Not Writing About Ben Roethlisberger

My No. 7 jersey went out with the trash many months ago.  I promised I wouldn't have anything more to say about Ben Roethlisberger.  My tweet to Channel 10 in Columbus made the cut, it was a succinct statement of my regards for the Steelers quarterback:  "Trade him."

But he didn't get traded, yet.

So, I'm not so much writing about Ben Roethlisberger, but answering my mind's own questions about how to cheer for the Steelers team without cheering for their quarterback.

I can't, and won't, cheer for Ben Roethisberger. 

It's not my job to judge him.  That's true.  It's also not my job to forgive, either.  It is, however, my job to reconcile whether I hold him in high enough regard to root him on or not.  I choose not.

Here's my thinking:

I can cheer for a touchdown pass caught by one of this teammates.  The NFL doesn't let you throw the ball to yourself in a forward pass, so that means any forward pass will be caught by a different Steelers' player.  For that, I can cheer.

The same goes for a handoff.  I can cheer when Mendenhall scores.

Should Ben himself run in for a touchdown, I will cheer.  This ones a bit harder, but, again, his ten other fieldmates had a part in that play.  I'm cheering for them when I cheer.

What can I direct in terms of encouragement?  I can deliver a loud, long boo at No. 7.  Though its doubtful my schedule sees me at a Steeler game in person this 2010-2011 season, I'll be joining from my home with the horde of Pittsburgh fans who will, without a doubt, be booing when Bad Ben takes the field.

It will be brutal.  Brutal.