Are You Ready to be a Raider?

Earlier this week Roger Goodell came down hard on Ben Roethlisberger by suspending him for six games based on his actions a month ago at a nightclub in Georgia. The suspension can be trimmed down to four games if he can actually keep his junk in his pants for a few months and stay out of trouble. The Steelers also acquired former backup QB Byron Leftwich earlier this week even though they already had Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch on their roster. Finally, multiple outlets are reporting that Pittsburgh is calling teams with a top ten pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to gauge interest on a possible trade for Big Ben. To me there are just too many signals leading up to Roethlisberger getting shipped somewhere before the end of today.

So, where does he go? The Skins, Bucs and Lions more than likely aren’t interested in a quarterback because they have too many other gaps to fill. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Steelers brass has contacted the Rams, 49ers, Browns, Jags, Raiders, Bills and Seahawks and the only ones that said “no” were the Rams and Bills. The Jags need to sell tickets very bad and how can they market the disaster that is Ben? The Seahawks could be a possibility with two picks and the 49ers and Bills need a quarterback, but I suspect they will go young if they go that route at all in the first round. There is also an outside shot the Browns would make a play for Ben since he is from Ohio and they have seven draft picks, but I think Holmgren is too sharp to give up all the youth they are can acquire in return for Roethlisberger.

I think the best bet for a trade is with the Al Davis led Oakland Raiders. They are the only front office stupid enough to give up what the Steelers are more than likely asking for in exchange for their two-time Super Bowl champion QB. Most of the talking heads think Roethlisberger will end up staying, but I think there have been entirely too many leaks if they were truly planning on keeping him. Al Davis has repeatedly made splashes in recent drafts by making outlandish moves and he will not disappoint this year. There is basically zero support in Pittsburgh these days and while that can change with time Ben is currently a public relations nightmare and a black eye the Steelers organization doesn’t deserve. It is now time for the Steelers to give Big Ben what he deserves. Ship his a$$ off to Oakland where he will fit in quite well with all the other degenerates.