HAS TO BE A WAY

There has got to be a way to shove a towel - a set of shoulder pads - all the tape that has held him together physically - or whatever- into the huge mouth of #7 for the Steelers.

This is like watching the recently completed second season of the HBO series about the over egotistical pitcher seeking a comeback

There has to be huge curiosity out there as to whether or not they used Big Ben as a model.

What can be done for this doofus "emotionally" is completely another thing.

Just read his recent assessment of Offensive Coordinator Haley - whom he has yet to meet.

"I've gotten a lot calls, texts, and e-mails from people around the league, both good and bad about him - - - - and they're letting me know what their interaction with him was - good, bad and indifferent."."

Bad? Dude, I can't believe it. - "No !@#$%%^ way!" and believe it or not - HE'S YOUR BOSS!"

"Hey Pal, he was an NFL Football coach! Even the twins of positive personality - Coughlin and Belichick have their critics. Why in the name of everything that makes sense would you opt to start your relationship with him like this?

Each time Ben opens his mouth he validates Art Rooney's decision to "not" renew the contract of former offensive coordinator Ariens.

The latter apparently skipped Management 101. That's where they teach you - among many other topics - that you never want to get too close to those you are supervising.

And, we aren't talking about Dungee etc and Manning. They had a QB who was not a candidate to play the part of the scarecrow in the next remake of The Wizard Of Oz and was therefore capable of throwing away the playbook when needed.

(please cue up song, "If I only had a brain")

Whether Ariens wants to admit it - or not - the fact is that Ariens - not Rothlisberger was the OC in Big Ben's mind.

Ariens was - and is - a good offensive coordinator and Big Ben is- despite his many memory lapses- an excellent athlete.

It would appear that Rothlisberger - despite being bailed out too many times previously for his errors in judgment - needs someone - his agent - his friends - his PR guy - and/or most definitely, Haley to take this man/child behind the wood shed.

Ben is rapidly becoming an embarassment to an excellent team with a history of a "team' philosophy that is second to none.

And, as I write this, please trust me that my criticism has nothing to do with the Steelers inability to get into this most recent Super Bowl.

There are just too many variables to discuss on this topic and in this blog.The fact is - they just weren't good enough - and everything is being looked at by Steelers management and ownership.

Ben has been great but at some point the law of diminishing returns kicks in - and the sound of it approaching is becoming louder and louder.

Anybody who follows the sport and does so with even slight impartiality realizes that it's not only that the two most recent contesting teams could easily have been from different cities - but, so could have been the team attempting to swap spit with the Lombardi Trophy last Sunday night.

There "has to be a way" to convince Rothlisberger of this truism and also find a solution that will persuade him to either grow up - or move on down the road.