Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Yo Cap? Address this OK?

And you think it's mere coincidence that the first meeting takes place in Pittsburgh without Ben who is 6-1 vs the Ravens at home?

So... the NFL and Goodell made Ben into a perceived monster in GA because they scheduled 5 prime time games for the upcoming season?

No stupid, they made him a monster in the court of public opinion when they suspended him.

Then, the NFL is guilty of EXPLOITING Ben's return for higher ratings when they schedule him in 5 prime time games.

If they didn't have us in any prime time games you would b!tch about that too....

I would say the scheduling of prime time games is the one think that the NFL did right. I could care less about exploiting Ben or whatever you think the motive is... the NFL shows games on TV and we usually get a few prime time games.

I don't see it as an "a-ha, gotcha" moment.

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

the NFL shows games on TV and we usually get a few prime time games.

Games 1-6 (Ben's original suspension) ALL 1 PM games.

Games 7-16 (If Ben serves full 6 games) five prime time games.

If you think that is also a mere coincidence, you too, are a fool.

It's exploitation of the Ben situation, period.

[proudpittsburgher]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

the NFL shows games on TV and we usually get a few prime time games.

Games 1-6 (Ben's original suspension) ALL 1 PM games.

Games 7-16 (If Ben serves full 6 games) five prime time games.

If you think that is also a mere coincidence, you too, are a fool.

It's exploitation of the Ben situation, period.

While I generally agree with you on this topic, they could have kept them off of primetime pre Ben's return because they thought the team wouldn't be good enough to gain an audience outside of Steelers fans. I don't think any of us really were confident in a 3-1 (should have been a 4-0) start without Ben. Can't imagine the execs would have either.

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

the NFL shows games on TV and we usually get a few prime time games.

Games 1-6 (Ben's original suspension) ALL 1 PM games.

Games 7-16 (If Ben serves full 6 games) five prime time games.

If you think that is also a mere coincidence, you too, are a fool.

It's exploitation of the Ben situation, period.

I'm not sure why you think you uncovered some gem with the NFL and their sponsors wanting to put the Steelers in prime time WITH Ben.

Who wants to watch the Pats, Saints, Colts, Chargers or Packers in prime time with their back up?

Look at our first 4 games...
ATL? nope.. first week is reserved for last years playoff teams.
Tennessee? Hmm.... nope.
Tampa? hell no.
Baltimore could have been prime time but remember, the Ravens b!tched about playing a late game so early in the season and begged for a 1PM.

You go ahead and use the prime time schedule as proof of "exploiting Ben"
I always thought the NFL was trying to exploit themselves every week since they put the games on TV.

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

the NFL shows games on TV and we usually get a few prime time games.

Games 1-6 (Ben's original suspension) ALL 1 PM games.

Games 7-16 (If Ben serves full 6 games) five prime time games.

If you think that is also a mere coincidence, you too, are a fool.

It's exploitation of the Ben situation, period.

While I generally agree with you on this topic, they could have kept them off of primetime pre Ben's return because they thought the team wouldn't be good enough to gain an audience outside of Steelers fans. I don't think any of us really were confident in a 3-1 (should have been a 4-0) start without Ben. Can't imagine the execs would have either.

who wants to see a team's second string QB in prime time instead of the franchise QB? Were any of our first 4 games rating kings? They were semi-boring, ugly, gritty games IMO.

Even if we went 4-0 the first 4 games... I wouldn't want any part of the Steelers without Ben if I'm a media buyer.

I'm just amazed at the prime time argument. Ben was punished for off field an off field incident. Why would the NFL hide him once he returned? We are a fun team to watch with him on the field. I could see if he cheated the game or took roids but he did his time. I would be very pizzed if we had 4 prime time games without him and none with him.

Would that make Crash happy? Would it show the NFL has principles they stick by or would it be stupid?

[ikestops85]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Don't the networks figure in choosing the prime time games? I'm sure they don't want the Steelers prime time without their marquee quarterback. They want ratings and Ben provides them with a controversial story line which generates them. I think it's only common sense and not any type of conspiracy.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Harrison gets fined $25,000 for his hit on Fitzpatrick?

No conspiracy? Don't make me laugh...

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Harrison gets fined $25,000 for his hit on Fitzpatrick?

No conspiracy? Don't make me laugh...

James Harrison Should Punch Somebody And Get His Money’s Worth

Posted on November 30, 2010 by adam

Here’s some news that is sure to shock you: James Harrison was fined $25,000 for his hit on Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Bills on Sunday. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s the same amount of money Oakland’s Richard Seymour was fined for sucker punching Ben Roethlisberger after a play, and the same amount Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan and Houston’s Andre Johnson were fined for their helmet-less fist fight on Sunday.

[url="http://www.steelerslounge.com/2010/1...-moneys-worth/"]http://www.steelerslounge.com/2010/1...-moneys-worth/[/url]

[ALLD]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

The commissioner's office has become the Bermuda Triangle for the Steelers.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Starkey: Anti-Steelers conspiracy?

By Joe Starkey, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, December 2, 2010


Next time James Harrison has a quarterback in his sights, he should forgo the idea of, you know, tackling him and consider three other options, all of which carry minimal consequences — or none at all — within the NFL's crack justice system:

• Sucker punch the quarterback in the jaw.

• Rip the dude's helmet off and pound his skull like a slab of beef.

• Wait 'til he drops to his knees, then leap on his back with full body weight and twist his limbs like light bulbs.

Why not? Such actions apparently do not merit any more of a punishment than what Harrison got for attempting to make a legal tackle — and perhaps doing so — the other day in Buffalo.

What a league. As an entertainment entity, it is a brilliant, raging success. As a de facto court of law, it is a laughable farce.

Miraculously, commissioner Roger Goodell & Co. have almost managed to make wacko Steelers conspiracy theorists seem sane. Those people believe the league is out to get their team, as if damaging one of the NFL's flagship franchises would be a productive move, as if Dan Rooney wasn't one of Goodell's most influential backers when the owners hired Goodell.

Nobody's out to get the Steelers.

It just looks that way.

I mean, even mortal enemies such as Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs will tell you Harrison has been singled out. He said as much Wednesday, on a conference call, opining that Harrison has been "red-flagged."

"If he breathes on a quarterback, he might get a flag," Suggs said. "They're looking at him more closely than anyone in the league."

Without question, Steelers players believe their team has been unfairly targeted. Consider their reaction to Harrison's hit on Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The on-field official said Harrison used the crown of his helmet. He didn't. I haven't defended all of Harrison's questionable hits, but this was a bad call. Yet, the league re-defined the play and fined Harrison $25,000.

Safety Ryan Clark's take: "We know the NFL is going to protect quarterbacks — all of them except ours."

Who can blame him for thinking that way, when abusers of his quarterback have faced such paltry punishment? Two weeks ago, Raiders lineman Richard Seymour — a repeat offender — sucker-punched Ben Roethlisberger in the head as the latter went to celebrate a touchdown.

Talk about a defenseless player. Talk about an egregious head shot.

Yet, Seymour was not suspended. He was ejected from a game that was rapidly becoming a blowout and fined $25,000. Somehow, his assault fell into the category of "fight," so he was subjected to NFL's fine scale for fighting.

Which raises a question: What's to stop somebody from cold-cocking a quarterback late in a blowout when all he'll face is an ejection and a puny fine?

More to the point, why wouldn't a coach instruct a player to do exactly that, especially if the quarterback in question might be facing his team in the playoffs in a few weeks?

That'd be nice: NFL teams hiring goons, just like the NHL.

Speaking of hockey, you must have seen Texans receiver Andre Johnson rip the helmet off Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan — something a hockey player would do — and pummel him. Finnegan (repeat offender) instigated the bout with a two-hand shiver to Johnson's face.

Both were given game misconducts, er, ejections, but the game was already in the fourth quarter, so how much weight did that punishment carry? Neither player was suspended. Johnson is free to play in tonight's NFL Network game against the Eagles. He and Finnegan were fined $25,000 apiece.

Same as Harrison.

By its actions, the NFL has equated a brawl with a borderline hit on a quarterback.

Meanwhile, there wasn't even a flag thrown in Buffalo when Roethlisberger went to his knees and 310-pound Marcus Stroud jumped on his back, and stayed there, as teammate Arthur Moats twisted Roethlisberger's leg and gave him a hockey-style facewash.

Hines Ward had the perfect word to describe the NFL yesterday, specifically relating to the league's alleged concern for player safety even as it pushes for an 18-game season:

"Hypocrites."

It's easy to see why Roethlisberger answered the way he did, too, when asked if Seymour's punishment would have been harsher if he'd clocked Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.

"We all know the answer to that one," he said. "Easy."

I disagree. I don't think the league is out to get the Steelers.

I'm just having a hard time proving it right now.

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_711816.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 11816.html[/url]

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Once again, for your reading enjoyment...

[url="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/08/goodells_ties_to_baltimore_run_deep.html"]http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ ... _deep.html[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Once again, for your reading enjoyment...

[url="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/08/goodells_ties_to_baltimore_run_deep.html"]http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ ... _deep.html[/url]

thanks Crash, I had not read that before.