Has this Hines Ward-Big Ben controversy-that-probably-isn’t-a-controversy got your head spinning? Mine, too.

 

Not only do I still not know what Ward was talking about when he decided to give an informative monologue on head trauma, but also I’m pretty sure Hines doesn't know either.

 

Ward, who has no formal medical training, shared his musings about concussions without bothering to edit them. Or put them in complete sentences. Or consider what the ramifications would be. Instead of remaining in his bald head, they came out of his mouth, in front of a national audience.

 

He wanted to clear things up about his comments, which created a firestorm even before Bob Costas took his make-up off. Take it away, Dr. Ward.

 

 

What Hines said:  “I could see some players or teammates questioning, like, it’s just a concussion.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “Sure, at some point, some players or teammates could question someone getting a concussion. But that doesn’t happen on the Steelers. We are a close-knit team full of veteran guys and leaders.”

 

Hines really hasn’t said anything here. He creates his very own hypothetical situation, which includes a hypothetical locker room. He never once says this is happening in Pittsburgh. Why? Because it isn’t. He was talking about something different, as he later clarified, about who has and has not played with a concussion.

 

 

What Hines said:  “I’ve played with a concussion before.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “After laying out many unsuspecting defensive backs and linebackers with huge blocks, I’ve stayed in games despite being a little woozy or maybe not smiling for a few seconds here and there.  But I’ve never been formally diagnosed with a concussion; I may have been embellishing a little there.”

 

Again, no disrespect here, just rambling thoughts. Roethlisberger has played with a concussion before; many others have as well. Nobody’s calling anybody out, and there’s no outburst.

 

 

What Hines said:  “It’s almost like a 50-50 toss up in the locker room. Should he play? Shouldn’t he play? It’s really hard to say.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “As to who has or has not played with a concussion, it’s probably 50-50. Ben’s a tough guy and I’m sure he wants to play. Unfortunately, it’s up to the doctors and not him, so it creates a tough situation.”

 

This is where Hines starts to tread water, although he’s still talking to himself about some imaginary locker room, I think. Also, he’s not really thinking about what he’s saying, instead of focusing on how good he looks in his rustic red blazer-blue button-up shirt combo.

 

 

What Hines said:  “I’ve been out there dinged up; the following week, got right back out there.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “I’ve come back from hits before, but Ben took a particularly brutal knee to the head.  Nobody knows how he’s feeling except him.”

 

Ward is starting to say things he shouldn’t be saying. Costas looks like he’s loving it, too; I’m sure the same goes for Mark Madden.

 

 

What Hines said:  “Ben practiced all week. He split time with Dennis Dixon. And then to find out that he's still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to the doctors didn't feel that they were going to clear him or not—it's hard to say.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “Ben practiced all week. He split time with Dennis Dixon. And then he had some headaches, but he really wanted to play. He even pleaded with Coach Tomlin at the last minute, but the doctors said 'no.' That’s a tough situation for anybody.”

 

Now Ward is really starting to ramble, and it’s kind of understandable. He was as stunned as anyone to hear Ben wasn’t playing, and he really didn’t know what was going on. Really, he shouldn’t have been saying anything about such an internal matter.

 


What Hines said:  “Unless you're the person. ... I've lied to a couple of doctors saying, 'I'm straight, I feel good' when I know that I'm not really straight. I don’t think guys really worry about the future when they’re playing currently in the NFL.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “Well, Ben never puts himself above the team.  We know if he was all right, he would play.  Even after the doctors said he shouldn’t play, he still wanted to. You can’t play in this league without being physically and mentally tough.  Guys generally have no regard for their future when they’re playing.”

 

By this point, Ward has thoroughly confused everyone, so let’s see what he had to say after the game, when it was determined that his comments were about to cause a minor stir.

 

 

What Hines said:  “Finding out your starting quarterback was not playing until Saturday, it was shocking.... Me calling him out or whatever, that wasn’t my intention.”

 

 

What Hines meant:  “I’m still mad about the time Roethlisberger said in the offseason that the Steelers should get a tall receiver. What’s wrong with six-foot-tall receivers like me and Santonio? We both have Super Bowl MVP trophies, right?  How many does Ben have?”

 

*Whoa, whoa…let’s turn that mic off for a sec…

 


What Hines really meant:  “I never meant to call out anyone. I was just saying what I thought, like I always do, and my comments came across as misunderstood because I was a little intimidated by Bob Costas. We were all a little worried because coach Tomlin didn’t say right away that Ben wasn’t starting, and then he baffled everyone even more when he made Ben the third QB.  But I know Ben would be in there if he could.”

 

Glad we got that all straightened out. Really, this little mini-controversy that is actually not a controversy is that last thing the Steelers need at this point, and it will be over soon.  Ward recently posted a long apology on his Facebook that makes just a tiny bit more sense than his initial comments.

 

Nevertheless—turning to actual football for a minute—I agree with Mike Prisuta, who said that the Baltimore loss should be a uniting force for the team. They turned in a valiant effort Sunday night against a very good team fighting for its life.  If they can play that well on the road with their third-string QB against a desperate opponent, then, hey, there’s no reason they should lose any of their remaining five games.

 

Roethlisberger will be back—if Dr. Ward clears him—and, eventually, Troy Polamalu and Chris Kemoeatu will return. The Raiders and Browns are the next two opponents on the schedule. And, say what you want about this Steelers team, but they haven’t even gotten close to playing their best game yet. If they ever do, the team can beat anyone in the league. 

 

But they need to stop beating themselves first. And please, keep Hines at least 100 yards away from Bob Costas at all times.