December 30, 2008

Oh, Benjamin...


First of all, come on man, was that absolutely necessary?


Even if he has had three concussions, we already know his brain is damaged. Why rub it in? I mean, was this written by the Cleveland AP bureau? Something fishy's going on...

No, but seriously. By now I'm sure you've heard that Big Ben's injury looks significantly less serious than what the 15 minutes he spent on the ground and the gurney he was carried off on might have suggested. Actually, he didn't even stay the night in the hospital, as we were originally told that he would. In fact, they were saying he might even practice this week.

Color me relieved.

Now, look, maybe this is just me, but come on, after that feeling of relief that he wasn't dead or involuntarily incapacitated in some biological way, aren't you just a little irritated?

And I'm not talking about with Tomlin. The man did what he had to do. This Offense has been about as impressive as Gradkowski's QB rating was last Sunday. I just want to make clear that playing Ben was the right thing. It had a wrong result. But that wasn't so much Tomlin's fault as it was just plain old bad luck.

I'm talking about with Ben. Troy Polamalu gets his 874th concussion of his career earlier in the season and he jogs off the field. Ben gets a concussion and God damned Armageddon erupts. We've got the backboard, the cart, the heroic thumbs up while being taken off the field. My heart stopping momentarily as a result...


Whatever.

So then, what are we to think about Big Ben?

On the one hand, everyone wants to bring up how Ben came off a concussion in one week back in '06 and threw the game away on Monday night to the Raiders.


But on the other hand, that was Week 8 of 2006. It is now the 2008 POST season. And Ben's a champ.

A guy who'll do whatever he's gotta do to win.


Sometimes to a fault.

Do I have faith in Ben?

Of course I do.

He may not be the brightest bulb, and as Domski mentioned yesterday, he has an unhealthy affinity for FUBU sweats...

But I mean, what thug doesn't? Honestly.

Seriously, though. At this point, what can we do? Just sit back. Try and relax. Enjoy next weekends games. Hope that Miami somehow beats the Ravens. Or that someone gives Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis a Crosby punch in the junk. And that Ben rests his pretty little head this week so he's as solid as physically possible for next weekend.

And finally, I'd like to officially say that I'm not going to talk about the 2009 schedule this morning. I'm aware that it was released. But frankly my dears, I don't give a damn. It's still friggin' 2008. Not to spoil it or anything, but if you've been following along at home, you'll know we're playing the NFC North. Steelers-Lions. I'm fired up already...

...Yeah...


Are you there God? It's me, Benjamin?

11 comments:

Noah said...

"The Steelers' schedule was unusually difficult this season because they met all teams in the NFC East and AFC South, two of the league's strongest divisions. In their place next season will be the AFC West and NFC Central, two of the weakest divisions this season. The AFC West did not have a single above-.500 team."

Notice how it says "NFC Central". What are we in, the 90's? Who proofreads these things. Hey, I'm ok with a supposedly easier sched. but like Cotter says, let's stick to this season first.

domski43 said...

As Lady_Izz talked about yesterday (sorry I didnt get back to you) Ben's concussions are beginning to stack up. Who knows how many he had in college and/or high school on top of the ones he has suffered as a pro. Its beginning to piss me off because my two fav steelers, Polamalu and Ben, are beginning to pile up the concussions. I hope this doesnt turn into an Eric Lindros situation for either of them.

One thing i know about ben is he is one resilient fucker. When people begin doubting and questioning him he shows up large.


Judy Blume book = extraordinary (i vote keep that shit on the regular here on oftot)

Business Horse said...

I think he'll be fine. This doesn't seem like it was too bad of a concussion. Outside of the whole gurney and thumbs up thing, which I'm going to do if I hurt my finger playing basketball or something.

Business Horse said...

Also, if this had happened in September, it would have made a great Halloween costume.

Cotter said...

noah ~ Yeah, seriously, NFC Central? Maybe too much eggnog over the holidays for that guy. Fact checking fail!

domski ~ Totally agree. And nice word choice there. Was that "shows up LARGE" intentional or just subconscious? Oh, and I honestly don't know where the Judy Blume reference came from. But I'm a fan, myself. My brain works in some weird ass ways, I guess...

vern ~ Dude, you should just do it anyway. I'm sure the good people of South Florida have seen weirder...like probably in the last five minutes, even...

Anonymous said...

No problem, Dom, I understand.

Cotter, you're photoshops are tied in first with KSK with me, but Benjaya is still exceptionally frightening.

FUBU Ben has Alex Smith hands.

The Immortal Silky Johnson said...

Domski Fear not that Ben will suffer the samwe fate as Lindros, for he does not play with his head down, nor is he a douchebag. Besides I have big expectation for Ben, as he is my quarterback for my fantasy football play off!

Pennsylvania Super Bowl???

The Immortal Silky Johnson said...

Additional note: That was some horrible typing.

tiny350Z said...

That Benjaya picture is utterly frightening. Nice work.

Cotter said...

ladi izz ~ Thanks! I figure if I'm going to throw up something like Benjaya, I have to at least surround it with one or many other entertaining and less nightmare inducing photoshops. I try.

silky ~ You haven't had your fantasy playoffs yet? What????

The Immortal Silky Johnson said...

Cotter ~ No man, my fantasy football league that is for discretionary spending ran all 17 regular season weeks. Then we re-draft for players that are in the playoffs. I never was a fan of that playoffs start a week or two before the actual end of the season.