What should the Steelers do with Ben?

Anthony Dorunda: Hasta la vista, Big Ben

With the NFL draft over and done with, it's clear that the Steelers will most likely not be trading Big Ben Roethlisberger, even amidst all the speculation that Dan Rooney was considering shipping him out.

But before we jump to conclusions, let me give you some reasons as to why he has exhausted his time in the black and gold and why the Steelers need to rid themselves of the cancer he has become.

Being the avid terrible towel-waver I am, let it be known that this is a sore subject for me. The Steelers are the only true team in pro sports that owns my heart, and it's difficult for me to go against what they believe. But in this case, it's more of a need than a want.

Yes, Big Ben has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles in the past four years. Yes, it's because of his ability to extend plays that they have pulled out a few games that they probably should not have won. And yes, it is because of him that he should be shipped out of town. For good.

There's a time when character has to outweigh talent for those in upper management. Think of it this way. If you were running a company in which your star employee was making you loads of dough, but also running your name into the ground because of his mishaps away from work, would you want him to stay around?

Some would say yes, because he's making them rich. But most would deal with the losses and move on, cleansing their name of all the wrong doings.

That's what should be done here. Ben is a tremendous player; I'm not here arguing he is not. But his off-field issues are becoming way too much for the Steelers, a team that prides itself on its blue collar persona and it's pristine track record in the front office. Each and every off-season the Steelers have to deal with the sex scandals or his wild ways that are bringing negative attention to the team.

Plus, it's Ben's off year this year. Since coming into the league in 2004, the star has developed a trend of having a phenomenal season only to follow it up by a horrible season. This year is that year. Get rid of the problem before it happens. If you don't believe me, here's the proof to back me up (not including his rookie season):
2005: 17 TD's, 9 INT's, 98.6 Rating
2006: 18 TD's, 23 INT's, 75.4 Rating
2007: 32 TD's, 11 INT's, 104.1 Rating
2008: 17 TD's, 15 INT's, 80.1 Rating
2009: 26 TD's, 12 INT's, 100.5 Rating
 2010: ????

Pittsburgh, you axed Santonio Holmes off the roster after a slight mishap that has not even been proven, yet you let Roethlisberger, the star QB, the face of the team, the guy who is scarring your reputation, stay on during each and every tumultuous decision he makes. What is going on here?

I don't care who this guy is, enough is enough. He has obviously shown that he does not have the mental capacity to act like a professional off the football field, and eventually his lackluster apologies are going to mean as much as Bin Laden apologizing for the terrorist attacks.

Do yourself a favor Pittsburgh, and ship the problem off to another team to deal with. I'm sure Al Davis would be more than willing to inherit another problem child.

Daniel Kautz: Shipping Roethlisberger not in Pittsburgh's best interest

While I am certainly not defending Ben Roethlisberger's recent actions, I would not trade him from a pure business sense; he has simply lost too much of his value in the eyes of other teams (as evidenced by the fact that the Steelers were unsuccessful in shopping him before the draft) in order to make it worthwhihle.   However, he can still be a successful leader for the Steelers, both in the locker room and on the field.  Allow me, for a moment, to recap his accomplishments since entering the league as the 11th pick in the 2004 draft: nearly 20,000 passing yards, a 63.3 career completion percentage, a quarterback rating of 91.7 and two Super Bowl rings.

Not too shabby.

Now let's entertain the possibility that the Steelers trade the man who is still affectionately called "Big Ben" in and around Pittsburgh. Are Steelers' fans really looking forward to hearing that their team is being quarterbacked by Charlie Batch, or even Byron Leftwich? Do you seriously think that this team has the potential to find itself higher than .500 come week seven, when Ben is reinstated? Save me their accomplishments or history, people- they're back ups for a reason.

Roethlisberger is, for better or for worse, this team's quarterback.

Does that mean that the Steelers should not begin looking for a future alternative to Ben? Of course not; the man has sustained four concussions in his career, and will almost assuredly see the bench or another team if he receives another.

The simple fact of the matter is that for right now, there exists no better alternative than Ben. Add to that the fact the team is fairly shallow at receiver with the recent departure of Santonio Holmes, meaning that the Steelers will need to rely on an experienced, veteran quarterback to get the ball into the hands of their wideouts.

The Steelers missed the playoffs last season, but if they remain healthy and consistent on offense in Ben's absence this season, there is a chance that they could return and make some noise. Should the Steelers reach the promised land in 2011, do you really think the majority of their fans will care about his offseason transgressions? That is not meant to sound heartless or insensitive, but it is what I believe to be the truth.

Sports in our modern society are centered on results, plain and simple. Sordid tales of Tiger Woods's affairs spread across the media for nearly three months before he returned to the Masters- and he was cheered on by throngs of supporters who apparently could not have cared less. For those special athletes who become integral to their franchise or sport, we are more concerned with what happens behind the rope- or on the gridiron- than what we see in our papers and blogs.

Could Ben Roethlisberger's days be numbered in Pittsburgh? I would not doubt it. But is moving him now the Steelers' best move? Depends on how they think their fans will react.

You know my take.