Breaking News: Ben Roethlisberger will NOT play vs. Ravens on Sunday night

• killer_ewok

  

  This is NOT good. Dennis Dixon gets his first start of his career vs. the Ravens in a night game at Baltimore.
  
  http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2009/11/report_roethlisberger_out_vs_ravens.html
• darbypitcher22

  

  I hope the Ravens harrass Dixon all night
• Nate

  Oh my. Pittsburgh is in trouble.
• football71

  That sound you just heard was the line moving.
• killer_ewok

  

  http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4695497
  
  Palko will back up Dixon.
• thavoice

  O U C H.
  
  Bengals have the division wrapped up now.
  
  Wow. They said he was fine all week......but ya gotta wonder if that was the truth or not.
  
  Well.....that really lowers our expectations.
• jordo212000

  

  Good to see somebody in Pittsburgh pulled the plug on this. Concussions are a serious deal and too many players treat it like something minor.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Yikes....that is not good for Pittsburgh. It probably wouldn't matter against a bad team, but def a major problem against Bmore.
• sportsfix

  Baltimore will be bringing the heat on Dixon.
  This is going against an offensive line that has not protected big Ben so well.
• zebrafootball

  All will be good as long as the defense steps up. Dixon is a very mobile QB, he was good at Oregon and should be ok Sunday night .might just surprise a lot of people.
• Hesston

  

  Smart move by Steelers, I am not a Pitt fan but concuscions are serious stuff not to be messed with. Big Ben needs to take care of his health 1st
• seahawks rock

  the steelers are in big trouble now
• David St. Hubbins

  

  I think he'll do alright if they can get the running game going and he doesn't have to lead a last minute drive. If the line isn't getting it done in pass protection he should at least be a decent threat running if he has to.
• riggo33

  Baltimore better not overpursue on Dixon...
  
  or they will get burnt.... BAD
• Heretic

  

  Good decision. I'd rather not be taking chances with Ben's long-term health if I was part of their management. Concussions aren't anything to scoff at and it'd be for the best to wait until he's recovered to send him back out. Don't want another Brian Westbrook situation.
  
  As for the game, I'd agree with David St. Hubbins in that I'd only be uncomfortable with Dixon in a clutch late-game situation. There's been a number of situations in the NFL where an unknown commodity back-up has come in and been great in the short-term. You tell me that Dixon's starting for the rest of the year, I'd be nervous. You tell me that he's starting one game, I'm not sweating it.
• Strapping Young Lad

  

  *toilet flushing* Bye Bye Squeelers....
  
  They might be one of those turds that is hard to flush, but they'll go down eventually.....
• newarkcatholicfan

  

  I hope the Ravens take advantage of this huge break they are getting.
• killer_ewok

  

  Heretic wrote: Good decision. I'd rather not be taking chances with Ben's long-term health if I was part of their management. Concussions aren't anything to scoff at and it'd be for the best to wait until he's recovered to send him back out. Don't want another Brian Westbrook situation.
  
  As for the game, I'd agree with David St. Hubbins in that I'd only be uncomfortable with Dixon in a clutch late-game situation. There's been a number of situations in the NFL where an unknown commodity back-up has come in and been great in the short-term. You tell me that Dixon's starting for the rest of the year, I'd be nervous. You tell me that he's starting one game, I'm not sweating it.

  Totally agree. I am a little nervous about tomorrow night but you don't risk Ben's long-term health and if it's just a game that he misses...Dixon could go out there and play well enough to get the W if some other Steelers make some plays.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Perhaps the "Ben is going to play" chat all week has been an attempt to throw the ravens off their D game plan. Agreed that might work against some teams but not baltimore. However, with that being said baltimore's defense isn't quite what it used to be and they have not been able to stop the run as successfully this year as in the past. Shoud be interesting to see what comes out of this. This could be Dixon's breakout game. Remember prior to that knee injury he was the front runner (no pun intended) for the Heisman his senior year at Oregon.
• osu99

  When are the Steelers never well coached? They'll be okay.
• rock_knutne

  osu99 wrote: When are the Steelers never well coached?

  On special teams, especially kick coverage.
• rock_knutne

  I think this is a good move to sit Ben, he is the franchise and can't be risked, especially playing against thugs like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed who will take a shot if they can get one.
• David St. Hubbins

  

  ^^ I agree, the Ravens seem to have a knack for taking out the Steelers' quarterbacks.
• Swamp Fox

  I think that the Steelers are in big trouble without Ben. I agree that for the future of the franchise and looking beyond the immediate necessity of winning the Ravens game, it is probably better to sit him if there is any question about his health and availability to the Steelers later on this season, but "later on" is almost over and the Steelers could find themselves out of the mix. Whatever your opinions of the Steelers may be, it would be unusual to be entering the playoffs with the Steelers on the sidelines.
• krazie45

  

  Steelers fans could have hope for Dennis Dixon, until they remember that he comes from the same school/coach that produced Joey Harrington and Akili Smith......yikes!