally, I don't think the suspension will come from the Steelers - I think this case has evolved into more of a national, NFL issue - so I'm not holding my breath on that front.

However, on another front, Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reports that the Steelers have had internal discussions about trading the two-time Super Bowl champion QB. Considering his baggage and price tag, it would be hard to find a deal that would be anywhere near fair value for the Steelers, and while I don't think it's a likely scenario, I can understand the rationale.

The city definitely hit the tipping point with Roethlisberger this week; Fred Bright's graphic details of the case coupled with Ben's disheveled appearance at his press conference did incredible damage to his reputation, enough to make one wonder if any amount of future goodwill could get him back into the city's good graces. With that in mind, no, I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibilities for the Steelers to at least examine the trade market for Big Ben - a statement I never dreamed of writing in my lifetime.


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13 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

While I am one of the outnumbered Ben supporters, I have wondered about them trying to pull off a trade in an uncapped year.

The Broncos basically received 2 mid-1st rounders, a 3rd round pick and Kyle Orton. If you were GM and a team offered you 2 1st rounders and a 3rd round pick would you take it?

I personally wouldn't because I want to move on with Ben, but I just wanted to get a general idea how ready some of you are for Ben to move on.

BurressWithButterflywings said...
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BurressWithButterflywings said...
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Spatula said...

Athletes (and actors for that matter) are simply here to entertain me. If they don't do anything illegal, I could care less about them as persons. This guy came from a broken home and succeeded? I don't care. He came from a wealthy background and thinks that everything bad in the world is the fault of the US? I don't care. My motto is "dance, monkey dance." He's a Democrat? Don't care -- dance, monkey dance. He's a Republican? Don't care -- dance, monkey dance. I could care less about other people's personal lives. If more people had this attitude, everybody wouldn't be getting their collective panties in a twist over Roethlisberger, Woods, James, etc.

Unknown said...

I don't understand what BB has done to be punished. Some girl says he assaulted her and that's it, he can be punished? What's stopping the next girl from making the same accusations without the proper evidence. I am sick of goodell wielding his iron fist to keep these guys out of bars. They have every right to go out and have a good time and until found guilty they should be left alone.

Unknown said...

Good point, Spatula... These guys are hired to HIT A BALL (or throw, etc. whatever), they aren't making legislative decisions in Congress.
So Ben nailed a few drunk girls... can he still throw a 50 yd bomb with 5 300-lb angry gorillas chasing him? Yes? OK, put him back on the field. Quit looking up to sports athletes - they aren't stars for their morals, they're stars cause they are the elite in their sport, nothing else.

Unknown said...

I agree spatula. I pay to see Ben play on Sunday. What he does the rest of the week doesn't really matter to me.

Dirty Sanchez said...

If the girl wasn't so housed that the DA couldn't potentially put her on the stand, this wouldn't just be Roger Goodell wielding an iron fist. I don't want to see Ben traded out of anger or for the Rooneys to "prove a point", but for the right deal... Anyone is tradeable.

If Holmes gets traded for pennies on the dollar that's one thing, but you don't give up franchise QBs without getting a ton in return. Ben is 5 times the QB that Jay Cutler is, and look what the Broncos got for him. Rams #1 this year and their #1 next year - tempting.

Chip said...

The problem with waiting to trade Ben is this:

Let's say the Rooneys keep Ben and give him zero tolerance for future incidents. We all know he's going to rape somebody else (or at least drunkedly grope someone) because he's human garbage. I defy anybody to listen to the details of the DA's press conference and tell me he sounds like a swell, well-adjusted guy. He's an idiot and he'll always be an idiot.

Anyway, back to my point. If the Steelers keep him with zero tolerance and he screws up again then you have the Santonio situation again. Everybody knows you want to get rid of him so they give you pennies on the dollar.

So the question is this: Do you trade him now for a boatload? Or do you keep your fingers crossed that he turns his life around with the condition that if/when he screws up again you only get a third round pick?

How much do you guys think Ben will never ever get into trouble again?

JeremyT said...

Well, damn, Chip! Since you have a crystal ball, can see into the future and are also clairvoyant, why don't you put your amazing gift to use for the betterment of humanity instead of looking into Ben's mind and reading his thoughts concerning his future behavior?

So, Chip, will the Israelis and Palestinians ever have peace? What will really happen in 2012? Will it be like the movie? Will you ever admit that you know nothing about Ben (not that I do, but at least I'll admit it)? In the future, do you discover that nobody gives a cotton-picking squirt of stale piss about your "visions" of the future? Do you travel back in time to the present day and shut your goddamn mouth?

Just wondering. Anyhow, if you aren't already REALLY mad at me, would you tell me who wins Super Bowl 45 so I can win a whole bunch of money gambling on the game? I swear I'll give you half.

NickDawg said...

If the steelers trade Ben, it sets them back 6-8 yrs minimum. Remember after our last franchise QB retired (Bradshaw) we didnt win a SuperBowl for 25 yrs. Im not willing to wait that long again of accusations ect.. There are only 3-4 eleite QB's in the league and he is one of them. I also could care less what he does off the field. He was found not guilty by a court of law and you know they looked under every freakin rock in GA to find something on him. I pay for season tix to watch the best play not Dennis Dixon.

HomeRunFromBehindTheMeatballs said...

The arguement of "who cares what he does off the field" is as ignorant as clinton portis' defense of michael vick. And i quote, "Whatever he does at his house is his business". True to an extent, unless what he does 'at his house' or 'off the field' is illegal.

Yeah, some guys do a ton of charity work, and some don't. That doesn't make them bad, but some guys obey the laws, some guys don't. If you're out allegedly committing crimes, then society had damn well better care what you're doing! Sure nothing has been proven, no charges have been pressed, but if you saw big ben out on the south side tonite, would you introduce him to your sister? your friend? your worst enemy?