[taco]

Updated: June 12, 2006, 12:34 PM ET
Early indications are injuries not life-threateningESPN.com news services


PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was involved in a motorcycle accident in Pittsburgh on Monday morning.

Witnesses told authorities that the player's motorcycle collided with a car near a downtown intersection and that Roethlisberger's head hit the windshield and was bleeding. Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet when riding.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet. In previous interviews, Roethlisberger has said that he does not like wearing a helmet while wearing a motorcycle.

ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that early indications are the injuries are not life-threatening.

One of his agents, Ryan Tollner, is in route to Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a pre-planned trip and will arrive later Monday.

One witness told KDKA television that Roethlisberger was conscious but appeared disoriented before he was taken from the scene to Mercy Hospital.

A Steelers spokesman is at the hospital and confirmed Roethlisberger is being treated there, but wouldn't provide additional details.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.




Bengals fans are out for blood......

[taco]

just found this from a little over a year ago. Dumbass just wouldnt listen......


Saturday, May 07, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Not even Bill Cowher can separate Ben Roethlisberger from his Harley.

The Steelers' coach had a talk with his star quarterback yesterday morning about "choices and consequences," but, if there was any hope Roethlisberger would quit riding his motorcycle without a helmet, it was dashed by lunchtime. Big Ben won't stop biking.

"It's a choice," Roethlisberger told a news media pack in the Steelers' locker room. "I just get out there and relax, I don't try to take too many risks, I just go out and enjoy myself."

His Easy Rider routine might never have become an issue if it weren't for Kellen Winslow's accident riding a Suzuki GSX-R750 Sunday night in suburban Cleveland. Winslow hit a curb in a parking lot and was ejected from his bike. The Browns' tight end is in Cleveland Clinic with a swollen right knee awaiting an MRI. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that, if the injury prevents Winslow from playing this season, the Browns might try to recoup some of the signing bonus they paid him as part of a six-year, $40 million contract.

That accident, combined with reports that Roethlisberger has been tooling around town helmetless on his Harley, prompted Cowher to have a chat with him yesterday.

"I certainly don't condone that," Cowher said after the Steelers' first minicamp practice. "We talked about it this morning, we don't have to go into great details."

But here is part of what Cowher said he told his quarterback:

"It's a very small time in your life, you've got to be very careful, you can see it documented with Kellen Winslow in Cleveland. There are choices and consequences, there's a lot of scrutiny and, at times, some sacrifices every player has to make -- not just in riding motorcycles, but going out and where you go out and who you associate with.

"You have control over them, but once you make your decision, they control you. The sacrifices they make, while they may seem a lot, they're well worth it. It's a very small time we have to seize this opportunity as a football team, and I asked them all to make sure they make good choices."

Roethlisberger explained that he does not consider the way he rides his Harley sans helmet as taking much risk.

"It's one of those things, where he talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker, I'm pretty conservative and laid back," Roethlisberger said. "So the big thing is just be careful and that's what we do. I think every person that rides is careful. That's the biggest thing, I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we never ride alone we always ride in a group of people, and I think that makes it more safe."

Roethlisberger's contract does not prohibit him from riding motorcycles, even helmetless. The standard NFL contract prohibits risky behavior, but what constitutes risky behavior? Pennsylvania repealed its mandatory helmet law in 2003.

"I think that's my own discretion," Roethlisberger said about not wearing a helmet when he rides. "Obviously, Pennsylvania doesn't think people need to."

Why, then, does he wear a helmet while playing football?

"There's a law," Roethlisberger replied. "You got to wear it in football."

Many states have repealed their helmet laws for motorcyclists over protests from physicians.

"We know that if motorcyclists are not wearing helmets, the risk of head injury and even death increases significantly in accidents," said Ian G. Rawson, Ph.D., president of Hospital Council, on the Children's Hospital Web site.

Winslow did not hurt his head, he injured his knee, but the accident won't deter Roethlisberger from continuing to ride his bike.

"It's one of those things. Unfortunately of all the people who ride around, you don't hear about the people who are safe, you hear about the one incident where someone gets hurt," Roethlisberger said. "It is unfortunate, I feel bad for Kellen and I hope he gets better. I'm riding a Harley, so I'm not doing too much crazy stuff."

Besides the protection it might add, wearing a helmet also would provide Roethlisberger with some privacy while riding around the city. But the attention, he said, doesn't bother him.

"A lot of people just get excited because you can recognize someone easier on that than in your car. A lot of people just wave and say high."

[elroypornlab]

That's fucked up you should have posted those in in a differnat order

[taco]

Originally Posted by elroypornlab

That's fucked up you should have posted those in in a differnat order

yeah but i had to search for the old one, I remember readind that last year. I hope he lives, but as a bengals fan I cant say I hope he plays this year.

[TacoSusio]

Originally Posted by taco

Updated: June 12, 2006, 12:34 PM ET
... In previous interviews, Roethlisberger has said that he does not like wearing a helmet while wearing a motorcycle.
....

I actually prefer not wearing a motorcycle while wearing a helmet, but that's just how I roll.

[gilligan]

that sucks

[Crash]

the brain inside the head is obviously not functioning well enough to want to protect the head which its inside of, so maybe some brain damage will help that out a bit.