Ward on Santonio

15-Apr-2010

Ward 'discouraged' by Big Ben's actions
Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said he is "discouraged" by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's off-the-field conduct and called some recent incidents "unfortunate" for the Steelers organization.

"I'm not really disappointed in anything," Ward said this afternoon. "I'm discouraged a little bit because the Pittsburgh Steelers come with a high level. Expectations are high. It's unfortunate that our organization has to be in the news like this."

Ward's comments came during a brief media interview session following a question and answer period with 40 student/athletes as part of a Gatorade promotion at North Hills High School.

Ward also indicated that, if the Steelers win the Super Bowl, he would retire after the season. During his 40-minute Q&A session with North Hills football players, the 13-year veteran said his career would be complete with another ring.

"If I win three Super Bowls, I'm retiring," Ward said. "I'm telling you that right now."

Ward said, if he had his way, troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes would still be on the Steelers, but he supports any actions taken by the Rooney family and/or the NFL.

"It's an unfortunate incident and I would have loved for him to stay, but it's not my team," Ward said. "Who am I to question Mr. Rooney and the Pittsburgh Steelers? They have been doing this thing for a lot of years. They felt it was best for Santonio and best for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whatever choices they make, they have our support."

Ward, the team's all-time leading receiver, is confident his teammates can fill the void created when Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft pick.

"It's unfortunate that Santonio is no longer with us," Ward said. "(But) Mike Wallace had a tremendous rookie year and now he's going to get more opportunities to become that guy. ...Yes, we're young. But, at the same time, that's my job as a leader. I've been in this game a long time and I've seen a lot of players come and go. I'm up for the challenge."

Ward, speaking publicly about Roethlisberger for the first time since Georgia officials decided not to pursue any charges in the alleged sexual assault last month of a 20-year-old college student, said the Steelers' expectations remain the same.

"One thing about us is that we're a close-knit family," he said. "We are going to rally behind each other and support each other. Whatever decision that Mr. Rooney or the league makes, we are going to abide by it and move on. It's not going to change the way we approach things. It's not going to change the expectation level. Our goal is still to win the Super Bowl."




psycho4steelers says: April 15, 2010 at 9:44 pm

ART II ARE YOU SERIOUS????
Alright, one disciplinary step left before the Ben situation is laid to rest. Unlike what I said earlier, the Steelers and Rooneys chumped out. Handing down disciplinary action via the NFL is chicken S#!T. The Steelers, MY STEELERS, OUR STEELERS, had an opportunity to stand up and be a model. Instead they followed the likes of Jerry Jones and Al Davis, letting the NFL take action and calling it their own. Sad. After 30+ years of following this franchise, this remarkable franchise, I never thought that Id be embarrassed by the Rooneys. Yet here I sit, dumbfounded and a little dazed His sentence is to run concurrent? JESUS!!!! Im no saint but tell me this..Are his parents proud of his off-field behavior? If they are Ill shut up. Somehow I doubt they are. To allow this miscreant to skate by hurts. But the Rooneys are smart I guess, they know us die hards will root for the B&G, buy tickets and come to watch the Team. Ben is a teammate. We will watch, root, cheer and jeer. We will scream with delight at a last minute pass T.D. and groan with a last minute sack. We are predictable. We are fans. And today I too threw up a little in my mouth.

Alan



14-APR-2010

TERRY ON BEN AND 3-4 GAME SUSPENSION?

Well Terry came out and said what we all know.....Ben is an idiot off the field. I believe that with the turmoil Terry had in Pittsburgh during and after his career, he has earned a right to publicly criticize Ben. When "The man" tells you to shape up and fly right you should listen Ben. And it appears that over the first couple of weeks of the season Ben will have an opportunity to reflect. Barring appeals and B.S. that is. If hes smart he wont let his staff argue that it should be anything less than that. Since they haven't been there for him in the bars and casinos they shouldn't be there for him now. Having said that, remember the 2004 season? Tommy Maddox went 2-1 and Ben stepped in to go 13-0. We went to the AFC title game where youth reared its ugly head. The following year Maddox went 0-2, Charlie Batch went 2-0 and Ben went 9-3, leading the Burgh to its 5th title. See that? 3 starters, one goal. And success. If Ben sits 4 games this year we have Dixon and Batch (that same Batch). Both have already shown they can get the job done, if even for only a limited amount of starts. The Steelers will be O.K. at that position. Its the O-line and D that need to be addressed. The Steelers need to beef up the O-line and re-tool the secondary. It will help having Troy back, but that is not enough. Look for the Steelers to pick a safety in the draft and acquire a corner and O-lineman via free agency/trade.

Although somewhat tarnished, The Steelers will recover from this. Eventually. Time to focus on the future, we'll see what Goodell does and then move forward accordingly.

Alan



13-APR-2010
Ben, Ben, Ben. Really? A role model? To my kids?
Unbelievable. I'm almost speechless. Almost. This freekin' yahoo. When he stood up there looking every bit the backwoods neanderthal that he is with that mullet. And said that he wants to be a role model for my kids? Unbelievable. When those words spewed out from his play caller, that same, foul, lying mouth the poor girl in Georgia had to fight off, I was appalled.

Websters on line dictionary defines a role model as:
Role Model:
Noun:1. Someone worthy of imitation; "every child needs a role model".
Synonyms within Context: Role Model (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Prototype Verb: be an example, be a role model, set an example; set a copy. Phrase: a precedent embalms a principle; exempla sunt odiosa.

Is Ben worthy of imitation? I would hope not. Although he could be an example. As in, "Billy if you act the fool like that troll in Pittsburgh, all your hard work will be for naught." Hopefully Goodell will be consistent with his handling of Ben as he has been with other miscreants. Its in the commissioners hands now, so lets see. Will he (the commissioner) set the example, and actually become the definition of "role model" after todays meeting? We'll see. I hope so. Its time some order was restored to the Steelers. Hopefully this chapter can be closed now and we can move on.
I wish that young lady in Milledgeville the best and hope that the NFL's actions will not further victimize her. Don't disapoint us commissioner, set the example and be a role model.

Alan







STEELERS TRADE SANTONIO HOLMES TO JETS
for fifth rounder in 2010 draft.
Just got up for midnight snack and saw this news. Its 1235am 12-APR-2010 NFL network Jason La Canfora confirms trade.
Its nice to see the Steelers are doing something about at least one of the loose cannons on the squad. To tell the truth that even in the haze I'm in at this hour I am quite happy to hear this. I'll sleep like a baby tonight. It's a step, Pittsburgh, towards cleaning the mud off of the Black and Gold. Nice work. Its been awhile since I could say this, but I 'm proud of the Steelers tonight.
Alan
1258am 12-APR-2010





SANTONIO HOLMES (S.H.)
I was pissed when S.H. (Shit Head #10) was signed. He's been suspect since he was drafted, (remember the pot incident?). When they did sign him I felt a twinge in my stomache, I was worried. He hid his behavior a couple of years from the masses but eventually the world sees him for what he is. And as far as the running back from Oregon, (whose name I will not commit to memory) that the Steelers are talking to? ..God help us. The Raiders East is approaching fast. I strongly hope that Tomlin and the Rooneys take control. Restore Pittsburgh to the CLASS of the NFL! Check out nicepickcowher.com he's why I tried this.


SANTONIO GETTING SUSPENDED? WE'RE NOT THAT LUCKY
Sources: Santonio Holmes facing four-game suspension
Posted by Mike Florio on April 10, 2010 11:24 AM ET
Late Friday afternoon brought good news for some of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the report from ESPN that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won't be charged with sexual assault in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Now for the bad news or more like it........the expected news.

Multiple sources have advised us (MSN/ESPN) that receiver Santonio Holmes is facing a four-game suspension under the league's substance-abuse policy. It's presently unknown whether Holmes tested positive for a prohibited substance or committed some other violation of the policy, such as missing a required test. It's our current understanding that the internal NFL appeals process has not been finalized.

Under the substance-abuse policy, a four-game suspension comes after multiple violations. The fact that Holmes, the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII, is facing a four-game suspension means that Holmes previously has paid a fine in the amount of three seventeenths of his base salary (i.e., three game checks).

Though we're not aware of the specific identity of the substance involved, Holmes has a history with marijuana. In 2008, he was cited for marijuana possession, prompting the Steelers to suspend him for one game with pay. Recently, he posted on Twitter a message indicating an intention to "wake n bake," slang for smoking marijuana upon getting out of bed.

Holmes also has recently been accused of throwing a drink in the face of a woman at an Orlando nightclub. The alleged victim has both sued Holmes and pursued criminal liability, after indicating on the scene that she did not want to press charges. His lawyer has denied the accusations, recently claiming that a witness has signed a sworn statement taking responsibility for throwing the drink. The suspension Holmes faces arose independently of this alleged incident.

What a piece of work this idiot is........GET RID OF HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!


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10-APR-2010
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