"This game is almost like a playoff game. It's almost a must-win. I could see some players or teammates questioning, like 'It's just a concussion. I've played with a concussion before,'" Ward told Costas in an interview taped Saturday at the team's suburban-Baltimore hotel as a prelude to the Steelers-Ravens game.

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/7-on-7-Hines-Ward-cares-not-for-Big-Ben-s-brain?urn=fantasy,205547

Pittsburgh needed that game last night but Ben needs to live past 70 also.

"It's just a concussion"

That is a terrible thought or opinion to have on it. You are talking about a human being that had their brain messed up... I am sorry, but Ben made the right choice on this one. If it WAS a playoff game, maybe he would have played.

Maybe Hines should shut his mouth and play offensive line and help protect his quarterback a little better so he isn't taking 4 sacks a game.

Its more than just a concussion. Its his 4th concussion since 2006.

do you want him healthy for a mid season game against the Ravens or January(which, at this pace, doesn't look like you're going to get there)?

Dixon wasn't terrible last night

Another reason for me to hate Ward

Hines Ward is a rough dude but to expect his team mate to lie to the doctor is just crazy.

Hines Ward is such a douche.

Hines Ward is completely clueless. Obviously there is a culture of toughing it out in the NFL. I can understand when it comes to physical ailments... but when it comes to someones brain, it's a bit different. The NFL has downplayed the seriousness of concussions for so long that players still don't consider the ramifications of another blow to the head.

osu 45804 and gobuckeyes1 pretty much sum it up....

The decision to play dixon was made earlier in the week, they were just using it as a smoke screen

Whines Hard

Hines is wired a little differently.

If Arians would let Dixon run a touch they would've won the must have game.


1st rush.....40 yards called back on a play that wasn't part of the play, 2nd rush.....QB sneak 1st down, 3rd rush QB sneak 1st down, 4th rush awesome Vick-like TD.

Would we expect anything different from the dirtiest player in the game?

Where did Hines say he wasn't happy with Big Ben?

^That is basically what is being said by Ward about this situation. I don't think he means in general. Just not happy that Ben didn't lie to the doctors.

I disagree with Hines here. This means very little though. These guys are professionals and it won't affect their rapport. It's understandable that people are talking about it but I think it's being blown out of proportion.

Automatik wrote: Where did Hines say he wasn't happy with Big Ben?

Yeah....from that quote, he was saying "I could see some....". Which doesn't translate into personally being upset. From reading the entire link, you could probably assume he was to some degree because he was very guarded in his language (constantly making sure to use terms like "some players" and "they"), but the whole Ward-related link was more of blogger trying to make something out of very little.

And I could see some players questioning it, too. One of those big things about the NFL is it's pure macho mentality where if body parts aren't hanging off you by a thread, you're a pussy if you're not out there. I think the entire mentality around head injuries/trauma in the NFL needs to change, as you get the idea the vast majority of the players look at concussions as a minor oopsie when they can lead to dramatic long-term neurological consequences.

But well, this thread gives the little people a chance to take their shots at Ward. They're so cute.

Hines also made some comments after the game. He was complaining that none of the players knew about Big Ben not playing until saturday and that it was terrible for the team to be kept out on it..

LMAO..look at all the Steelers fans coming to his defense! That's cute too. If you can honestly watch this and believe Hines wasn't saying Ben should have played..then you are obviously in denial.

Damn you! I will pay Justin $12 to ban you!!!

I'm sure Hines did think so. Like I said, there is a macho vibe to the NFL where players look at things like concussions as far more minor than they really are. I'd guess that if the neurologists didn't lay the law down concerning this, Ben would likely have insisted on playing. I know he did a couple years back when he suffered one against Atlanta and then was playing the next week against the Raider. All I'm saying is that the only reason anyone cares about this is because some blogger is making it a news story.

FYI, from local sports talk radio today in Pittsburgh, it wasn't Ben's decision to sit out, Tomlin and Dr. Marone said no. Ben made an 11th hour plea to Tomlin to let him play and was denied. Again, another locker room blow up fueled by the media. BTW, your health and longevity of life is alot more important than a football game, good call by MT and the doctors to sit Ben.

Heretic wrote: All I'm saying is that the only reason anyone cares about this is because some blogger is making it a news story.

Well that blogger sure succeeded b/c that's all I've heard all day on ESPN! LMAO

GoChiefs wrote:

Heretic wrote: All I'm saying is that the only reason anyone cares about this is because some blogger is making it a news story.

Well that blogger sure succeeded b/c that's all I've heard all day on ESPN! LMAO

To be honest (and this has to do with a lot more than this "story"), I don't look as most of ESPN as being much more than the same sort of BS that I look at bloggers like this. Looking to make anything into a huge issue.

This is the network that turns Favre's yearly saga into 24/7 coverage, hypes Tebow as the best of all time because every decade needs a best of all time and has developed a love of shock commentators to blurt out any crazy statement that comes to mind in order to draw a reaction. This is a non-story, but give people a couple of days and they'll be comparing this to TO calling Garcia gay.

Well at least we know Big Ben will throw every pass to Hines Ward next week to show that they 'made up'.