Just saw the news break on Drudge...has another link on how Cowher has warned him about this...but I cant open the link because of traffic.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident this morning on Second Avenue near the 10th Street bridge, police said. The accident happened shortly before 11:25 a.m. He was not wearing a helmet. Police have closed down the bridge, Second Avenue and the Armstrong Tunnels.
The lecture from Cowher: PITTSBURGH (May 6, 2005) -- Despite Kellen Winslow 's accident and his own coach's admonition, Big Ben isn't hopping off his big bike just yet. Ben Roethlisberger was lectured by Steelers coach Bill Cowher on the dangers of riding a motorcycle without a helmet -- as Roethlisberger has been spotted doing recently -- but the quarterback isn't ready to get off his $20,000 cycle. "He talked about being a risk taker and I'm not really a risk taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said as the Steelers opened their minicamp. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe." Asked why he doesn't wear a helmet -- something he wouldn't think about doing on a football field -- Roethlisberger pointed out Pennsylvania's 35-year-old state law requiring helmets to be worn was amended two years ago. "Obviously Pennsylvania doesn't think people need to (wear a helmet)," he said. "There's a law you've got to wear it in football." Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was surprised to hear the NFL offensive rookie of the year is taking such risks so soon after Winslow's accident. The Browns tight end, drafted five spots ahead of Roethlisberger last year, was injured May 1 when he flew off a newly purchased motorcycle after running into a parking lot curb. "Some guys are real good on motorcycles and know what they're doing, but accidents happen," Porter said. "I can't knock the guy for doing it, but it's probably not the wisest thing to do. I don't own a bike because I don't trust them." Porter occasionally gets on a Jet Ski, but he said that's different from steering a motorcycle through heavy traffic. Roethlisberger acknowledged many drivers become distracted when they see him riding, shouting or waving at him. "If I fall off a Jet Ski, I hit the water, and I like my odds," Porter said. "I'm going to get wet. What I say about motorcycles is that concrete is undefeated." Of course, Roethlisberger was, too, as a rookie, going 13-0 during the Steelers' team-record 15-1 regular season before losing to New England in the AFC championship game. The Steelers are understandably cautious about combining a first-round draft choice and a high-speed vehicle. Gabe Rivera, the defensive lineman they chose instead of quarterback Dan Marino in the 1983 draft, was paralyzed after wrecking his sports car midway through his rookie season and hasn't walked since. Many NFL contracts prohibit engaging in dangerous activities, but Roethlisberger's deal apparently doesn't specifically ban motorcycle riding. Cowher didn't criticize Roethlisberger's riding, but is visibly uneasy with it. "I certainly don't condone that," Cowher said. "It (playing pro football) is a very small time in your life and you've got to be very careful -- you can see it documented with Kellen Winslow in Cleveland. There are choices and consequences ... not just in riding motorcycles, but where you go and who you associate with. You have control over them but once you make your decision, they control you." Meanwhile, all players reported to the minicamp, the formal start to the final month of the Steelers' offseason workouts. Most players will remain in town through mid-June for "coaching sessions," daily workouts that technically are voluntary but usually are fully attended.
Holy schnit!!! I've known numerous people who've been badly hurt in motorcycle accidents even when they wear helmets.
Ben Rothlesburger injured ! ben roethlisberger was injured in a motor cycle accident this morning and he had no helmet on. Espn reported that it’s serous!
I can't see some of this stuff because of the firewall at work- if anyone knows anything of his condition please let us know. No helmet on a motorcycle is enough to end your life, and certainly a promising career.
Is it me? or that video..that doesnt look to good. Why would they not just take the cycle off the road unless it was a very bad injury.
Hey sweets I put this in the RIGHT forum about 15 minutes ago! Feel free to visit the original, better, thread, in the NFL Forum. Now get out of the bunker!!! JK
come on how stupid can you be ? hes a NFL quaterback espn reported they closed down 2 blocks any one from pit's got any info on this ?
Koz, The video is showing police officers on a lower part of the bridge..like the lower level of the GW, walking around a bike on the middle of the highway...its tough to see..but they are just checking it out and the roads have been closed...this doesnt look good at all.
I don't get it, these guys make more than any of us will ever see and they're willing to risk it all. If I was pulling down the kind of money Ben R was, you'd better be damm sure that I'd be walking around surrounded by a giant ball of bubble wrap. Makes me think of the Seinfeld episode where George becomes a hand model and enters Jerry's apartment wearing oven mits.
Hahahah that was also the puffy shirt episode. Okay, back on track. I remember seeing something on ESPN about a year ago where they showed him riding around and shit without a helmet, and when asked about it he was just like, "I just don't like helmets" or something like that. Boggles the mind.
Its horrible to presume that this could be bad...but the way it works around here, they close off roads only if they need to have an investigation done concerning a very bad injury or worse. A normal accident and that bike is taken off the road and traffic flows again. Dont understand this at all.
Wow thanks for the update. The only reason I can see for the bike remaining where it is is for accident reconstruction purposes. In post cases that I have seen, if there's a wreck the cops do everything in their power to get things pulled off to the shoulder ASAP so that traffic can resume. Normally, the only time you would have streets closed altogether is in the event of a fatality. However, given the guy is pretty much an icon in PITT and the national spotlight is on this police department, maybe they are just dotting all of the i's and crossing their t's here, going through all of the motions.
