Steelers Get Some Good News And Some Bad News About Their QBs

Added on Sep 03, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

The Pittsburgh Steelers got the classic ‘good news/bad news’ situation regarding their quarterbacks on Friday. First, the good news–starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sufficiently contrite in his meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that his suspension has been reduced from six games to four. ‘Big Ben’ is the first player to be suspended under the NFL’s personal conduct policy without being arrested, charged with and convicted of a crime. He was accused of fondling a college co-ed in a bar this summer, but Georgia authorities declined to file charges. Basically, Roethlisberger was suspended since he’s a 28 year old grown man still ‘trolling for skank’ among college sorority girls which, while not illegal, is downright creepy.

The NFL said that the reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger..uh…’keeping his nose clean’…and working on putting together a social life appropriate for a grown up. In their words:

“the reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger continuing to adhere to the program established by our advisors and avoiding any further violations of the personal conduct policy.”

Goodell got in one last zinger in a letter to the newly reinstated Roethlisberger:

“You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better decisions. Your actions over the past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue to honor that commitment.”

‘Big Ben’ was unavailable for comment, as he needed to pick up some Axe Body Spray and a new Ed Hardy t-shirt before he got ready for a body shot mixer at the local Alpha Delta Pi house. Just kidding. He had this comment in a statement released by the team:

“I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person. I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

And the bad news–y’all remember how veteran Byron Leftwich was slated to fill in for Roethlisberger during his suspension instead of the brutally talented but inexperienced Dennis Dixon? Scratch that plan–Dixon will start the Steelers’ first game against the Atlanta Falcons. Leftwich suffered a MCL sprain in the Steelers’ final preseason game against Carolina on Thursday night and may need surgery. You have to admire his toughness–he said that he wanted to start the Falcons game despite barely being able to walk but the team put the kibosh on that idea.

While Leftwich is a good dude and we’re sorry to see him get injured, it could be better for the Steelers in the long run. Dixon is a former University of Oregon standout in his third year in the league, and while he only has one NFL start he’s considered by many to be Pittsburgh’s quarterback of the future. What he lacks in experience he could make up for with his off the charts talent and athleticism. In any case, he told reporters after Thursday’s game that he’s looking forward to the opportunity but bummed that it’s at Leftwich’s expense:

“It’s an opportunity, I guess, but it’s unfortunate for Byron for what he went through. But this team has to continue to go forward. I know once he’s going to come back he’s going to give us nothing but tremendous support.”

The Steelers will have a better grasp on the severity of Leftwich’s injury in a few days, but if Dixon plays well they may not have a good reason to rush him back with Roethlisberger waiting in the wings.