Big Ben & The Browns
It was a pretty good weekend, although Sunday could have been better at least for 32 seconds.
It cost $35 in gas, $20 to park and $40 for my ticket to Sunday’s Browns-Steelers game. But watching the guy parade around the concourse at Cleveland Browns Stadium with his large laminated cardboard sign with a picture of a smiling Ben Roethlisberger right next to a picture of a beat up car with a caption that read “Hit him like a Chrysler” was priceless.
But Big Ben got the last laugh.
During the first half when he threw the pick Browns corner Daven Holly returned for a touchdown I called my buddy Buster at work and against the background of a raucous Browns crowd I spoke into the phone and left him a voice mail that said “God Bless Ben Roethlisberger” In the fourth quarter I couldn’t bring myself to call back and tell him, “Damn that Ben Roethlisberger.”
That’s because as bad as Findlay’s favorite son looked in the first three quarters, and believe me he looked bad in the first three quarters, he was impeccably flawless in the fourth quarter.
He had a miniscule 6.4 quarterback rating through the first three quarters. He did little right throwing three interceptions while other passes missed the mark either high or low. But he was golden in the final frame. Roethlisberger threw 29 times in the fourth, completing 18. He engineered touchdown drives of 79 and 77 yards in the last 10 minutes as the Steelers clawed back from 20-10 down. The incredible fourth pushed his passer rating for the game to 61.9.
But I do have one complaint. He is treated like a China doll by the officials. Hell, he got blocked on a fumble or interception return and the Browns got called for a personal foul penalty. Ridiculous. On the final game-winning drive by the Steelers he was in the grasp of a Browns defender and defensive lineman Joshua Eason even let up and raised his hands as he was about to level Big Ben, who then completed a key pass play. Eason was worried about getting flagged for a personal foul penalty. It sure didn’t stop the Steelers from knocking around Charlie Frye out there along the sidelines.
The officials at the Browns game were pretty much clueless. And they were even essentially given an extra time out by the officials when Hines Ward went down with an injury with 2:09 to play and they went to a TV time out.
But hey, officiating aside, winning teams make plays when they have to and the Browns didn’t make the plays they had to make to put the game away.
I can’t help but respect Roethlisberger’s skills as a quarterback and at the same time hate him because he is a Steeler. That’s just the way it is.
NOTEWORTHY:
L-B IN STATE SEMIFINALS: Congrats to the Liberty-Benton Eagles for making the Division V state football semifinals. After Saturday’s victory all I can say is man the Green Meadows Conference must really blow. A win like that is shocking. But I think things really get tougher this week when they take on St. Henry.
NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier local sports (Includes story on L-B beating Ayersville and UF men’s basketball)
Oak Harbor overcomes early mistakes
Coverage of Browns-Steelers game
Ohio State coverage from the Plain Dealer
Ohio State coverage from the Columbus Dispatch
L-B ends Ayersville’s season
It cost $35 in gas, $20 to park and $40 for my ticket to Sunday’s Browns-Steelers game. But watching the guy parade around the concourse at Cleveland Browns Stadium with his large laminated cardboard sign with a picture of a smiling Ben Roethlisberger right next to a picture of a beat up car with a caption that read “Hit him like a Chrysler” was priceless.
But Big Ben got the last laugh.
During the first half when he threw the pick Browns corner Daven Holly returned for a touchdown I called my buddy Buster at work and against the background of a raucous Browns crowd I spoke into the phone and left him a voice mail that said “God Bless Ben Roethlisberger” In the fourth quarter I couldn’t bring myself to call back and tell him, “Damn that Ben Roethlisberger.”
That’s because as bad as Findlay’s favorite son looked in the first three quarters, and believe me he looked bad in the first three quarters, he was impeccably flawless in the fourth quarter.
He had a miniscule 6.4 quarterback rating through the first three quarters. He did little right throwing three interceptions while other passes missed the mark either high or low. But he was golden in the final frame. Roethlisberger threw 29 times in the fourth, completing 18. He engineered touchdown drives of 79 and 77 yards in the last 10 minutes as the Steelers clawed back from 20-10 down. The incredible fourth pushed his passer rating for the game to 61.9.
But I do have one complaint. He is treated like a China doll by the officials. Hell, he got blocked on a fumble or interception return and the Browns got called for a personal foul penalty. Ridiculous. On the final game-winning drive by the Steelers he was in the grasp of a Browns defender and defensive lineman Joshua Eason even let up and raised his hands as he was about to level Big Ben, who then completed a key pass play. Eason was worried about getting flagged for a personal foul penalty. It sure didn’t stop the Steelers from knocking around Charlie Frye out there along the sidelines.
The officials at the Browns game were pretty much clueless. And they were even essentially given an extra time out by the officials when Hines Ward went down with an injury with 2:09 to play and they went to a TV time out.
But hey, officiating aside, winning teams make plays when they have to and the Browns didn’t make the plays they had to make to put the game away.
I can’t help but respect Roethlisberger’s skills as a quarterback and at the same time hate him because he is a Steeler. That’s just the way it is.
NOTEWORTHY:
L-B IN STATE SEMIFINALS: Congrats to the Liberty-Benton Eagles for making the Division V state football semifinals. After Saturday’s victory all I can say is man the Green Meadows Conference must really blow. A win like that is shocking. But I think things really get tougher this week when they take on St. Henry.
NEWSWORTHY:
Findlay Courier local sports (Includes story on L-B beating Ayersville and UF men’s basketball)
Oak Harbor overcomes early mistakes
Coverage of Browns-Steelers game
Ohio State coverage from the Plain Dealer
Ohio State coverage from the Columbus Dispatch
L-B ends Ayersville’s season
posted by --J-- @ 8:04 AM
11 Comments:
At 11:28 AM,
Anonymous said…
The current LB senior class is impressive on and off the sporting venue.
Many members of the state runner-up track team from last spring.
Region champs in Football
3rd in the state cross country
4th in the state golf
Strong soccer team
Probably the most academic all-state honors for a senior class at LB.
BBall and Track teams should fair well this year.
At 3:57 PM,
Anonymous said…
Calpreps.com had LB winning big last week. This week it has them on the losing end big time. I hope so.
At 5:21 PM,
Anonymous said…
Correct, we wouldn't want to see LB be too successful. That would be damaging to the less successful teams.
At 7:20 PM,
Anonymous said…
All you can say is that Green Meadows Confernce really blows? Thanks for the disrepect. I know Libery Benton coaches and players do not think that. LB was perfect that game and Ayersville wasn't that was it. You are a disgrace to your profession to say.
At 8:27 PM,
Anonymous said…
Believe me, Jamie is far from a disgrace to his profession. You say that yet you can not reveal your identity...good job. I would have to agree with him. If my team would have gotten in, they would have beaten any of the GMC teams (heck, I think they would have beaten everyone and had a real good game with LB which would have been more of a toss up than the others). The fact that they got three teams in is a crime to me, and to a lot of other people. St. Henry will be a big test, but it would be nice to see LB win.
Also heard a rumor that a friend of Coach G's was looking to take the UF job and take him with him as OC...what do you all think?
Rob
At 10:14 PM,
--J-- said…
Wow Rob are you standing next to the same grapevine I am?
I've heard Wauford's name thrown about for the head coaching job at UF but they HAVE to do a search to make his hiring legit. Although I do not see the point in that.
As for being a disgrace to my profession? Ehh, I've been called worse in my life. No talent hack, you (insert string of profanities here), you name it, I've heard it.
I'm not the best and certainly not the worst. But one thing, I'm not afraid to give my opinion right, wrong, indifferent whether you like it or not.
At least I do get to the games on time unlike a few unionized writers from unnamed major metro dailies that walk in 4 minutes late and expect a seat in the pressbox.
Why no love for L-B from the rest of the folks in the BVC though. When I was in school back in the day we wanted our league rivals to win if we were out of it? I guess I don't understand....someone fill me in.
At 5:23 AM,
Anonymous said…
I know another successful coach that is interested. He was once part of the UF program and has actually been offered in the past. I hope he is given a shot at the position.
At 5:51 AM,
Anonymous said…
Quote:Correct, we wouldn't want to see LB be too successful. That would be damaging to the less successful teams.
No, but it would feed the ego and arrogance of the parents, educators and students of that distrct.
At 12:38 PM,
Anonymous said…
I know Jamie; have worked with him and have been his friend for many years. If he says the Green Meadows Conference blows and I haven't seen any of the teams play, I'll believe him.
Besides, this is a blog where he gives his opinion, not a game story where he would have to objective. Those outside the profession might not understand that as much as those in it.
I think you might have taken Jamie's comment too much to heart because it struck so close to home, and that's fine because it shows you have a passion for what he was talking about.
That's the beauty of free speech.
At 7:00 PM,
theFREAK said…
The Guy who wrote about the Steelers -Browns game complaining about the Officials...Come on the Dr. Knowitall The reference to Ben Roethlisberger as a "China Doll" THAT IS THE RULE !!! ALL QBs are afforded equal protection under said Rules. Same goes for the Timeout for Hines Ward getting Hurt. Guy , he was HURT ... and there was (as you stated) 2:09 left NOT TWO Minutes. (the RULE doesnt state that the Team waill be charged a T.O. If a player is Hurt AROUND TWO Minutes It says after the two min. warning.
Your football IQ is showing and it is NOT Impressive . QUIT CRYING !!! And lose with some dignity (at last it wasnt 41-0 ...you make all Browns fans look ...duh...)
At 9:32 PM,
--J-- said…
Yeah I must admit my football knowledge is lacking quite a bit.
I never wrote Pittburgh should have been charged a time out for Ward's injury. I said they were essentially given a time out because of the TV Time out which is the judgement of the officials and the guy with the neon orange gloves on the sideline that controls when the game goes back to live action.
And if you think the officials treat guys like Charlie Frye the same as guys like Big Ben...please. The officials never even reached for their flags on the shots on Frye out of bounds Sunday.
Ever read George Orwell?
In Animal Farm, the pigs that ruled the farmyard came up with a rule...
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
Holds true to players in the NFL in my opinion.
If they don't want quarterbacks to get popped put a pink tu-tu on them or give them flags to wear, or when you get picked off just make them lie down on the ground.
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