Big Ben=Big Bang

[Scott Campbell]

Ben Toothlessberger.

[Scott Campbell]

From PFT:

ROETHLISBERGER NOT A LOCK TO PLAY IN 2006

Although there's optimism in Pittsburgh on Monday night after seven hours of surgery to repair "multiple" facial fractures, there's still no guarantee that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be able to play football in 2006.

Dr. Michael Kaner, a Pennsylvania dentist and long-time PFT reader, has shared with us some general observations regarding Roethlisberger's potential prognosis. Dr. Kaner has emphasized this his input is hypothetical only, and that he has no information regarding the signal-caller's actual condition.

Dr. Kaner says to keep an ear out for the term "Le Fort" in connection with Roethliberger's facial fractures.

"Le Fort fractures (1,2 or 3) refer to the level of fracture of the upper jaw separating it from the skull," said Dr. Kaner. "If those words are mentioned in any press conference, he's not playing in 2006 regardless of what anybody says."

Dr. Kaner outlined other questions that would be relevant to determining whether Roethlisberger can play this year.

"How many fractures are there and where are they? Obviously, the more fractures there are, the longer the recovery period and the greater risk of complications.

"Is the fracture displaced, that is out of the normal alignment. With the extent of the trauma he experienced, it would not be out of the realm of possibility for the oral surgeons to have to rebuild his jaw and wire it together with titanium plates or screws. If it's a multiple fracture, he could be out all year.

"The other question is whether he fractured his upper jaw. You traditionally think of the lower jaw as being fractured but there can be fractures to the upper jaw, with many complications.

"Is the fracture closed (totally under the skin) or open (bone exposed to the elements substantially increasing the risk of post-operative infection). His other risks are of other teeth needing root canals or if fractured themselves, needing to be extracted.

"While wired shut, he will be on a pure liquid diet, and how will that impact a pro athlete? Not positively I'm sure."

Another source with knowledge of jaw and facial injuries has broken the issue down to a single question. If Roethsliberger's jaw is merely wired shut, he'll miss 6-to-8 weeks. If he has had plates or other hardware inserted into his face, he'll miss a minimum of six months.

As of now, the doctors, the family, and the team know the answer. Within the next 24 hours, our guess is that the rest of us will know it, too.

[Rastak]

Another plot twist from PFT:


BIG BEN HAD NO MOTORCYCLE LICENSE

KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has no license to operate a motorcycle.

Per an unnamed source, KDKA reports that Roethlisberger never took the written or the practical exam necessary for the issuance of a license. Instead, he had a learner's permit that expired on March 29, 2006.

What does it mean? Nothing at all, regarding his injuries and his recovery therefrom. But depending on the manner in which Pennsylvania statutes and case law apply to such matters, Big Ben might be shut out when the time comes to collect insurance money from the driver of the car involved in the accident (if, in the end, she is found to be in any way at fault).

In theory, Roethlisberger could make a valid legal claim against the other driver, if as it appears she made a left turn against oncoming traffic without seeing his motorcycle approaching the intersection. And once her limits of liability insurance are exhausted, Ben could then collect additional money from his own insurance company via the so-called "underinsured motorist" clause.

For example, if the other driver has only $50,000 in bodily injury coverage but the medical bills and the pain and suffering are ultimately determined to be $1 million, Roethlisberger has the right to recover the difference from his insurance carrier -- if he bought up to $1 million in UIM coverage.

But not having a valid license could impact his ability to recover anything. Heck, it's also possible that Ben and his "bad stuff happens to other people, not me" gene didn't even bother to buy UIM coverage on the bike that had been given to him by Suzuki (if indeed he even bought insurance of any kind on it).

Though Roethlisberger presumably has the wherewithal to cover his own medical bills, it could be that the same stupidity that put him on the back of a crotch rocket without a helmet also has put him in a position where any legal rights he might have had against the person who might be found to have caused the accident are rattling in a gutter with his teefs.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

From PFT:

ROETHLISBERGER NOT A LOCK TO PLAY IN 2006

.

Man, Campbell, i thought you were smarter than that. Why do you keep believing everything PFT tells you. Only 1 out of ever 20 stories by PFT is credible.

[Rastak]

From PFT:

ROETHLISBERGER NOT A LOCK TO PLAY IN 2006

.

Man, Campbell, i thought you were smarter than that. Why do you keep believing everything PFT tells you. Only 1 out of ever 20 stories by PFT is credible.

It's actually closer to 5 out of 20....

[Anti-Polar Bear]

It's actually closer to 5 out of 20....

According to my calculation 5 of 20 = 1 of 4. I can not honestly belive 25% of their reports are truthful. I just can't.

[billy_oliver880]

It's actually closer to 5 out of 20....

According to my calculation 5 of 20 = 1 of 4. I can not honestly belive 25% of their reports are truthful. I just can't.

Did you read the list of injuries and the complexity of them? Its going to take awhile for this guy to be healed up.

[The Leaper]

The guy had a windshield for brunch yesterday...and spent SEVEN HOURS getting his jaw put back together.

The chances he will be available week one are extremely remote. The chances he will return at all this season are probably not much better than 50-50. That's just common sense when you realize the violent nature of the game of football...and the care that will be needed to heal massive jaw injuries.

In other words, Tank...the dude got jacked up. He's not rolling out of bed ready for practice tomorrow morning. You shouldn't need PFT to tell you that.

[Scott Campbell]

From PFT:

ROETHLISBERGER NOT A LOCK TO PLAY IN 2006

.

Man, Campbell, i thought you were smarter than that. Why do you keep believing everything PFT tells you. Only 1 out of ever 20 stories by PFT is credible.

Where did I write that I believe them?

[Rastak]

It's actually closer to 5 out of 20....

According to my calculation 5 of 20 = 1 of 4. I can not honestly belive 25% of their reports are truthful. I just can't.

HEY, they are teaching some math at school!

[Rastak]

The guy had a windshield for brunch yesterday...and spent SEVEN HOURS getting his jaw put back together.

The chances he will be available week one are extremely remote. The chances he will return at all this season are probably not much better than 50-50. That's just common sense when you realize the violent nature of the game of football...and the care that will be needed to heal massive jaw injuries.

In other words, Tank...the dude got jacked up. He's not rolling out of bed ready for practice tomorrow morning. You shouldn't need PFT to tell you that.

I agree...he may have several weeks before the season but those facial bones heal very slowly usually.

[Scott Campbell]

Man, Campbell, i thought you were smarter than that.

Good. Then I fooled you.

[woodbuck27]

In my younger days I rode motorcycle all the time, and NEVER with a helmet. Hell, I even wore sunglasses at night (Cory Hart) when riding b/c you HAD to have eyewear at least. If I were going anywhere on my bike I had to "look cool." Cruisin' in the summer was a blast, including bar hopping on the bikes.

Well, that was all pretty stupid of course. But now, as Al Bundy made famous, "I'm married with children." I would never think of such behavior. I still have my bike but haven't rode in 10 years. I may again some day but I'll definitely wear a helmet and not be so dumb.

Still, my best friend, who I used to cruise with still rides many miles. He's also married with children. What makes me almost physically ill is he insists on riding w/o a helmet....and here's the worst part...he insists his wife do the same. I've pleaded until I'm blue in the face, even pulling his wife aside on multiple occasions to beg her to at least wear the helmet. They have a 10 year old girl and 6 year old boy. Please at least think of them. But to no avail. You have to realize my friend is very "into himself" and has a trophy wife (as do I ), and as one of the articles posted mentioned, he's trying to re-live his younger days. Pretty shallow and pathetic I know. Hopefully Ben's accident will shake him to reality, but I know it won't. Sad really.

Man ! You . . . are a solid friend, as demonstrated by that very sensible concern for your friends and their families welfare.

Good luck with that , sincerely.

When I was a very young man, I went out for a stroll one lovely summer's evening. On my street I observed the aftermath of a very serios accident, involving a young man on a motorcycle, who had run into the rear of a car. He became mobile and went over the car and tragically was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmut.

We are required by law to wear seatbelts while operating an auto in Canada, to reduce the risk of a serious injury or death because of auto accidents. Operators of motorcycles don't have that option, but in Canada they must wear helmuts. The consequences of a recorded infraction is a big fine.

The consequences of such violation in an auto ( no seat belt on) and especially a motorcycle involving an accident ( no helmut) is often serious injury . . . .or death. Stastics overwhelmingly support this as fact.

Often, as in Big Bens case, the Bike is invisable to the operators of auto's. He was a victim of the person making an unsafe left hand turn and not seeing oncoming traffic. He was also the victim of himself.

Big Ben was not only not wearing a helmut but it's being reported that he had no valid licence to operate that high powered bike.

It's my honestand informed opinion, that both should be infractions anywhere. Common sense dictates to me, that as laws are made to inforce the use of seatbelts, the same should stand for helmut use for motorcycle operators.

These two laws save lives and people from serious crippling injury and DEATH, and IMO should be universally instituted. It's just common sense, as the cost otherwise is way over the top too high.

As I say . . . "it's a no -brainer".

Right now in canada we are facing the consequences of operators of auto's using cell phones and one hand on the wheel, and with the inherant distraction that comes with that now common practise. This is taking innocent lives. and will soon be dealt with in Canada , I believe.

Ben may rebound from this incident to play in 2006 and to have a solid Pro Career, but will he learn from his stupidity and irresposibility.

This NFL fan , hopes for that result.

[Scott Campbell]

Right now in canada we are facing the consequences of operators of auto's using cell phones and one hand on the whell and with the inherant distraction that comes with that now common practise. This is taking innocent lives. and will soon be dealt with in Canada ,I believe.

Headsets are cheap and much safer than having to hold up the phone. Voice recogition/autodial software means you shouldn't have to hunt down numbers in your cell phone book - also, a much safer alternative. There are already laws in some areas of the US requiring headset use.

[Tony Oday]

Well go down that path and you have to make it so there is only one person in each car because distractions by a passanger is the number one reason for accidents. Atleast that is what my insurance guy told me