Injured Steelers LB Ryan Shazier bothered by worthless criticism

[Slapstick]

Well, the article is right about one thing:

The criticism of fans is certainly worthless.

[steelsnis]

Hahahaha the "WE PAY YOUR SALARY" people are the worst people

[Shoe]

Hahahaha the "WE PAY YOUR SALARY" people are the worst people

You have to remember he's just a kid and it's only a game, criticizing a guy because he is injured is ridiculous, there is nothing he can do about it. Please spare me the "you are blessed" garbage, he did build those skills, he put in the workouts, he did the dieting, he put in the practices, he wasn't given magical powers. Also fan criticism does not fuel his salary, the only criticism that has any effect on his salary is that of the coaches and the GM because they decide wether or not he plays and how much he gets paid.

Listen, I'm a Shazier supporter. Whether it turns out to be the right choice, I support their decision to draft him over Mosley. What I don't appreciate, is when athletes pull the "you would have no chance playing in the pros yourself so STFU" crap. As if he turned himself from Mr. or Mrs. John Q. Public (5-9", 180 lbs. white guy) into a super-speedy, long-limbed, broad-shouldered athletic freak.

The people who complain about his injury (which BTW, I'm not... as I said, I support Shazier as he tries to battle back from injury), those people are concerned about him and the team. What he should realize is that it is because people care. They watch the games. And those eyeballs (viewership) drive his salary. If no one cared to watch, he wouldn't be making the money he makes.

If they don't know what they are talking about and you want to lash out, fine. But playing the "you can't play NFL football" card is ridiculous. Because if he wasn't a big, fast, talented black guy, he wouldn't be playing either.

[NorthCoast]

Only time will tell whether Shazier deserves the moniker 'injury prone', but you have to agree the early history is not promising.

[Mr.wizard]

Listen, I'm a Shazier supporter. Whether it turns out to be the right choice, I support their decision to draft him over Mosley. What I don't appreciate, is when athletes pull the "you would have no chance playing in the pros yourself so STFU" crap. As if he turned himself from Mr. or Mrs. John Q. Public (5-9", 180 lbs. white guy) into a super-speedy, long-limbed, broad-shouldered athletic freak.

The people who complain about his injury (which BTW, I'm not... as I said, I support Shazier as he tries to battle back from injury), those people are concerned about him and the team. What he should realize is that it is because people care. They watch the games. And those eyeballs (viewership) drive his salary. If no one cared to watch, he wouldn't be making the money he makes.

If they don't know what they are talking about and you want to lash out, fine. But playing the "you can't play NFL football" card is ridiculous. Because if he wasn't a big, fast, talented black guy, he wouldn't be playing either.

These guys work at being that big and fast, they work on their flexibility and hand eye coordination, they don't just roll out of bed as athletic freaks. The dieting, and weight training are grueling, its the reason being in the nfl is not just a matter of being "blessed". Its easy to sit back on your couch and critisize, and pretend that if you where in that situation you would not be injured and out there winning superbowls. Fans watch for 2 or 3 hours on sunday they have no idea what it's like to play in the nfl, what your body has to go through every single week, They don't see the work or the commitment.

[Oviedo]

Even missing games due to injury, Shazier has more tackles than Heyward, Harrison, J Jones, Williams, Dupree and Moats. Perhaps Shazier isn't the one who should be criticized?????????????

[Snatch98]

Even missing games due to injury, Shazier has more tackles than Heyward, Harrison, J Jones, Williams, Dupree and Moats. Perhaps Shazier isn't the one who should be criticized?????????????

I don't know why people are criticizing anyone at all. We are coming off a strong defensive performance and a win. People still find room to complain and with the absolutely spoiled nature of the Pittsburgh fan base I guess I'm not surprised. Shazier will be back when he's healthy and when he's healthy he makes an impact. He's been unlucky, not injury prone.

[feltdizz]

well, I know why people are criticizing Shazier and it's the same reason some fans criticize Pouncey.

When a good player is always hurt/injured it frustrated fans. Especially when our franchise QB is out and we need all the help we can get.

I used to get upset at Gilbert for getting injured every game his first year because it disrupted our OL chemistry.

Same reason people criticize Shark for always being injured...,

It's football and injuries happen but if you are always missing games due to being dinged up what else are we to do besides criticize your lack of contribution to the team?

It's been 2 years and Shazier has missed as many games as he played in. I'm sorry but he has to understand where the criticism is coming from.

[feltdizz]

Even missing games due to injury, Shazier has more tackles than Heyward, Harrison, J Jones, Williams, Dupree and Moats. Perhaps Shazier isn't the one who should be criticized?????????????

he is a middle LB... most middle LB's average 10 to 12 tackles a game. I don't expect OLBs and DL's to rack up big stats like a middle LB.

[Snatch98]

he is a middle LB... most middle LB's average 10 to 12 tackles a game. I don't expect OLBs and DL's to rack up big stats like a middle LB.

What middle linebacker is pulling down 160 tackles a season? I think the most Timmons has had is 132.

Luke kuechly does, and he's tip top tier.

[RobinCole]

Jamaal Charles is out for the season after tearing his ACL while making a jump cut. No contact involved. Anyone think he's a slacker or malingerer?

Someone said the other day on this board that the phrase "injury prone" is controversial. Yes it is. That was in a thread about Pouncey. The same poster said Pouncey is one of those guys who is always "in the wrong place at the wrong time". Well, that's one way of looking at it. The way I look at it, DeCastro was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he cut Pouncey down and out of the 2013 season. I say Flozell Adams was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he flopped his 350 pounds onto Pouncey's ankle in 2010. Tell me another player whose ankle wouldn't have been injured by that behemoth falling on it. And this year, yeah, I guess you could say Pouncey was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a Green Bay player fell on him. Wrong place wrong time because he shouldn't have even been on the field.

As I've said several times before, every player in the league is injury prone if they see enough snaps. Look around the league at the injuries so far this year.

[Shoe]

These guys work at being that big and fast, they work on their flexibility and hand eye coordination, they don't just roll out of bed as athletic freaks. The dieting, and weight training are grueling, its the reason being in the nfl is not just a matter of being "blessed". Its easy to sit back on your couch and critisize, and pretend that if you where in that situation you would not be injured and out there winning superbowls. Fans watch for 2 or 3 hours on sunday they have no idea what it's like to play in the nfl, what your body has to go through every single week, They don't see the work or the commitment.

You're missing the point.

Of course they work at it. But when you pull the whole "none of you can do it" card as an athlete, you're being a douchebag. A 5-6" Asian can work on his flexibility and hand-eye coordination 'til the cows come home. It's not going to make him an NFL LB.

Guys like you need to stop putting people like this on pedestals. I give them credit for all the hard work, the toll they put on their bodies, and the stress of it all. And AGAIN--I'm not agreeing with the detractors who apparently were labeling him a pu$s--I'm criticizing him for responding the way he responded.

[feltdizz]

What middle linebacker is pulling down 160 tackles a season? I think the most Timmons has had is 132.

Luke kuechly does, and he's tip top tier.

ok, you are correct.. but most good ILB have over 100 tackles a year.

[Mr.wizard]

You're missing the point.

Of course they work at it. But when you pull the whole "none of you can do it" card as an athlete, you're being a douchebag. A 5-6" Asian can work on his flexibility and hand-eye coordination 'til the cows come home. It's not going to make him an NFL LB.

Guys like you need to stop putting people like this on pedestals. I give them credit for all the hard work, the toll they put on their bodies, and the stress of it all. And AGAIN--I'm not agreeing with the detractors who apparently were labeling him a pu$s--I'm criticizing him for responding the way he responded.

I didn't put anyone on a pedestal, the point Is there are a lot of humans who are over 6 feet tall that doesn't make you an athlete. I have no problem with his response, he doesn't owe anyone anything.

[BURGH86STEEL]

well, I know why people are criticizing Shazier and it's the same reason some fans criticize Pouncey.

When a good player is always hurt/injured it frustrated fans. Especially when our franchise QB is out and we need all the help we can get.

I used to get upset at Gilbert for getting injured every game his first year because it disrupted our OL chemistry.

Same reason people criticize Shark for always being injured...,

It's football and injuries happen but if you are always missing games due to being dinged up what else are we to do besides criticize your lack of contribution to the team?

It's been 2 years and Shazier has missed as many games as he played in. I'm sorry but he has to understand where the criticism is coming from.

It's a game that fans know ALOT of injuries happen. What purpose does it serve to be frustrated with injured players? What purpose does it serve to criticize players with injuries? I'd understand the criticism if he were faking his injuries. No one knows the extent of his injury. If I were him I'd turn off the social media and ignore the back ground music. If he's intelligent enough he will learn.