Mad World
Don't be a Moron
By Mark Madden

Most Steelers fans don't know football. When discussing the local club, all they feel comfortable talking about are the two most visible personalities, the quarterback and the head coach.

Case in point: Ben Roethlisberger didn't stink in the Steelers' early preseason games, but nor did he sparkle. So a representative of Yinzer Nation called my show and queried, "How long of a leash is Ben on?" That's a question better asked Michael Vick, who has about as much patience with chicken-hearted pit bulls as our local hoi polloi has with misfiring quarterbacks.

Last year Ben made a legitimate attempt to scatter his brains on the pavement, later piling a sudden appendectomy on top of his near-death experience. Ben also sustained a concussion against Atlanta, and who knows how many additional injuries Bill Cowher concealed just because lying is fun?

Yet Ben started 15 games, many when he probably didn't feel real well, because that's the way the NFL is: Franchise guys play if at all possible. If you're crippled later, deal with it later. If it was good enough for Johnny Unitas, it's good enough for Ben Roethlisberger.

Would the Steelers have done better had Batch played more and Ben recuperated more? Maybe. But probably not.

The Steelers went 15-1 in Roethlisberger's rookie season. The last time Batch was a starting quarterback, his team went 1-15.

Batch is a solid backup. Roethlisberger has a pedigree, and already has a Super Bowl ring. So Roethlisberger is going to play whenever he is remotely physical able, and sometimes when he isn't. That's how it is, and how it should be, even though Batch is a local boy n'at.

If any Steeler should be bulletproof when it comes to fan criticism, it should be Ben. Then again, if he were bulletproof, the motorcycle accident probably wouldn't have damaged him so much.

Injury to Tommy Maddox forced Roethlisberger into the lineup as a rookie; the Steelers lost just once in the regular season. The Steelers won a Super Bowl in Ben's second season, which would be a big deal even if the NFL's shakiest "dynasty" had won one more recently than 19-friggin'-80.

Last year Ben almost died. Then he had a bad season. Now some morons question how long his "leash" should be.

Ben, smart and mature beyond his years even if - or perhaps especially because - he doesn't suffer fools gladly, once pointed out that in a long NFL career, a bad season is inevitable. Kordell Stewart proved that theory again and again. Ben's stutter was nothing to decry, especially given the circumstances.

So, to answer your question, caller, Ben's "leash" is fairly lengthy, you imbecile.

If the Steelers stumble out of the gate this year, don't blame Roethlisberger, not even if it's his fault. Given Mike Tomlin's race and experience level, it will be far easier for you to blame the coach, and a lot more fun, too. They should have hired Russ Grimm. He's a local boy n'at.

Of course, if you wanted to blame whoever was actually at fault, you could actually learn the game of football, but trust me, you don't want to go through all that bother.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.