Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger: Back To the Game

We all know that Ben Roethlisberger has been, essentially, torn to pieces by not only the media, but by fans. And not just by opposing fans like he’s used to. Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been railing him for his off the field actions as well.

I’m one of the guilty parties, and for that, I must apologize to not only Roethlisberger, but to Steeler Nation as well. I got caught up in the off-the-field issues, something I generally turn a blind eye to simply because that’s not what I care about.

I don’t watch a football game to hear about what "this" player did or what "that" player is going to do. I don’t idolize these men as human beings, I’m entertained by them as athletes.

Sure, Roethlisberger’s made some horrid mistakes off the field, but what person hasn’t screwed up at one point or another? I’m not saying that the average American male has civil suits for sexual assault pending against him, but in theory, everyone screws up and everyone pays the piper at some point in their life for those actions.

Why should Roethlisberger be any different? Sure, he’s famous, but as much as people say it helps him, doesn’t it also hurt him?

For example, if some Average Joe from, let’s say Cleveland, Ohio was accused of sexual assault, would it be all over the news for even a day, much less months after it allegedly happened? Would anyone outside of those affected and the direct community care?

More than likely not; and chances are that it would be long forgotten three months down the road by the general public.

This is never going to go away.

No. 7’s detractors are still going to throw this up in his face, even if he manages to win two more Super Bowls and is named the NFL MVP. It’s still going to be one of the first things that comes to people’s minds when discussing Roethlisberger.

He dug his own grave, it’s not mine nor anyone else’s job to help him dig it.

All we can do is hope that once his suspension is served to have the old Roethlisberger back, the one I’ve dubbed on so many occasions as King Clutch. That’s what I’m focused on.

That’s what Steelers Nation should be focused on.

Recently, Hines Ward has asked Roethlisberger to essentially come clean and give the team details in a formal address in the locker room.

It’s a Catch-22 for the quarterback. He wants to be in good standing with his team, but if he talks about it, well anything said can and will be used against him in a court of law. So, he’s either got to sacrifice team chemistry or risk completely incriminating himself if he actually did something.

Hopefully the team understands that, but something tells me that Ward isn’t too fond of the man throwing him the football and that could spell disaster because Ward’s not only one of the emotional leaders of the team, but is very vocal about how things should go in the Steel City.

Hopefully, Roethlisberger can put this all behind him and come back with a chip on his shoulder, because he’s got something to prove—not only that he can sit for at least four weeks and still come out fighting, but that he can lead a team full of talent to the promised land once more.

"Everyone is created equal, some, are more equal than others."