Bryant wants man to man talk with Ben

[squidkid]

some children need to be coddled, some need tough love

[SteelCrazy]

Damn, I hate this time of year. Always a bunch of non stories making headlines because there isn't enough football. We need a 32 week season and cut the game down to 2 quarters. 20 minutes each.... That's the solution.

[Shawn]

Overall, I think you're probably right about everything best kept behind closed doors and all.

But I still wonder a little bit whether Bryant (since his lie that he was clean was public and to the team) should have to be held accountable in just as public a fashion.

That doesn't *sound* unreasonable, I can at least imagine Ben thinking that way and thus saying what he said, even if state of the art addiction therapy might say that's not the best way to deal with things like this.

Modern addiction medicine would have no problem with Bryant being held publically accountable. While there is a fine line between it bringing humility vs humiliation, it serves several purposes. Team accountability, "man to man", coach to player obviously hasn't worked. That level of accountability was insufficient. Ben vocalized his frustrations publically and IMO rightfully so. This wasn't a team squabble. This wasn't some petty argument. This was Bryant disrespecting himself, his coaches, his teammates and the organization. It wasn't a mistake, it wasn't a flub up. And while I truly do believe Bryant has the disease of addiction, it doesn't nullify him from consequences. Trouble is an addicts best friend and so I have no problem with Ben turning up the heat even if he just said it out of frustration.

[williar]

I think Ben should have kept his mouth shut in the 1st place

he wasn't a choir boy early in his career

Spot On!!!

[williar]

or ben could take the high road and recognize this kid is struggling and call him on the phone instead of whining to the media about being lied to

great QB, not a great leader

[RuthlessBurgher]

Welcome (back) to the Planet

Indeed! The time away has only resulted in Anger progressing into Fury. Your input here was certainly missed. Glad to have you back, brother...

[feltdizz]

some children need to be coddled, some need tough love

Yup, Ben is a prime example

[Shawn]

or ben could take the high road and recognize this kid is struggling and call him on the phone instead of whining to the media about being lied to

great QB, not a great leader

See I must assume teammates had numerous talks of support. This wasn't Bryants first rodeo. And being a person in recovery, and one who treats addicts I can tell you that while the disease of addiction isn't Bryants fault, it's certain his problem and the Steelers problem. And when people don't take solutions offered to them seriously it affects more than just the addict. Ben's reaction is a typical spillover of that frustration just on a grander scale due to their fame and spotlight. Maybe Ben could have handled it in a more productive fashion. But, frankly I'm more concerned with Bryant and how he is handling it.

[Shawn]

Yup, Ben is a prime example

I think Ben has grown up quite a bit in his career with the Steelers. Lets hope Bryant can follow suit.

[SteelCrazy]

Ben was forced to grow up or go to jail if he continued his path of self destruction.

[Shawn]

Ben was forced to grow up or go to jail if he continued his path of self destruction.

Exactly. Rarely does a person just wake up one day and say "hey I want to be a better person", or "hey I want to go to rehab and be sober". Trouble comes, consequences, damaged relationships, legal issues, work issues, health problems etc and so forth. It's the pain...like a hand to a hot stove...this motivates the person to move. Ben had massive consequences which allowed him to do the work to mature.

[papillon]

So, Ben saying that MB has to win back the trust of everyone on the team got MBs panties all in a bunch after he failed the team 2 or 3 times, the last time costing himself an entire season? Ok, that falls under the category of "face reality" and get to work. Have the chat with Ben, I'm sure he'll explain to MB that the team, from the coaches to the water-boy) have heard promises before that weren't quite adhered to and that we all want you to succeed but the process for that begins with you staying clean, coming to work and putting your nose to the grindstone. Since, MB's problems were public in nature, speaking publicly about it shouldn't be a big deal, had his problems been internal and Ben released this information to the public, then it wouldn't have been a good idea.

Ben didn't do anything that Brady, Brees, Rogers, Manning, etc. wouldn't have done. it will be fine, MB will get over it, Ben will toss him the football often and MB will do what he does, they don't have to be friends for them to have success.

Pappy