National Post (National Edition)
Steelers and Saints in a quarterback crisis
BIG BEN DONE FOR SEASON, WHILE BREES OUT 6-8 WEEKS
Bye-bye, Big Ben. Bye for now, Drew Brees. And the bench might finally be beckoning for Eli.
In a day of seismic news involving aging, future Hall of Fame NFL quarterbacks, the Pittsburgh Steelers provided the most wobbling of temblors by announcing midday Monday that 37-year-old Ben Roethlisberger is out for the season with a serious elbow injury.
That news followed numerous morning reports claiming Brees, the 40-yearold New Orleans Saints starter since 2006, will miss at least the next 6-8 weeks. Some reports said Brees had surgery planned for as early as Monday to repair ligament damage to the thumb on his right throwing hand. But the Saints later Monday said no such determination had yet been reached.
Those shockers preceded New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur’s deliberate decision to refuse to confirm at his midday Monday news conference whether 38-year-old Eli Manning will start Sunday at Tampa Bay after meh performances in a pair of decisive season-opening losses. Manning has been the Giants’ starting QB since 2004, the same year Roethlisberger began his NFL career as Pittsburgh’s premier passer.
Aftershocks from these quakes will be felt throughout the 2019 NFL season.
Let’s assess each situation.
BEN ROETHLISBERGER
As the first half of Pittsburgh’s eventual 28-26 loss on Sunday to Seattle progressed, Roethlisberger began shaking his right arm after his throws, in obvious discomfort or pain.
He did not play in the second half. Second-year QB Mason Rudolph did and the 24-year-old actually played pretty well, completing 12of-19 for 112 yards and two touchdowns against a deep interception on his second throw.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin released the following statement Monday:
“Ben Roethlisberger had an MRI on his right elbow Sunday evening and it was determined by the Steelers’ medical team that surgery will be required. We expect the surgery will be scheduled for this week. He will be placed on our Reserve/ Injured List and is out for the season.”
It appears Roethlisberger had elbow issues previous to Sunday. After Sunday’s game, Rudolph alluded to having practised a lot last week, and on Monday told reporters he had heard Roethlisberger came out of Week 1’s loss at New England with an elbow issue.
The Steelers on Monday promoted Rudolph to starter and must quickly sign a backup. Their third-string quarterback in training camp, Josh Dobbs, is now property of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Roethlisberger signed a two-year, US$68-million extension with the Steelers in April, which keeps him under contract through 2021.
DREW BREES
Brees reportedly has a torn ligament in his right (throwing) thumb. It was damaged Sunday in Los Angeles, midway through the first quarter in the Saints’ eventual 27-9 loss to the Rams.
While following through on a third-down incompletion, Brees smashed his right hand into the raised, swatting hand of Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald — fluke contact, fluke injury. TV cameras caught Brees on the sidelines moments later unable to so much as pick up a football with his right hand.
Reports Monday morning said Brees would have, or likely would have, surgery to repair the ligament damage. But on an afternoon conference call Saints head coach Sean Payton refused to confirm as much, saying nothing has been finalized.
“They’re still in the midst of evaluating it,” Payton said, per the team’s website. “He’s had one opinion, (he’s) having a second opinion. As soon as we know something that we can confirm, then we’ll report it. But right now, that’s kind of the stage we’re in.
“Hopefully, the news is good and the length of time — if there is any — that he’s out will be shorter than longer. But, again, that’s part of our sport.”
Brees is in his 19th pro season and 14th in New Orleans. He said after Sunday’s game he had had an X-ray done, but insisted “it’s all up in the air right now.”
For speculative purposes, then, here’s the Saints’ schedule over the next eight weeks: at Seattle, vs. Dallas, vs. Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville, at Chicago, vs. Arizona, bye, vs. Atlanta.
ELI MANNING
Giants head coach Shurmur on Monday cracked open the door to a quarterback change, from Manning to Daniel Jones, a six-footfive, 220-pound rookie drafted No. 6 overall in April.
Manning, the nominal Giants starter since midway through his rookie season in 2014, has been under fire for years from fans and media in the Big Apple area, unsatisfied with his inconsistent, unprolific play.
“Obviously, Eli’s been our starter to this point. I’m not ready to get into any of those conversations about any position,” Shurmur said of the prospect of a switch to Jones.
Before Monday night’s game, Manning possessed the league’s No. 25 passer rating so far this season, a substandard 78.7.
Asked specifically about a switch, Shurmur would not rule it out.
“We’re gonna talk about everything we’re doing moving forward,” Shurmur said. “I think that’s fair at this point.”
At his locker-room stall, Manning put his best face on all the speculation, even after being told what Shurmur had told reporters.
“I have to get ready to play a game, nothing changes … business as usual,” Manning said at first. “Get ready for Tampa and figure out a way to win.”