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Bires: Ben's transgressions could cost Batch
By: Mike Bires
Beaver County Times
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1501/2010/may/05/bires-bens-transgressions-could-cost-batch.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sport ... batch.html[/url]
Wednesday May 5, 2010 12:11 AM
PITTSBURGH — Lost in all the fallout from Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension is the fate of Charlie Batch.
It may be that because of Roethlisberger’s escapades that Batch may be out of a job in October.
Think about it.
When Roethlisberger returns from his suspension — whether it’s six games or if it’s reduced to four as expected — the Steelers could have four quarterbacks on their roster. That’s one too many.
So one will have to go.
And who might be the unlucky QB who’s told his services are no longer needed?
Even though there was speculation before the NFL Draft that Roethlisberger might be traded, he wasn’t. So he’s staying despite his seedy reputation.
If the season-opener were played today, Byron Leftwich would be the starter. He was a solid backup to Roethlisberger in 2008, and was acquired the moment the Steelers caught wind of the severity of Roethlisberger’s suspension.
Last weekend at minicamp, coach Mike Tomlin quickly put Leftwich in with the first-team offense. So it makes sense that Leftwich, 30, will be here for the long haul.
Running the second-team offense at minicamp was third-year pro Dennis Dixon.
He’s still a project, but the Steelers like his progress and potential. So he’s not going anywhere.
That means that Batch, who’s 35 and injury prone, will eventually have to go, even though the Steelers will have to incur the remainder of his 2010 contract.
On one hand, it would be sad to see Batch leave ... especially if it is because of Roethlisberger’s transgressions.
Batch is such a high-character guy.
He does so much for the community, especially in the Homestead area where he was born and attended high school.
Batch oversees the Best of the Batch Foundation, which offers after-school programs and a basketball league for kids in disadvantaged communities.
On April 14 when Dan Rooney, the Steelers chairman emeritus and the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, received the AFL-CIO Citizen of the Year award, he refused comment regarding Roethlisberger. But Rooney did have high praise for Batch.
“I think players have to be special. I think we have a special man right here with Charlie, as far as what he does, what his foundation does for children in this community,” Rooney said. “I think that that’s the way they should be.”
Over the past six years, Roethlisberger and Batch have forged a close relationship.
But now, Roethlisberger may be the guy who ends Batch’s pro career.
A lot could happen between now and the Oct. 17 game against Cleveland, a game Roethlisberger may be allowed to play in.
Injuries happen, even in the preseason. Just ask Batch, who missed the entire 2004 and 2008 seasons due to injury.
But if all the Steeler quarterbacks stay healthy, that will eventually spell doom for one of them ... and it will likely be Charlie Batch who’ll be odd man out.
Mike Bires can be reached online at [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]
By: Mike Bires
Beaver County Times
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1501/2010/may/05/bires-bens-transgressions-could-cost-batch.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sport ... batch.html[/url]
Wednesday May 5, 2010 12:11 AM
PITTSBURGH — Lost in all the fallout from Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension is the fate of Charlie Batch.
It may be that because of Roethlisberger’s escapades that Batch may be out of a job in October.
Think about it.
When Roethlisberger returns from his suspension — whether it’s six games or if it’s reduced to four as expected — the Steelers could have four quarterbacks on their roster. That’s one too many.
So one will have to go.
And who might be the unlucky QB who’s told his services are no longer needed?
Even though there was speculation before the NFL Draft that Roethlisberger might be traded, he wasn’t. So he’s staying despite his seedy reputation.
If the season-opener were played today, Byron Leftwich would be the starter. He was a solid backup to Roethlisberger in 2008, and was acquired the moment the Steelers caught wind of the severity of Roethlisberger’s suspension.
Last weekend at minicamp, coach Mike Tomlin quickly put Leftwich in with the first-team offense. So it makes sense that Leftwich, 30, will be here for the long haul.
Running the second-team offense at minicamp was third-year pro Dennis Dixon.
He’s still a project, but the Steelers like his progress and potential. So he’s not going anywhere.
That means that Batch, who’s 35 and injury prone, will eventually have to go, even though the Steelers will have to incur the remainder of his 2010 contract.
On one hand, it would be sad to see Batch leave ... especially if it is because of Roethlisberger’s transgressions.
Batch is such a high-character guy.
He does so much for the community, especially in the Homestead area where he was born and attended high school.
Batch oversees the Best of the Batch Foundation, which offers after-school programs and a basketball league for kids in disadvantaged communities.
On April 14 when Dan Rooney, the Steelers chairman emeritus and the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, received the AFL-CIO Citizen of the Year award, he refused comment regarding Roethlisberger. But Rooney did have high praise for Batch.
“I think players have to be special. I think we have a special man right here with Charlie, as far as what he does, what his foundation does for children in this community,” Rooney said. “I think that that’s the way they should be.”
Over the past six years, Roethlisberger and Batch have forged a close relationship.
But now, Roethlisberger may be the guy who ends Batch’s pro career.
A lot could happen between now and the Oct. 17 game against Cleveland, a game Roethlisberger may be allowed to play in.
Injuries happen, even in the preseason. Just ask Batch, who missed the entire 2004 and 2008 seasons due to injury.
But if all the Steeler quarterbacks stay healthy, that will eventually spell doom for one of them ... and it will likely be Charlie Batch who’ll be odd man out.
Mike Bires can be reached online at [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]
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