Posted on 06/12/2006 2:42:22 PM PDT by kellynla
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday in which he was not wearing a helmet.
Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition Monday afternoon, Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital said before surgery.
The player's agent, Leigh Steinberg, described the injuries to The Associated Press and said he did not know if there was further damage.
"He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."
Steelers president Art Rooney said the team was "encouraged by the early reports from the medical team" at the hospital. "I am sure Ben knows that we are praying for his complete recovery."
The 24-year-old Roethlisberger was without a helmet, police said. He has said he likes to ride without one, a habit that once prompted a lecture from Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher.
Roethlisberger was between radio interviews and on his black 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa - large, racing-style bike - and heading toward an intersection on the edge of downtown. A silver Chrysler New Yorker traveling in the opposite direction took a left turn and collided with the motorcycle, and Roethlisberger was thrown, police said.
The other car was driven by a 62-year-old woman, police said. They didn't immediately release her name and no charges were filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...
I don't know who this guy is but anyone that rides on the street without a helmet does not think their head is worth too much. Anyone that rides in a populated area should realize that the public is aging and the "old folks" don't "see" you. Anyone that rides a Scooz Hayabusa on the street without a helmet is not too bright.
Its kind of classic Pittsburgh road design, a bridge meeting a tunnel (with a curve in it no less) intersected by four lanes of traffic (designed to 1950s specifications).
All that said, prayers for Big Ben and his family tonight...
"That's a rather unfair conclusion you're jumping to."
Me and all witnesses.
Waaa! Waaaa! Did you lose your pacifier? Give it up already.
He's still not out of the woods completely, the docs say the next 24 hours will be crucial in determining whether or not they have zeroed in on all possible injuries. He still could have brain swelling, internal bleeding, fractures etc. that they have not been able to locate yet. Regardless of whether he ever plays again, I pray for his recovery.
A few months ago at the NFL's annual owners meetings, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher talked about the plethora of circumstances that culminated in a Super Bowl XL win – chief among them were timing, luck and health.
In the wake of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident Monday morning, Pittsburgh lost all three for the start of this season.
And while we've learned that Roethlisberger's injuries don't appear life- or season-threatening – facial fractures, a broken jaw and teeth and skin lacerations on his head and knees – the accident still represents a serious blow to the Steelers' perch atop the AFC. The one player Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose is Roethlisberger, be it for a few months or an entire season. And the last thing a defending Super Bowl champion needs is for its 24-year-old centerpiece to have a cloud of second-guessing hanging over his head.
But it's a safe bet that's what Roethlisberger and the Steelers are in for now. If the injuries are no worse than the broken jaw and facial fractures, he probably is out eight weeks. But one team trainer said Monday night there likely won't be a way to come up with a realistic timetable for days – and maybe weeks.
"Eight weeks could be three months, depending on the extent of the injuries," he said. "If he's got a fractured eye socket (as one Pittsburgh television station reported) and a broken nose and jaw, that's serious pain for a sustained period. [Players] with broken jaws can lose weight and strength, too. Then you wonder about the mental side of it. How is he going to feel? There are a lot of different things [to deal with]."
What's certain is Roethlisberger will be idled for some length of time – not an insignificant point for a player who was expected to shoulder more responsibility in the offense this season, something in the neighborhood of 30 pass attempts a game. But that would have depended on some chemistry issues being sorted out in training camp, which isn't expected to be a small task with Antwaan Randle El being replaced by rookie wide receiver Santonio Holmes. The offensive line's health and a void at the power running back position – now that Jerome Bettis has retired – remain issues, too.
Certainly, some of those things can be worked out even if Roethlisberger misses all of training camp. But what can't be guaranteed is how the unit will function if he's forced to return without significant training camp work. And lest we forget, the first half of the Steelers' schedule is brutal, with seven of the first eight games coming against teams expected to be playoff or Super Bowl contenders: Miami, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, San Diego, Kansas City, Atlanta and Denver.
Clearly, Pittsburgh will have to be primed and ready from Day 1 if it's going to survive into a bit more cushy second half of the season. The divisional schedule doesn't look any better – not with Cleveland improving its roster and Baltimore expected to be far less inept on offense with Steve McNair at the helm.
Now add to the mix the questions and attention that are bound to be focused on Roethlisberger all season long, and you have multiple mental and physical hoops he'll be jumping through. So while Monday's news was ultimately positive, the long-term team prognosis is ominous at best.
Charles Robinson is the national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnEOLk2m.wVq3R6X3uGFzXdDubYF?slug=cr-steelers061206&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Thanks for that update on Big Ben. Yikes, that's sobering news.
LOL. ---- "ominous at best"
LOL......... what's worse than ominous? This guy is a genius. (sarcasm off)
;-)
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