At this point, it seems almost impossibe to glean some new perspective on Emmanuel Sanders and leadershipgate, but here's a relatively unsurprising one. Ben Roethisberger, Sanders' former quarterback and the lesser of two leaders, was upset by his ex-receivers comments.
Sanders recently told the media that he felt his new quarterbck Peyton Manning was the best leader he had ever been around, which was easily constrewed by some as an insult directed at Roethlisberger.
Even more recently, Sanders stood by his statement.
"It wasn’t meant as disrespect for anyone. I’ve got so much love for everybody over there in Pittsburgh, and they know it — they know me. I didn’t mean any harm. I have not one regret. If I said it, then I meant it."
However Roethlisberger, at least to some extent, understood why Sanders said what he said.
"He’s going to say whatever he can about the quarterback he is with,"said Ben, reflecting his understanding that Sanders was simply playing the game all new receivers play, puffing up their new quarterback.
That doesn't mean that Ben enjoyed hearing Sanders' views on the matter, and in particular disliked how he went about it.
"I was more disappointed he didn’t reach out to me" said Roethlisberger. " I know he told some other guys: ‘You know I love Ben, I didn’t mean it like that.’ I wish he would have reached out to me and just say that and I would have been fine with it."
Before the start of the 2013 season, there was a serious possibility that Sanders wouldn't even be playing in black and gold. As a restricted free agent, Sanders was offered a contract by the New England Patriots, which meant the Steelers had a choice; match the offer and give Sanders a contract worth $2.5 million, or accept losing Sanders and gain a 3rd round pick in the process.
One of the driving forces behind the Steelers retention of Sanders was Roethlisberger, who lobbied hard to keep one of his favourtie receivers in Pittsburgh. In that sense, Sanders' words were like a fairly mild betrayal.
"Whether he meant it or not, it hurt in a sense that I tried so hard to keep him here last year and was always supporting him. When he was down in practice, I always talked to him. When he had a baby, I was trying to help him."
Unless Sanders decides to respond again on this matter, I would imagine this will be the end of it. Sanders has every right to say that Manning is the best leader he's ever had, Steelers nation be damned. Antonio Brown has every right to be disgruntled over they way he went about it, and Ben Roethlisberger has every right to be upset over the apparent loss of a friendship.