I'm still a little shocked that the NFL and Roger Goodell dropped the hammer on Ben Roethlisberger and gave him a six-game suspension. Sure, he could only sit four games if he behaves and does what the Commish wants, but the more I think about it ... the more I think it will stick at six no matter what.
Why? Just look at the schedule.
The six games Big Ben will miss will be against Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers, Ravens, Browns and Dolphins. Some decent teams in that mix along with two divisonal games and a Week 5 bye. But it isn't a huge deal since all of these games will take place at 1:00pm on Sundays.
That means it will be Week 8 when Ben Roethlisberger makes his return. Hmmmm. On Week 8, the Steelers visit the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on NBC's Sunday Night Football. I wonder if that is a kwinky-dink?
I mean, having Ben make his return on a nationally televised primetime game sure looks like a ratings grab. You know that everyone and their mama will check in on that game just to see Roethlisberger (well, the Saints are pretty good too). And what a relief that Ben's suspension isn't longer so he doesn't miss this game.
Weird that Pittsburgh's first six games are all just 1:00pm games and that the seventh is a Sunday nighter.
Even weirder that the very next weekend, the Steelers visit the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals ... on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Man! What a strange turn of events!
It gets better. The very next weekend, the Steelers play at home (Ben's first game back in Pittsburgh) against the New England Patriots. Oh, that game is back on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
So Ben's first three games after suspension will all be nationally televised games in primetime. Now, is it me or does it seem as if this was all planned. After all, remember that the NFL delayed the release of the schedule. Remember that it was released the night before the league smacked Roethlisberger with that suspension. Do these things go hand in hand? I think so.
Why? Just look at the schedule.
The six games Big Ben will miss will be against Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers, Ravens, Browns and Dolphins. Some decent teams in that mix along with two divisonal games and a Week 5 bye. But it isn't a huge deal since all of these games will take place at 1:00pm on Sundays.
That means it will be Week 8 when Ben Roethlisberger makes his return. Hmmmm. On Week 8, the Steelers visit the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on NBC's Sunday Night Football. I wonder if that is a kwinky-dink?
I mean, having Ben make his return on a nationally televised primetime game sure looks like a ratings grab. You know that everyone and their mama will check in on that game just to see Roethlisberger (well, the Saints are pretty good too). And what a relief that Ben's suspension isn't longer so he doesn't miss this game.
Weird that Pittsburgh's first six games are all just 1:00pm games and that the seventh is a Sunday nighter.
Even weirder that the very next weekend, the Steelers visit the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals ... on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Man! What a strange turn of events!
It gets better. The very next weekend, the Steelers play at home (Ben's first game back in Pittsburgh) against the New England Patriots. Oh, that game is back on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
So Ben's first three games after suspension will all be nationally televised games in primetime. Now, is it me or does it seem as if this was all planned. After all, remember that the NFL delayed the release of the schedule. Remember that it was released the night before the league smacked Roethlisberger with that suspension. Do these things go hand in hand? I think so.
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