The Big Ben Situation

If you were to ask somebody who grew up in the 70's or 80's would be stunned to see what has happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I apologize for writing two consecutive about the Steelers but right now, this is what is important in the nation right now.  I think the Steelers are now the bad boys of football, worse than the Cincinnati Bengals because this is a team whose top two or three biggest stars have found themselves in trouble.

I can no longer support Big Ben, I never really liked him in the first place but here's the thing releasing a statement looking like a complete dirtball comparable to a professional wrestler's haircut in the late 80s then cut your hair when you meet the commissioner, I feel like that is poor PR move.  You should have looked as clean-cut as possible because you want to make the impression of looking like a stand-up guy rather than the creepy guy hanging out in the corner at the Pickle (for those not living Eau Claire, it's the dirtiest bar in EC but they give bigger shots, stronger drinks, and sluttier girls... most of us love it!)  He showed this I still do not care what you think about me when he kept driving motorcycles and when he got in trouble the first time, he still decided to go out all the time. 

I am not saying it's a bad thing to go out on the town because I understand people love to have a good time yet he went to college bars.  My God if a dumb girl knows she can get her 15 minute of fame if she claims that a two-time Super Bowl Winning Quarterback forced her to give her a hummer, they will do it. Not to mention if he was a dick like people have claimed, they are totally doing it.  Why not try to reshape your life somewhat to fix things that people would embrace more. He needed to this after the first one came up (no matter how bat shit crazy this woman was) and start to become somebody that more people like.

Brett Favre is the absolutely perfect example of this transformation. I truly believe that Favre would have been suspended if Roger Goodell was the commissioner back then.  Before Favre, he was this reckless guy who got drunk all the time (I had a teacher one time tell me she saw Favre fall down a full flight of stairs at a Milwaukee bar), popped pills, and basically was a redneck hillbilly. After his wife told him she would leave him if he kept doing some of the things he did, he reshaped his life into the person we know doing the Wrangler and Sears' commercials.  The one difference is that Big Ben is a single guy and seemingly prides himself on being this sort of playboy unlike his counterparts.  He needs to examine the moves that Favre made in the past and maybe even seek out Favre's advice for what to do.  The question is will the Pittsburgh Steelers handle the issue at hand as well as the Green Bay Packers did? 

Those two NFL franchises are probably in the top five of classy franchises in the NFL.  Teams that rarely if ever put up with any shit, it's basically do it our way or find another job.  Remember when the Indianapolis Colts, another class franchise had problems with Marvin Harrison,one of the best wide receiver ever in Colts history got released. Nothing coming into my head but I am positive the New England Patriots have done the exact same thing. These teams aren't the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, or the New York Jets.  They do not just take in any guy who is willing to play for them, they need to be absolutely convinced he can fit into their personal system. The ball is seriously in the court of the Steelers and how they handle it will be either scrutinized or praised.

Something that caught my eye today on Twitter was Dave Dameshek, a former ESPN Page 2 writer and did an awesome podcast who is a big Pittsburgh fan called for "Getting rid of Big Ben, I am done with him."  Also hearing how sponsorrs are pulling him in Pittsburgh and he isn't getting as much hometown love, is it time to let go of a two-time Super Bowl Champion?  I would lean towards yes because I begin to feel the fans aren't behind him right now, and I truly believe he would be booed 70-30%.  It's hard for a female Steeler fan to cheer for a guy like Big Ben, he doesn't deserve to have any female fans after the things he has done and to have your quarterback hated, it's hard to see the team flourishing under him. 

The Steelers or the NFL will suspend Big Ben.  I know people feel he doesn't deserve the punishment, he still was accused of a felony multiple times and a guy like PacMan Jones had the same thing happen leading to his suspension.  You mean to tell me the Rev. Jessie Jackson will not be breathing down the neck of the NFL if they decide to treat a white superstar different than a middle of the road black athlete?  You are crazy if you think otherwise, the African-American community will be up in arms if Big Ben is not suspended.  No matter who does it, it has to happen. 

-Charlie.