Bradshaw Tells Big Ben What Time It Is

Terry Bradshaw spells it out for Ben Roethlisberger
By MJD/Shutdown Corner

When Terry Bradshaw quarterbacked for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the perception among fans and players was that Bradshaw was, to put it kindly, a simple-minded man.

Maybe that perception was fair, maybe it wasn't. Given recent events, though, I think we can safely say that Bradshaw can never be known as the dumbest Steelers quarterback of all time. Ben Roethlisberger has wrestled that title away, about as forcefully as Mike Tyson took his first world title from Trevor Berbick.

Speaking at the annual Terry Bradshaw-Kix Brooks Golf Tournament on Monday, Bradshaw was asked about Roethlisberger's recent unsavory issues. Here's the advice Bradshaw laid out for Roethlisberger:

"I hardly ever went a club -- ever -- in 14 years in Pittsburgh. Count 'em on one hand. I was petrified of the problems you can get into. And I almost got into -- it's there, believe me.

"There's nothing greater if you're single than to walk into a bar with beautiful women, and have them just fill your ego up. And you ask yourself, 'Would they pay any attention to you if you weren't, you know, who you are?' Of course not. Because I'm not that attractive, and neither is Ben. So it's nice that you can do that (Bradshaw flicks his arm, mimicking throwing a football).

"But he's got to be careful. Stay out -- I don't want to give him any advice, because he's not going to pay attention to me. [...] He's got an image problem right now. Best thing to do is don't ever put yourself in that position again. When you're through playing football, do whatever you want to do, but right now, stay clean. Stay out of trouble. Stay out of bars. Keep yourself clean."

What was that bit about Roethlisberger not paying any attention to Bradshaw? Well, as it turns out, they don't like each other. Bradshaw explained:

"Our relationship is not any good. When I told him to park the motorcycle, he got pissed. Alright? Then he had the accident. And since then, there's, you know ... he doesn't like me, and I'm learning not to like him."

It certainly is starting to seem like Big Ben is a bit childish. If you can't put your ego away to take advice from the best quarterback in your franchise's history then you probably have some problems with unrealistically high self esteem. And I think Bradshaw makes a good point. Would all these drunk chicks be hounding Big Ben down for his hog if he weren't a high profile pro athlete? I think Ryan Leaf probably knows the answer to that question. I can certainly understand why Big Ben would want to make the best of an opportunity like that but for now he probably needs to just throw house parties. And if he happens to get a girl into bed there probably needs to be an impromptu contract signing and a witness in the room. Hey, if Terry truly wants to lend a hand maybe he can watch.

P.S. - Is it just me or does Big Ben look a lot like actor Peter Stormare?