A controversy waiting to happen!?

 What if Leftwich gets a chance to play and shines? The perfect storm scenario would go something like this...Roethlesberger starts the game and does his typical thing as of late...take sacks, fumble, miss open receivers and throws picks. Tomlin goes with him because of some prescription he has announced to the media, team, and fans and holds fast. Let's say he has committed to playing Big Ben for first quarter and one half and the above has happened. ENTER: Leftwich and he's sharp as a tack..throws a couple of TDS, avoids some sacks with neat roll  out of pockets  and quick releases  or out of bounds tosses. The O line looks great in front of Byron and the running game picks up because he has the opponent's D off balance with his passing attack. Fast Willie and Moore have been held to 2.0 yds per att. behind Ben, but now behind Byron they're ripping off 5-6.0 yd.  a carry! Byron finishes the day with 65% completion 3 TDS and 250 yds passing! The running game has piled up 165 combined yds...most of which was done while Leftwich was at the helm. Oh...what to do? What would the fans cry for...what type of conflict in the locker room? What kind of  headache manifested in Tomlins weary head trying to figure out what to do. Even if its a no brainer who starts what happens when or if Big Ben struggles...do you have a short leash? After all its win or go home...no tommorrows! If you stay with Ben and lose while he struggles without giving Byron a chance, how does your team feel about it...can it be reconciled? My lips purse with a smile of ironic anticipation...after all this contigency becoming a reality is a very real possibility. Or do you play it safe and avoid the whole episode playing out  by sitting Byron and playing the overhyped, overpaid, over valued, under performing Big Ben Roethlesberger the whole game? We shall see...I say play the back-up...even if the day plays out as described, if Big Ben is a leader that type of performance by Leftwich should ignite a fire under his behind and have him dig deep to tap into his greatness...he's paid like a great one and  after all, don't all the great ones want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line? GO STEELERS!!

George, once again, a brilliant and prescient analysis.  You nailed it! 

I'll take competence over a failing "gunslinger" any day.  Ben is like the problem child with a brain impairment whom everyone is afraid to criticize because it’s not politically correct. 

Have we already forgotten Ben's Superbowl interception that nearly cost us the game?  Doesn’t anyone notice how much better we play with Leftwich or Batch?  Are we so sentimental about Ben’s first year that we can’t see the elephant in the room? 

Ask any successful money manager: it is always better to cut your losses than stick with a proven loser.

How badly do we want to lose?  We have two great backup QBs who should be starters. 

I noticed this weekend that even the cabbies in Pittsburgh are now doubting Ben.  When this happens, you know it’s time to change things.  There isn’t a more scientific indicator than that!

Ben, please stay down!

 He is a Big Drama Queen, Big Ben, right? 

And the thumbs up...oh my garsh...seriously?

Now calm down, don't think I'm being evil.  But we've seen video of the Buffalo Bills player, the Detriot player, the Penn State player being air bagged and immobile on the field, this wasn't that, thank goodness for Ben and Ben's family.

  His legs seemed to be working on the field, and his arm and his trunk... It would appear the team Doc called it to Tomlin right out of the gate when Ben was down, right after the trainers got out there...answer the trainers questions and don't force them to bring out the cart if you don't need it. People will worry...

Besides that, there have been like 27 other sacks that he should have been carted off after, and probably more to come.  In fact he should probably just ride on and off the field on the cart each series just for safety given the volume of sacks, hurries, and scrambles he's endured this season. 

But somehow it always feels like the guy who claims "the media creates all this attention" about his injuries somehow embellishes things a bit more than the situation warrants.  Maybe that's part of the "maturity" I keep hearing is happening to him this season.  Maybe not.

And talk about cliched.  Of course he'll skip a week of much, much needed practice when he could be improving accuracy, testing his cognition regarding plays and play recognition (is he off or is it always the receivers) and just plain old reps.  And of course he'll sputter as he has been all season and of course we'll want Byron in and of course Tomlin will be blamed for playing him too soon after his head injury...of course...of course.... 

I'm happy Big DQ can "make plays with his feet"...but I'd also like to see him "execute plays from the playbook", and that means relying on your teammates to do their thing and be where they're suppose to be.  Someone hasn't always been on the same page prior to Sundays 2nd quarter, and I can only guess it's the guy who isn't practicing.

 Got to love Steeler Fans, doom and gloom even before the game starts. What if you get hit by Ben and his bike this week and don't even get to watch the game.

 I have an idea...why don't you go watch the whales swim or whatever it is yo do out there in Southern California. By the way don't forget to order your pizza loaded with pineapple and chicken slices while we doom and gloom Steeler fans watch our team beat your stupid Phillip Rivers  up and down the field. A bold prediction if you consider we're gonna do it with an overhyped hypochondriac like Big Ben!  You're probably one of the fools that think this guy is great! Obviously, you're not too  sharp or you would have got the gist of my post! I'm willing to bet you'll toss River's QB rating to boast of your confidence in your Bolts TIP: (that's the Chargers)...a 500 team! Let me repeat that a 500 TEAM!! And playing in the weakest division in the NFL! Come sunday  we're gonna show you the difference between a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM AND YOUR TEAM. Ho-hum...this is boring to have to illustrate the obvious to a casual fan like you. I hope Leftwich gets to play...so we can really show you how outclassed you are. NOW...HOW'S THAT FOR DOOM AND GLOOM, MORON?

 Yeah, all us charger fans get Steeler tats on our shoulders, you are worry over something that's not even happen yet.

 Wow....who feels like the moron now?  You just ripped a fellow fan a new one.  Pretty messed up Charger fan with a Steelers tat on his shoulder.  You might want to check your facts before you spew.  I have an idea....why don't you go outside and get some fresh air and relax?  Put your Philly Cheese Steak down and listen up...

That's right, the Chargers are a .500 team.  And yes, we do have a crappy division.  Last time I checked there are no records in the playoffs...do or die.  And won't you feel that much worse when we come into your backyard and ruin your season just like we did last week to the Colts. 

If you want to talk about back up players, let's do it.  Face the fact that you WANT Leftwich to play because you know Berger is a liability.  We will be playing with 2nd and 3rd string running backs and will still dominate the Steelers.  We've played without Shawn Merriman all year and have still managed to do very well defensively.  All the Steeler fans are on edge because they know that the Chargers are going to be a tough team to deal with and they feel it necessary to downplay the game as if it is not even going to be a contest.  Even Tomlin showed respect in his interview....maybe you ought to follow the leader.

I love it when people talk about "class" and the haul off and start calling people morons and insulting whatever they can think of.....however, everyone is entitled to their own opinion....I guess.

Feather: By the way, as a Steeler fan-we reserve the right to dissagree during the week, but on the weekends when it counts, we are together, dumb ash. You are a moron by yourself.

Crappy division, and still .500 yet you want to convince reasonable people the Chargers are a dynasty in the making?

And class.... you don't have class so don't expect classy responses to your B.S.

As for your back ups comment: every team has injuries this time of year, maroon of the year. Teams that win the Super Bowl manage injuries with deph..

Got Deph?

Nah, look left...you know what to do.

 OneChuck:  I love your "Steeler Fan Code of Conduct"....what do you guys have special rights to disagree during the week.  All I gotta say is you have your foot in your mouth because you got called out using your own words and now you're embarassed.  We don't talk smack on our own players, we support them 100% all the time - not just on the weekends like you part-timers as you say.  What a pathetic excuse for a Steeler fan.  You don't even live in the city Metro boy.  Pathetic....

As for class and name calling...as I recall (and if you know how to read) I didn't start the name calling...I defended it.  If you read my posts, I mentioned that name calling is a weakness....one trait that you also possess, obviously.  I haven't dropped one name on someone in this forum other than the fact of asking the question back at the guy who feels like the moron now?

You have a certain draw towards calling out people for their "sexual preferences" (to keep it clean for the forum) in many of your posts....I'm starting to think with your obsession with this and your profile pic and you're vicious name calling that you are on the insecure side not only about yourself but about your team as well.  I for one, am not even a Steelers fan but I'll still say they are a good team.  JMO...and I'm entitled.   

As for injuries, I never said every team doesn't have them...just stating the facts.  And I believe you meant Depth when you wrote "deph".  And did I ever mention the word dynasty?  You're just digging and have poor responses.  Check your facts Chuck...Enough said...

And as for your BRILLIANT quote at the end of all of your posts...I do know what to do.  Look left and blow you a bye bye kiss after the Chargers smoke the Steelers. 

 I think we should really worry about getting hit by Vincent Jackson ;-)

 I, as a Charger fan, would LOVE to see Leftwich on Sunday. Big Ben, although not having his greatest season, still scares me, especially in the clutch.

Looking forward to a good game. One of your writers called us (Chargers) a "weak opponent". That's cool, we only have won five in a row and just sent the league MVP home packing. If your team and fans treat us as a "weak opponent" it could spell trouble.

I don't expect the Bolts to score tons of points and rack up big yards. I just want to keep it close and have a chance or two at the end. At the same time, I don't see the Steelers scoring many points or compiling big yards either.

Despite outgaining us 2-to-1 seven weeks ago, we held the Steelers without a TD. Yes, the ref may have blown that last second Polamolu TD. We were actually "weak" seven weeks ago, but not right now.

I respect your team, especially the defense, which is flat-out filthy and nasty. Hope we can block Harrison , Woodley and all the other blitz schemes you'll be throwing at us.

Looking forward to a tough, physical, close game. May the better team win!

FRIGHTENINGLIGHTNINGBOLTS

 Beantown:  Good call, I'd worry about Ben too on his bike after that crash he had.....

Gotta love the news from Charger land this week:

Top receiver Vincent Jackson gets arrested for DUI.

LT confirms torn tendon & is "doubtful" for Sunday.

Something else doubtful...a Charger win.

 Jackson is still playing, lame move on his part.  They haven't gotten results from the blood test.  Not saying he's not guilty though,...

 LT in Steeler fan's opinion (according to this forum) is a "non-factor" and is "way over-rated" so that shouldn't be an advantage in Steelers eyes, unless you are one that gives LT the respect he deserves...he's one of the greatest and his stats don't lie.  Just like any other running back who has been in the league as long as he has....you're going to have injuries, especially later in your career.   

Sproles, Hester and Bennett will run around the Steelers defense and Rivers will pick the secondary apart. 

 The saying is that defense wins championships and you guys have a great defense (don't get me wrong) however, the Chargers defense is playing at the top of it's game as well.  When you compare O....no contest.  We have tons more depth on the attack than the Steelers.  Ever since the bus retired the dynamics of the Steelers offense has suffered.  Berger makes bad decisions when pressured and I know there will be turnovers on his behalf.  We kept him from scoring a touchdown in the last meeting and our defense wasn't playing to NEARLY the caliber it is playing to today.   

Looking forward to the battle...may the better team win.  And on the behalf of both the Chargers and the Steelers, let's hope that the officials stay out of the outcome of the game.  I don't want to hear excuses on either side of the ball....just pure football. 

 Feather, I am new to this forum and I am certainly not here to call names be derogitory. But I do have a question. I have great respect for LT, he is a great player.. in my opinion one of the greatest ever. He won't be available or at least won't be 100% for Sunday. But you still think that your running backs are going to run all over Pittsburgh??? I would call that extremely optomistic thinking.

NOBODY has run all over the Steelers and I really don't see that changing this week. And as good a season as Rivers has had, he was anemic against Pittsburgh the last time he saw them. Sure, they are going to change ther protections and copy some of the things that other teams have done to slow down the pass rush in hopes of giving him time to "pick apart" the secondary. The wonderful thing is that Coach Lebeau has had an extra week to work in his laboratory to come up with things Mr. Rivers hasn't seen yet. We will get to him, and Sproles (who had an awesome game last week) will not see the holes he was seeing last week. The Steelers are not Indy, we actually play defense. And last I heard we were the NUMBER #1 Defense. Enough said!

It is great you support your team, as all great fans should. I have no problem with that. I just think you may be wishing on a star a little. Good luck and I look forward to a great game.

GO STEELERS!!!