Ben and Hines are breaking up

[skippy]

Ben Roethlisberger likes tall guys; Hines Ward no longer likes Ben Roethlisberger

By MJD
Friday, Jan 25, 2008 12:35 pm EST

Ben Roethlisberger recently expressed a desire for the Steelers to acquire a tall receiver, which, at least to me, doesn't sound like an unreasonable request. As it turns out, though, it made Hines Ward so mad that he's vowed to never again taste Big Ben's Beef Jerky.

In Ben's defense, he didn't make the request in any kind of a way that was disparaging to the Steelers current receivers. In fact, he went out of his way to make the point that he liked them:

"I'm always going to ask for a tall receiver," Roethlisberger said in an interview with the Post-Gazette. "That's just me. Our receivers are unbelievable, but our tallest guy might be Hines. Or Santonio [Holmes]. Hines is going to say he's 6 foot, but he's 5-11."

That doesn't sound so inflammatory. But here are some of the things that Hines told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in response:

"I don't hear Tom Brady or Peyton Manning asking for that."

"I don't know, whatever he says. I have no idea. To me, it's a rare combination of receivers out there who are good and tall. We won a Super Bowl, we didn't have a tall receiver then. I don't see Tom Brady caring about who's tall or not. He got Randy this year, but he did it before without him.''

"To me, I have enough problems to worry about than what Ben wants -- I can't give him the contract. He wants a tall receiver? Why did we draft Santonio [Holmes]?"

Uh-oh ... someone's got a little man complex. That seems like a gross overreaction to an innocuous statement about a preference for a receiver with some height.

I'll say this for Ben, too: When he did play alongside Plaxico Burress with the Steelers, Plax made a ton of plays for him. Any time Ben got in trouble, he'd scramble, and it seemed like he always ended up looking for Plax downfield. They made a lot of plays that way.

Not that I don't enjoy the public sniping, but I think Hines is just going to have to get over this one. I think it's obvious, judging from the number of times that Rothelisberger throws Ward's way, that Roethlisberger likes him and thinks he's a good receiver.

So Ben likes tall guys ... so what? that doesn't mean you aren't special in your own way, Hines. It's not you, it's Ben. It's about what he's going through right now. At this point in his life, he just wants to be with someone who doesn't have to sit on seven phone books to be able to drive. I'm sure you two can still be friends.

• Ward blindsided by Big Ben's comments / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[natty]

This is some US Weekly type stuff....cant believe this was all over ESPN radio earlier last week

[skippy]

Originally Posted by natty

This is some US Weekly type stuff....cant believe this was all over ESPN radio earlier last week

Looks like Ben is trying to shift the blame to someone else. Ben wasn't complaining when they won the Super Bowl. Did Hines shrink a few inches the last couple of years??

Speaking of shrinkage.....this created an ugly image in my head after reading it.

Ben Roethlisberger recently expressed a desire for the Steelers to acquire a tall receiver, which, at least to me, doesn't sound like an unreasonable request. As it turns out, though, it made Hines Ward so mad that he's vowed to never again taste Big Ben's Beef Jerky.

[bambino66]

2 things about these 2 guys...

1) Ben is a drama queen and

2) Hines is a whining little bitch....

Other than that I dont have a problem with either one of them...

[cuse_man]

Ben thinks hes a great one... hah

[pough]

in all fairness to ben, when you've won the sb you can start complaining about stuff like this.

in support of hines, steve smith from the panthers is the best reciever in the league, and he's 5'9".

[Steel]

It upset Hines because Hines is a complete receiver and goes 110% on every play. Ben asking for a tall receiver before the draft ? I see no problem with this and I am sure Hines doesn't either. Ben is going to get a new contract and Hines is already signed. No one is going anywhere so this is all for nothing.

Bambino, a little shocked by your comments. After all Ben and Hines have done for the Steelers I can't see where your going with a comment like that.

[bambino66]

Originally Posted by Steel

It upset Hines because Hines is a complete receiver and goes 110% on every play. Ben asking for a tall receiver before the draft ? I see no problem with this and I am sure Hines doesn't either. Ben is going to get a new contract and Hines is already signed. No one is going anywhere so this is all for nothing.

Bambino, a little shocked by your comments. After all Ben and Hines have done for the Steelers I can't see where your going with a comment like that.

Steel, believe me I love these 2 guys as football players...Ward gives 110% on every play and Ben got us to the Super Bowl with a helluva run in the AFC playoffs...

However my problem with both of them is off the field....People say Cowher was a jagoff and trust me it was true...But Bill was a jagoff on and off the camera....Ben and Hines havent met a camera they didnt like....But turn that camera off and you get 2 different guys....Same thing with Bettis...Great guy when that camera is rolling, but look out when it was off....