Ok, my man George has already picked up on this rumor, and flying around the net I was able to come across it, and John Fedko, sports anchor from WPXI in Pittsburgh wrote about it, as it’s the Steelers getting an offer for Ben Roethlisberger from the Rams:
If Goodell does not issue a league punishment, the Steelers could issue their own, Channel 11 Sports anchor John Fedko said. There’s also talk that the Steelers and the league may work together to figure out what kind of punishment Roethlisberger could get. The speculation is there could be a two- to four-game suspension, Fedko said.
Another rumor circulating on the Internet, according to Fedko, is that the St. Louis Rams offered the Steelers this year’s first overall draft pick and a No. 1 pick next year for Roethlisberger.
Now, if this in fact is true, A: would the Steelers really consider it? and if so B: Would they do it? Could you imagine the Steelers with the first overall pick? I would think they would target Sam Bradford, then hope the Rams stink again in 2010. Of course there’s a rumor the Rams are interested in the Dolphins WR Ted Ginn Jr., which makes sense he’s on the trade block after the Dolphins got WR Brandon Marshall this morning for two second-round picks.
Well Steeler Nation – give me your feedback:
Would you trade Ben to the Rams for This years #1 and their first round pick next year?
And the results are in! With 261 votes, 56% of you said Yes, you would trade Ben to the Rams for this year’s #1 and their first round pick next year.
18 Comments
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Rob
April 14, 2010 at 11:16 am
This is all fine, but still you need a decent QB. You can have a 100 1st round picks, but no QB is no good. I say trade him to KC for a swap with Cassel. He has shown he can be decent in a good system. Steelers have a good system and KC doesn’t
Rob
April 14, 2010 at 11:17 am
I also don’t think this is anymore then a rumor. Ed Bouchetter mentioned this on WEAE yesterday as a concept and not as a rumor or “news.” I think this is where the idea has come from.
George H
April 14, 2010 at 11:28 am
Thanks for the shout.
Ben is too much of a force on the field to trade away. If the Steelers would of won the SuperBowl last year this wouldnt even be a consideration, but the Steelers didnt win and now we are left with this. Its crazy how fans forget how much he has done for the team and yeah are we compromising our morals for rooting for Ben? I say no… Ben wasnt charged. Do I think Ben was in the wrong with these accusations? Probably a little bit, but as a fan I want to see Ben on the field and winning games for us.
Two first round draft picks for Ben is definitely intriguing. 4 first round picks in 2 years would be trememndous, but I have said it so many times I must sound like a broken record… Great QBs win SuperBowls! I wouldnt trade Ben for 3 1st rd picks for mulitple reasons. 1.)Draft Picks are unproven commodites that could fizzle out. 2.)The cost of signing 4 first round draft picks would surpass the amount of money it would be to keep Ben on board. 3.)When Ben Roethlisberger is on the field the Steelers Nation knows that we are never out of the game. Ben is one of the most clutch players ever; plain and simple.
Its fun to specualte what the Steelers could do with 4 first round picks but its more fun to win games and the Steelers have the team to win a SuperBowl now with Big Ben under center.
Craig
April 14, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Not only would I do it I would call St. Louis. Offer Ben and our #2 this year (could even throw in one or two comp picks as 10 draft choices are not making this roster) for thier first round (first overall) and second round (#33 overall) pick.
However I would NOT draft Bradford. Instead I draft Okung #1 play him at RT this year then flip-flop him and Starks next year assuming he pans out. At #18 I look to take either Pouncy or Iupati. I have solve the O-line problem. I would give Dixon a chance to be the QB this year as he looked good vs Baltimore last year with only 1 day preparation. Can even pick up Bulger to be back-up. If he doesn’t pan out we stink anyway and have a high pick next year to get a QB (or could use pick #33 on McCoy or draft a QB in later round).
Adam
April 14, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Id think about it but drafting a quarterback is a 50/50 toss up and the bottom line is if you do not have a elite quarterback you can not survive.
George H
April 14, 2010 at 2:25 pm
One crazy scenario would be to accept the trade and draft the linemen like Craig said. Perhaps in the 2nd or 3rd round draft Tebow!
DrGeorge
April 14, 2010 at 3:03 pm
The Rams’ trade offer may be a rumor or even false, but it is almost certain that the Steelers have been on the phone trying to work a deal with someone. See Bob Smizik’s insightful article below and at the Post-Gazette web site. The Steelers are clearly distancing themselves from Ben and are ready to deal for reasonable value.
If a deal is made, I would use the picks and the savings under Ben’s $65 million contract to rebuild the Defense and the O-line this year and upgrade the QB position later. It is possible to win the Super Bowl with a B or B+ quarterback behind a solid O-line and a top tier defense. In fact, it was done most recently by the Ravens. Smizik argues the Steelers would rely on Dixon at QB this year and rediscover the run. That would be a far better strategy than drafting Bradford #1. Retooling the defense should come first.
Mike
April 19, 2010 at 8:06 am
Dr. George,
Sorry for this rather late response to your comment. My family and I were on vacation for the last 10 days.
I have to disagree with your assesment that a Super Bowl can be won with a B or B+ QB. The Ravens won their Super Bowl in what 2000 or 2001? That was almost 10 years ago. Look at the recent Super Bowl winning teams and you will see that the team with a true franchise QB won. Bres, P. Manning, Brady, E. Manning and of course Rothlisberger. Now it goes without saying that as good as these guys are, football is the ultimate team game that requires all aspects peaking at the right time. So, yes, getting back to a power running game to some extent is a great idea and seeing a more opportunistic defense would be great, but lets not forget that we didn’t win a Super Bowl until we too had a franchsie QB. A B/B+ quarterback like O’Donnell and Stewart couldn’t and didn’t get it done even with a smash mouth running game and dominating defense.
Adam
April 14, 2010 at 4:39 pm
The more im listening im not that opposed. I dont hate ben but im a fan of the TEAM not one person. If we had nothing but midgets out there i would not care as long as we win. That being said if our defense is ferocious and we get the run game going strong we can and will win. Think why we lost last year, come on punt/kickoff returns, were better than that. Not to mention we couldnt do poop in the red zone. Not wanting it but no Ben does not mean no hope
David Huss
April 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I agree that Dixon looked okay, and would like to see what he can do. Use the picks to shore up the rest of the offense (get an awesome o-line going) and let our running game shine again.
Ben is just too dumb and obviously doesn’t care that much about the Steelers. Even if he is a good player, having your lead man act so badly in public is demoralizing for the rest of the team. We need a better leader who respects being a Steeler.
DrGeorge
April 14, 2010 at 6:09 pm
In the last decade, half the quarterbacks who got to the Super Bowl game were well below top tier and some were plainly average QBs.
For the record, these are the QBs who took their teams to the Super Bowl since 2000:
Roethlisberger (069), Brady (0458), K. Warner (0029), P. Manning ((07\10), E. Manning (08), M. Hasselbeck (06), Brad Johnson (03), R. Gannon (03), Trent Dilfer (01), Kerry Collins (01), S. McNair (00), D. Breese (10) and R. Grossman (07).
If we use Elway, Aikman, Bradshaw, Montana, Marino, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach as examples of Grade A, only T. Brady, P. Manning, and maybe Roethlisberger would join them in that top tier. The rest of these QBs are Grade B, and Grossman, Collins, and Dilfer are B- or maybe Grade C.
An average NFL quarterback can succeed on a sound team; they must simply eliminate mistakes (conservative play calling) and trust their rushing game, defense, and special teams to do their jobs.
Mike
April 19, 2010 at 8:22 am
Dr. George,
Silly me. I thought this whole time that WINNING the Super Bowl and not just getting there is the goal here. Take a good look at your list and you will see that all but 2 of your B/B+ QBs won it all. If you want to go to war with the likes of Hasselback, Grossman, Gannon and Collins as your field general even with great running games and great defenses then I will take that challenge any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Your point about elimnating mistakes is exactly the issue at hand. Great ones rarely make crucial mistakes. They find a way of getting it done. It will be a rarity that your list does. That’s why Johnson and Dilfer are the only two who did. And not to take credit away from Brad Johnson, but one HUGE reason the Bucs won that year was that Gruden knew the entire Raiders play book. They won that game before the kickoff.
I finish my point with this rhetorical question; Who won more titles, your B/B+ Neil O’Donnell or my franchise (albeit stupid and immature) Rothlisberger?
The Tony
April 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm
I dont know how you guys can even think about getting rid of Ben. Keep in mind with Kordell and Tommy Gun we had zero superbowl appereances. With Ben we have two rings and counting. Its simple we need to have Ben because he is a winner and a playmaker. It would be ludacris to think otherwise.
Angelo
April 14, 2010 at 11:22 pm
I’m really upset with Ben. He put himself in a bad position. I personally think the guy’s a big jerk but let me ask all of you this question, who were the Quarterback’s before BEN after Bradshaw retired? Here’s your answer: Cliff Stoudt, David Woodley, Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O’Donnel, Kordell Stewart, and Tommy Maddox. 7 QB’s in 20 years and some had there moments, but none of these guys can compare to Ben, not even close! Just ask the Dolphins and the Broncos how hard it is to replace a Franchise Quarterback. I wouldn’t trade Ben for 3 1st round picks let alone the 1st overall. How many QB’s have had the success that Ben has had in his first 6 years in the league. How many QB’S could have willed his Team to a Super Bowl Title in 08 with that Offensive Line. He took a beating and he still kept coming back for more! As a QB he has everything you would want: Tough in the pocket, great arm, can make all the throws, tough to bring down, good scrambler, big game performer, and is deadly throwing out of the pocket. The only knock on him is that sometimes he hangs onto the ball to long trying to make big plays. I think I can live with that, what I can’t live is Ben going to another team in his prime and finishing his career somewhere else !
George H
April 15, 2010 at 8:39 am
Angelo you are right on point. Once Ben goes out and starts winning games people will forget.
Another thing is I dont trust Tomlin on draft day. One reason the Steelers have been so successful is overwhelmingly having the best draft picks for years. Especially in the later rounds. Tomlin has shown me in two years that he hasnt been making the right picks. Of course theres a few excpetions but on his main body of work it has been subpar. I would also say this is a big reason why our special teams has been horrible. You put your young guys trying to make the team on ST, but if they arent even good enough to do that then you see what happens.
mark
April 15, 2010 at 10:42 am
You CANNOT trade Ben! Period, end of story! I am also dissappointed in Ben, but again, he is NOT a Rapist/Assaulter as no charges have been or will be filed. He is guilty of stupidity, not any thing else. How can anyone even entertain the thought of trading the best QB the Steelers have had in 30+ years? Does everyone have a short memory? We all can see how added top draft picks could resurrect an aging defense, but regardless of the thought that any “B” QB can get you to a Super Bowl, Ben has done it and won them. Dennis Dixon, Batch, Leftwich, Bulger or Bradford? Seriously, we are talking: Stoudt,Malone,Brister,Tomczak all over again. I will go along with whatever my team decides to do, they always seem to know best. But I am personnally against trading Ben.
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Kerry
April 17, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Trading Ben would be the mistake of the century. Their point was made when they removed Holmes….but Ben, no way.