I don’t know what to make of Hines Ward. Part of me thinks he’s a hard-nosed, gutsy football player, another part of me thinks he’s one of the dirtiest players in the league (see Rivers, Keith).
After hearing what he said to Bob Costas re: Ben Roethlisberger’s concussion, part of me thinks he’s a fucktard who needs to shut his mouth and play football.
Rothelisberger practiced with the first-team all week, despite suffering a concussion against the Chiefs. Big Ben was said to suffer from exercised-induced dizziness, a symptom of post-concussion syndrome. Roethlisberger wasn’t cleared by a neurologist to play in the Steelers pivotal, AFC North matchup against the Ravens.
Apparently Dr. Ward and 50% of the locker room think Roethlisberger should’ve lied about his symptoms and played anyway…
“This game is almost like a playoff game,” Ward told NBC’s Bob Costas. “It’s almost a ‘must’ win. So, I can see some players or some teammates kind of questioning like, ‘Well, it’s just a concussion. I’ve played with concussions before. I would go out there and play.’ So, it’s almost like a 50-50 toss-up in the locker room. You know, should he play, shouldn’t he play. It’s really hard to say.
“I’ve been out there dinged up. The following week, [I] got right back out there. You know, Ben practiced all week. . . . To find out that he’s still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to doctor’s didn’t feel that they was gonna clear him. . . . It’s hard to say, unless you’re the person. . . . I’ve lied to a couple of doctors saying ‘I’m straight, I feel good,’ when I knew I’m really not straight. But I don’t think guys really about the future when they’re playing currently in the NFL. . . .
“Trust me, the players, they wanna go out there because these games, you don’t get back. You’re never gonna get this Baltimore-Pittsburgh game back.”
It’s nice to see Ward cares so much for Roethlisberger’s well being. Really warms the cockles of my heart…or the heart of my cockles. I always get those mixed up.
This probably wasn’t the best time for Ward to speak of playing with a concussion considering how in-depth the NFL is currently looking at the long-term effects of head injuries. What’s worse is that Ward seems to call out Roethlisberger publicly, when an intimate one-on-one conversation between quarterback and receiver would have been a better choice–and one more in keeping with team harmony.
But hey, what the hell does Hines Ward care about Ben Roethlisberger’s future anyways, as long as he’s in there under center, helping the Steelers win. It’s not like Ward will be there 15 years from now, wiping Big Ben’s chin, and changing his adult diaper when the quarterback has deteriorated into a drooling mess of a human being.
