Breakups are never easy. When you divorce and go separate ways, sometimes it can be painful and words will be exchanged that don't paint your former partner in a good light.
Been there. Done that.
On Monday, former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders spoke to 104.3 FM The Fan in Denver about his new team, quarterback and also shared some comments regarding his former signal caller in Pittsburgh.
After reading what Sanders said about Peyton Manning (his new beau) and Ben Roethlisberger, (the ex) you get the sense that Sanders couldn't wait to find a new team to play with.
Here is what Sanders told the Denver radio station...
"I feel like Peyton is a far better leader, in terms of staying after practice, catching balls, wanting guys to get on the same page with him, things of that sort," Sanders said. "This is the first time that I’ve had a quarterback that every single day after practice — no matter what his accolades, NFL MVP, Super Bowl ring — he keeps guys like me and [rookie receiver Cody] Latimer after practice. . . . He’s not one of those guys you’ve got to chase down. He’s going to be right in the same spot, ready to work, every single day. I just feel like that’s a difference from a mental standpoint."
Talk about painting your ex as a pig and your new love as Miss America.
Once the comments made their way back to 'tahn 'n at on Monday, the vile and vitriol bus started boarding members faster than the 68A Express to PPG Plaza. After hearing some of reaction from hosts and callers on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh Monday, I just had to chuckle.
What is Sanders supposed to say about his new QB?
Does it really shock you that a guy who is dependent on another to make catches and rack up yards and scores is not going to praise him? I'm guessing Steelers Nation would have rather heard or read the following.
'Yeah Peyton is great and all, but Ben man, he's won two Super Bowls and was always coming to me for key passes. I sure hope Manning can see my value and what I bring to the table."
The simple fact of the matter is that Sanders has to butter up to Manning, who's known for his over-the-top work ethic. His relentless nature of throwing the same pass patterns over and over in practice to guys is legendary. Ask Marvin Harrison how many times he ran 'tree' routes with Mannning over their career together. Thousands I bet. But that work paid off when they won Super Bowl XLI over Chicago in 2007.
You know Ben works hard on and off the field. He's got two rings to show for it. Sanders also praised Roethlisberger saying he had a lot of 'love' for Ben, but the damage was done, so to speak.
Sanders better show a similar commitment, or the only routes he may be running in Denver are back and forth on the sidelines. If he wants to go back and relive that week 13 drop vs. Baltimore
when Ben came to him on that 2 point conversion, he may want to stay on that Rocky Mountain practice field a little longer.
The reality is Sanders, a member of the 'Young Money' crew while in town with Mike Wallace & Antonio Brown, was the low man on that totem pole. Look at how things have turned out for Wallace. Yeah he got big money in Miami, but his numbers say he's a bust.
So what if Sanders said he's 'excited' about his new team? This happens all the time when guys go from one club to the next.
Sanders had better hope this extra time in practice with Peyton pays off or he's going to end up the answer to a trivia question. What member of the YMC filed for bankruptcy due to lack of production while playing.
John Phillips is a radio personality for 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh and a columnist for Behind The Steel Curtain. His articles will be posted twice weekly beginning with live reporting in Training Camp July 25. Check him out on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.