ROETHLISBERGER FACES MURKY FUTURE UPON RETURN TO NFL ACTION

Things briefly appeared to be looking up for Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback late last week.  He had his league mandated suspension reduced from six games to four after a productive meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.  In the past few days, however, it’s become apparent that his biggest problems may still be ahead as he attempts to regain the trust of his coaches and teammates.  Roethlisberger has been a team captain since 2007, but he won’t be one this year—he wasn’t voted to the honorary position by his teammates.  Instead, captains this year will be receiver Hines Ward, tight end Heath Miller and linebackers James Farrior and Keyaron Fox.

Superficially, this may not seem like a big deal but within the team it sends a very powerful message to and about ‘Big Ben’.  In 2009, when Roethlisberger was facing his first allegation of sexual assault levied by a Lake Tahoe hotel worker the team rallied behind him.  He was overwhelmingly elected to the captainship in a vote of confidence of his character and leadership.  The fact that the same support wasn’t forthcoming this season suggests there may be a rift between Roethlisberger and his teammates that could be difficult to repair.  Worst case scenario, they may no longer have confidence in his skills as a leader and question his character as a man.

On Monday, Roethlisberger’s status with the team took another hit—Steelers coach Mike Tomlin refused to confirm that he’d get his starting quarterback position back upon his return from suspension.  Until now, Tomlin has spoke of the quarterback situation—with Byron Leftwich as the starter and Dennis Dixon as the backup—as temporary until ‘Big Ben’ make his return.  Now Leftwich is injured and Dixon is the starter.  With many Steelers’ fans of the opinion that Dixon is the team’s quarterback of the future, Tomlin’s comments on Roethlisberger’s status upon his return have taken a drastic turn.  Tomlin was a guest on Sirius Radio’s NFL Channel and was asked by the hosts if Roethlisberger would once again assume the starting role upon his return.  He responded:

"I'm going to dodge that one and not artfully. I'm not going to back myself in a corner."

Like his teammates denying Roethlisberger the captainship, Tomlin’s ‘no comment’ is a serious repudiation of ‘Big Ben’.  For the first time, Tomlin has put on the table the idea that he’ll have to earn his job back.  Tomlin had more to say about current starter Dennis Dixon:

"Dennis has had a very productive preseason and training camp. He went into the training camp as a young guy, second in the pecking order behind Byron Leftwich. He did a nice job and made it extremely competitive. He waged a battle and got some first-team reps in some preseason games. Largely, we've been very impressed with how he's handled himself in game situations."

With Roethlisberger out of the lineup, the Steelers are a home underdog for the first time since 2004 as they open the season against the Atlanta Falcons.  Pittsburgh is a +1’ point NFL betting underdog against Atlanta, with the total set at 37’.