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Bunker65
12-Jun-2006, 07:22 PM
Just saw this & though some people here would be interested:


PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was badly hurt in a motorcycle crash Monday and undergoing surgery. The extent of his injuries was not known.

Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition, said Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital.

"He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said before the operation. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."

One Steelers source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Roethlisberger was in surgery for a broken jaw, an injury that can take approximately seven weeks to heal. The Steelers season starts in 12 weeks.

The 24-year-old Roethlisberger likes to ride without a helmet, a habit that once prompted coach Bill Cowher to lecture him on the dangers.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet. The Associated Press reported it wasn't clear whether he was wearing a helmet or not.

The crash happened at an intersection at the edge of downtown at about 11:30 a.m. A pool of blood was still visible there by early afternoon.

Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and homicide units were investigating the crash, something standard when there is an accident with critical injuries. Kraus would give no details on the extent of Roethlisberger's injuries or if anyone else was injured.

The accident occurred on Second Avenue near the intersection of 10th Street in Pittsburgh, around 11:30 a.m. The route is one often taken in traveling to the Steelers' facility in the Southside section of the city.

Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch was at the emergency room. He had no comment.

A silver Chrysler New Yorker with damage to the front passenger fender was removed and Roethlisberger's bike was loaded onto a flatbed truck. Police were detouring traffic around the crash scene as onlookers and media gathered.

One of his agents, Ryan Tollner, is in route to Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a pre-planned trip and will arrive later Monday.

In only his second year in the NFL, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship. He was 23 when he did it last February.

Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet. He has pointed out Pennsylvania's 35-year-old state law requiring helmets to be worn was amended to make helmets optional.

In May 2005, Cowher warned him about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season.

"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."

Roethlisberger continued to ride after Winslow's accident and that angered Terry Bradshaw, who quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during the 1970s.

Visiting the Steelers' training camp last summer, Bradshaw remarked: "Ride it when you retire."

P.S. I agree with Bradshaw, ride it when you retire Ben !!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2480830

Tullaryx
12-Jun-2006, 08:29 PM
A shame when one thinks about it. Roethlisberger seemed like the opposite of alot of the young players entering the league. He was cocky and confident without being obnoxious about his abilities and talents. He was respectful of his veterans and the league in general. But now it seems there was abit of the Jellen Winslow, Jr in Big Ben. He'll recover but I think this accident may have just stopped the rise of his career to join the elite ranks of QBs. Shame, I really liked the kid as a QB.

OddDNA
12-Jun-2006, 09:15 PM
No motorcycling addition to his contract.

Well if he cant play he just cost himself a years salery either way...this ultimately hurts the team not just him.

glsjaw
14-Jun-2006, 02:02 AM
being from steeler country, i believe he'll be just fine. on the plus side when he gets better he still has his harley to try and kill himself on

Pushead Jim
14-Jun-2006, 02:06 AM
i got really mixed feelings about this. as a motorcyclist I cring at the thought of anyone being injured in this manner.however as a cleveland browns fan anything that helps those clowns beat pittsburgh is O.K. with me.:lol:

DjfunkmasterG
14-Jun-2006, 12:22 PM
I hope the guy is ok, and pulls through. I am no Steeler's fan, but I don't want to see the guy out of the game. He had tons of talent and hopefully when riding in the future he will exercise a bit more caution and wear a helmet.

Anyone privy to his current condition? Just wondering how surgery went.

Adrenochrome
14-Jun-2006, 12:25 PM
I hope the guy is ok, and pulls through. I am no Steeler's fan, but I don't want to see the guy out of the game. He had tons of talent and hopefully when riding in the future he will exercise a bit more caution and wear a helmet.

Anyone privy to his current condition? Just wondering how surgery went.
I heard on a talk radio program yesterday that there was (loosley quoted) "no dammage to the brain, chest area, spine...... no other confirmed inguries"

glsjaw
14-Jun-2006, 10:44 PM
according to a local radio station here in pittsburgh, he's doing fine and hopefully wont even miss any practice.


however as a cleveland browns fan anything that helps those clowns beat pittsburgh is O.K. with me.

and your right, you guys need all the help you can get :moon:

Pushead Jim
15-Jun-2006, 01:05 AM
and your right, you guys need all the help you can get Dont i know it.:(

AssassinFromHell
15-Jun-2006, 01:08 AM
He wouldn't have to be sitting in a hospital worrying about his career if he wasn't such a stupid ass on a bike. He ran through a tight intersection. The guy was careless. All I have to say now is this...

BYE-BYE PITTSBURGH! :D