Administrator Toups Posted June 12, 2006 Administrator Share Posted June 12, 2006 He put his career and life in jeopardy by not wearing a helmet. No helmet = MORON! There goes Pittsburgh's chances of having another great season. And the Bengals fans are now smiling...and every other team in the AFC. --------------------------- Roethlisberger breaks jaw, nose in motorcycle crash By JOE MANDAK, Associated Press Writer June 12, 2006 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday in which he was not wearing a helmet. Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition, Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital said before surgery. ADVERTISEMENT The player's agent, Leigh Steinberg, described the injuries to The Associated Press and said he did not know if there was further damage. "He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable." Roethlisberger's mother, Brenda, was crying as she arrived at the hospital. Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team was "encouraged by the early reports from the medical team" at the hospital. "I am sure Ben knows that we are praying for his complete recovery." The 24-year-old Roethlisberger was without a helmet, police said. He has said he likes to ride without one, a habit that once prompted a lecture from Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher. Roethlisberger was on his black 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa -- the company calls it the world's fastest bike for legal street riding -- and heading toward an intersection on the edge of downtown. A Chrysler New Yorker traveling in the opposite direction took a left turn and collided with the motorcycle, and Roethlisberger was thrown, police said. The other car was driven by a 62-year-old woman, police said. They didn't immediately release her name and no charges were filed. Witness Sandra Ford was waiting at a bus stop when she said she saw the motorcycle approach. Seconds later, she said she heard a crash, saw the motorcyclist in the air and ran toward the crash scene. "He wasn't moving and I was afraid that he had died. ... He wasn't really speaking. He seemed dazed but he was resisting the effort to make him stay down," said Ford, who didn't realize the motorcyclist was Roethlisberger. Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and homicide units were leading the investigation, a standard practice when there is an accident with critical injuries. In only his second year in the NFL, Roethlisberger helped guide the Steelers to the Super Bowl title in February at age 23. Training camp for next season begins at the end of July. Several teammates, including backup quarterback Charlie Batch, linebacker Joey Porter and safety Mike Logan, arrived at the emergency room. Some fans also gathered at the hospital, including Juanita Clark, who sells Steelers paraphernalia. "I just feel like he's a family member," said her daughter, Loretta Clark. The NFL's standard player contract prohibits any activity involving "significant risk of personal injury" apart from football. But many prominent athletes ride motorcycles anyway, despite the risk and the possibility of losing salary. In May 2005, Cowher warned Roethlisberger about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season. Other athletes injured on motorcycles during their careers include basketball's Jason Williams, skiing's Hermann Maier and auto racing's Dario Franchitti. Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet when riding his motorcycle. He has pointed out Pennsylvania's state law requiring helmets to be worn was repealed in September 2003. "He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe." Roethlisberger continued to ride after Winslow's accident and that angered Terry Bradshaw, who quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during the 1970s. Visiting the Steelers' training camp last summer, Bradshaw remarked: "Ride it when you retire." AP Football Writer Dave Goldberg and Associated Press Writer Michael Cowden contributed to this report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chris Posted June 12, 2006 Members Share Posted June 12, 2006 Is there no chance he will play this fall? It doesn't seem terribly serious by the sound of that article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Toups Posted June 12, 2006 Author Administrator Share Posted June 12, 2006 Well, his head smashed into the windshield. Did you see the crash footage? It looked pretty bad. There's gotta be some head injuries and if he plays, one hit can knock him out again. But, I guess we'll have to wait and see what the doctors say in a couple of days/weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danni Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 I'm glad he's okay, but what an idiot! So what if there's no law requiring to wear a helmet. Did he not hear about Jayson Williams and Kellen Winslow Jr.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ryan Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 Umm.....I feel bad for the guy, because I really like Ben, but there is only one word to describe him. Dumbass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chris Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 According to ESPN, he's out of surgery and is doing good. The jaw injury will take 7 weeks to heel, but it doesn't mention anything about long term injuries. It says "His brain, spine, chest and abdomen appear to be without serious injury." That's great news to hear. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2480830 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Toups Posted June 13, 2006 Author Administrator Share Posted June 13, 2006 Wow he and the Steelers got very lucky. I'm surprised he didn't get a serious concussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chanel Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 I pray for a FULL recovery, but seriously why wasn't he wearing a HELMET!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bree Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 He said he doesn't like to wear helmets. What an idiot. I wonder if PA will change their helmet law now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chris B Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 I feel zero sympathy for a person who basically screws, "I WANT TO DIE." Not wearing a helmet might've been easier to swallow had he not be told about it before or have the knowledge of similar accidents with other football players. Plus to know that wearing one is optional and use that to make it right...just a complete idiot. WHat about his family if he died? What if he were paralyzed? Ugh, I can't believe someone would be so incredibly stupid with their life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members darraholic Posted June 13, 2006 Members Share Posted June 13, 2006 Wearing a helmut should be legal. It's the taxpayers money that's paying for stupid idiots like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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