Should Ben Actually Play in the Pro Bowl?

by PaVaSteeler on Jan 25, 2012 12:15 PM EST

It has been reported by Mike Florio of PFT that Ben Roethlisberger will be going to the Pro Bowl (see link -->). Roethlisberger “definitely” attending Pro Bowl, leaving Tebow out in the cold

"...But a league source tells PFT that Roethlisberger will “definitely” make the trip to Hawaii, despite an ankle injury that he first suffered on December 8 — and that he apparently aggravated on multiple occasions....Of course, making the trip and being able to play are two different things. Roethlisberger could realize once he tries to practice that the ankle still isn’t 100 percent. But at least he still gets the free trip to Hawaii."

There was a huge controversy here on BTSC over the decision to play Ben in the San Francisco game, one week after injuring his ankle in the first game against Cleveland, and again in the last game of the season, just three weeks after the initial injury.

Most of the debate centered around whether Tomlin should have sat Ben for more than just the Rams game, regardless of whether Ben felt he could play, to try to let his ankle heal in preparation for the Playoffs.

Now, just 7 weeks after the injury, a high ankle sprain that can take a several months to fully heal, it appears that Ben may want to play again, begging the question:

Should the Steelers let him play?

Poll

Should the Steelers let Ben play in the Pro Bowl?

Yes (share your reasons in the comment section)

46 votes

No (share your reasons in the comment section)

61 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Let him make the trip so he can sit in the hottub with the other guys

But don’t let him play.

Stay thirsty my friends.

by SteelerMessican on Jan 25, 2012 12:49 PM EST reply actions

Of course he should play if he wants and feels like he can. The Steelers go to a lot of Super Bowls which doesn’t exactly give Ben a ton of opportunities to play in the Pro-Bowl.

Remember these guys are people, not robots. If he wants to play and is healthy enough he should and no one should really say otherwise. He’s got months after this to heal up and it’s not like they hit hard in this game.

by Cols714 on Jan 25, 2012 1:02 PM EST reply actions

Did you think he was "healthy enough" to play in the SF or 2nd Cleveland game?

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by PaVaSteeler on Jan 25, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

no

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 25, 2012 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

Relevant how?

by Cols714 on Jan 26, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

What is there to gain? He has already been there before, so it isn't like it would be something new, while I realize it is a great honor, it is ill advised.

Plus Momma reported that he is taking Arians & Spouse and Fitchner & Spouse with him. Speaks volumes about him not knowing when to give up on something, this is another situation where throwing the ball away is the prudent decision, but he wants to force it. I would really hate to see this ankle become a nagging injury because he has played on it so many times after letting it partially heal and then tweaked it while playing again before he was healthy.

"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Jan 25, 2012 1:05 PM EST reply actions

Play one play

enough to keep Tebow at home.

by indianasteelers on Jan 25, 2012 1:17 PM EST reply actions

+7

If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made product that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.

by SNW on Jan 25, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Took the words right out of my mouth!!!!

by colorado steelhead on Jan 25, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

at first I said "no"

After further review, maybe it’s good to let him get his feet wet working with a new OC.
Who know? He may like the idea of no bubble screens and quick
release passes.

by Oregon Mike on Jan 25, 2012 2:01 PM EST reply actions

I said yes

So that he could learn what it is like to play behind a good offensive line and have a full back behind him. He needs to prepare for the future.

by Michael Uhlhorn on Jan 25, 2012 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Looks like Ryan Clark will be joining him now too!!

He’s filling in for Ed Reed who is pretty banged up right now. Replacements or not, still good to see Steelers in Pro Bowl.

P.S. Ben should play. Playing in the Pro Bowl will be the same as walking around on that ankle. No biggie

"If we weren't all crazy we'd all go insane" - Jimmy Buffett

by WVSteel6SB on Jan 25, 2012 3:20 PM EST reply actions

Harrison's going as well. MMMMM....nice and warm in Hawaii right now:)

Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, it was announced tonight. Harrison is replacing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who will miss the game with an injury.

This marks Harrison’s fifth trip to the NFL’s annual all-star game as he was also selected each of the past four seasons.

I can resist everything but temptation.....

by the duchess of steel on Jan 25, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Let him play.

It’s not as if he’s really going to get hit too hard and he never gets to go to the Pro Bowl anyways, so you might as well let the guy have a little fun.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 25, 2012 3:50 PM EST reply actions

Yes just to leave Tebow out of the game

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by seton hall and steelers on Jan 25, 2012 3:53 PM EST reply actions

definitely

it boggles my mind that Tebow is next in line. Is the talent at QB really that bad in the AFC right now?

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by Dr. Spaceman on Jan 26, 2012 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

Well

Brady is in the Super Bowl… Schaub is out injured… and Tebow is a huge fan favorite (you know, those people that vote on the PB)…

"Leave the gun. Bring the Canolis."

by Paulie58 on Feb 2, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah let him, the rules are different in the Pro Bowl

Plus he will have an All Pro caliber line in front of him

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by Michael Hewitt on Jan 25, 2012 4:07 PM EST reply actions

i hope he’s going just to keep tim tebow from going

by klompus on Jan 25, 2012 4:32 PM EST reply actions

No one could keep Ben out of this game, the way he competes!

Who's laughing now, O Line??? Ben Roethlisberger (from the Podium) to his O-Line and the world in Superbowl XLIII

by SteeladyinVA on Jan 25, 2012 7:00 PM EST reply actions

The Pro Bowl is a joke. No one should play in the game. Nothing good can come from it. The thought of Ben playing makes me shake my head.

by SteelerMike on Jan 25, 2012 8:31 PM EST reply actions

for him to even think of playing is absolutely ludicrous

its a meaningless joke of a game. he can only hurt himself further and has nothing to gain. yeah go ahead and make the trip, but i’d fine his ass for playin in the game if i were Art Rooney II

by theatrain on Jan 25, 2012 9:56 PM EST reply actions

Hell, no!

I get the arguments about the honour, the experience, the OC, the good offensive line, etc., but let us not forget that he IS the Franchise on offense right now, and that this is as far from real game conditions as one can get while playing with the official NFL logo on the uniform.

Would we shudder at the thought that he would compete in the World Flag Football championship?…bad analogy, we may get there under Goodell. But you know what I mean!

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Fly by night, goodbye my dear
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RUSH

by Flying Polamalus on Jan 26, 2012 8:54 AM EST reply actions

I agree with you. but.....

I posted my opinion on another article and it was not popular. I agree with you – " he IS the Franchise on offense right now". And although the contact in this game is minimal. freak accidents can happen. I personally think that he should give that ankle as much rest as he can. Maybe there is “incentives” in his contract for making the Pro Bowl. If so, does it stipulate that he actually has to play a down?. I made a comparison with Robert Edwards of the Patriots who participated in a Roookie Flag Football Game leading up to the Pro Bowl game and blew out his knee. He was never the same after that. I just hope that Ben will enjoy that free vacation, spend time with his family and then turn his thought to rehabilitating his ankle/body and begin preparation for the upcoming season with a new OC.

by Allen F on Jan 26, 2012 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

I get the concern

Buta can we stop saying he IS the franchise? He is not. 2 years ago the steelers went 3-1 with out him.
He played well in only one superbowl , almost lost us the first he played in and clearly played poorly in the last.
Is it all his fault? No . He has gotten his ass beaten in almost every game. But that also playing into his style. I fear he may become the next Marc Bulger or possibly retire before Brady does. He has taken a beetling, he has wowed us in spots and left us shaking our heads in others. He has been forgiven because he has come through at times and has had a great defense bail him out and not allow his mistakes to count against us.

He will need to adapt, but first he needs to,heal as well as take stock of what gifts god has given him.

Impose your will.

by ALDOG on Jan 26, 2012 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

Definitely agree with your last sentence.

by Allen F on Jan 26, 2012 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

Contract Incentives

Ben might have a clause in his contract that sas he gets a certain amount for making the Pro Bowl. I know playing is a different thing but this might be his vacation with his new bride and the lat hurrah with Bruce Arians. It has been written that he is bring Arians and I believe Fitchner.

by ColinP on Jan 26, 2012 3:42 PM EST reply actions

Ben on NFL Network today

BR was interviewed at the AFC practice, and a range of topics were covered.

First, he implied he wasn’t going to be seeing as much action as Rivers(could be even less with Dalton on the roster as well). Second, in hindsight, the ankle was a serious problem in his accuracy the rest of the season, after the Cleveland game. Also in hindsight, playing in the San Fran game, the way it turned out.

The Arians situation was discussed, and Ben took the diplomatic route. Yes, I also heard he brought Arians and Fictner to Hawaii. BR and Arians go back to 2004, so it’s not surprising a friendship formed after all these years working countless hours together. I would guess BR credits Arians for helping him develop into an elite QB, so it’s natural he would be upset when the organization decided not to renew BA’s contract. Let’s not forget this is the same organization which stood by # 7 during the off field troubles, when some speculated a trade was going to happen.

by SteelStealth on Jan 26, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions

Ben. Should play

If only not to let te ow not play.

Besides what else can happen to him?

Impose your will.

by ALDOG on Jan 26, 2012 7:16 PM EST reply actions

A bit off topic, but I can’t believe this is only his 2nd pro bowl. I know he’s behind Brady and Manning most years, but how is it that he hasn’t been in the Pro Bowl more than once before this?

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by Dr. Spaceman on Jan 26, 2012 9:36 PM EST reply actions

Good question

Stats are so worshiped today at the QB position, and players like Brady and Manning were putting up video game type numbers while BR was just winning. The 2008 season, which featured several fourth quarter comebacks would have been a Pro Bowl year, but the overall numbers weren’t as the others. If I’m not mistaken, Bradshaw only made 3 or 4 Pro Bowls himself, not a high number for a HOF QB.

by SteelStealth on Jan 26, 2012 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

wow you’re right…only 3 pro bowls for Bradshaw. just looked it up.

Philip Rivers on the other hand— FOUR. Not that he isn’t a good QB, but twice as many as Big Ben? too many. Schaub only has one. Favre made the Pro Bowl the year he was with the Jets— which was ridiculous.

Flacco hasn’t made the pro bowl—- so at least that honor isn’t completely tarnished yet.

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by Dr. Spaceman on Jan 26, 2012 10:09 PM EST reply actions