Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
NFL NOTEBOOK Steelers’ Roethlisberger done for season
Ben Roethlisberger likes to point out that he’s played through the end of every contract he’s ever signed. It’s tangible proof of the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s commitment both to the game itself and the franchise he’s led to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
That commitment will be tested over the coming months.
The 37-year-old’s aching right elbow needs surgery. His 16th season is over. Maybe his likely Hall of Fame career, too. And the keys to the offense Roethlisberger operated so deftly for so long are now in the hands of backup Mason Rudolph, who was in elementary school when the player known universally as Big Ben became a full-fledged NFL starter in the fall of 2004.
“It’s kind of sucky circumstance with our leader and good friend going down,” Rudolph said Monday after the team placed Roethlisberger on injured reserve. “He would want me to step up and lead to the best of my ability. That’s what I’ve always believed in and that’s what I’m going to do.”
The end of Roethlisberger’s season arrived suddenly. The Steelers were moving down the field late in the second quarter against Seattle on Sunday when he twice clutched his elbow following pass attempts. Though he stayed in for the remainder of the drive, when the Steelers came out for the second half, their captain wore a white baseball cap and watched from the sideline as they lost 28-26 to drop to 0-2.
Roethlisberger underwent an MRI late Sunday. While the nature of Roethlisberger’s injury hasn’t been disclosed, team doctors decided surgery was the best course of action. He’ll undergo the procedure later this week. There is no timetable for any possible return.
Sources say Fitzpatrick traded to Steelers: Miami Dolphins defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick got his wish and was traded Monday night to the Steelers for a first-round draft pick in 2020, two people familiar with the negotiations said.
The people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced it. The teams will also swap late-round picks.
Fitzpatrick was displeased about his role with the Dolphins. He requested and received permission to seek a trade before playing free safety for Miami in Sunday’s 43-0 loss to New England, when he had six tackles and a fumble recovery.
The rebuilding Dolphins (0-2), who have purged their roster to accumulate draft picks, now have three first-round choices in 2020. While putting a priority on the future, they’ve been outscored 102-10 in their first two games.
The Steelers (0-2) can use Fitzpatrick’s help. In two games they’ve allowed 640 yards through the air and six touchdown passes. They’re also reeling from the loss of Roethlisberger to an elbow injury.
Fitzpatrick was the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, but quickly became unhappy after Brian Flores took over as Miami’s coach this year.
Brees injures thumb, may miss six weeks: Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been diagnosed with a torn ligament near the thumb of his throwing hand that is expected to sideline him at least six weeks, said a person familiar with the situation.
Brees has elected to have surgery, but it is not yet clear when the operation will take place or who will perform it, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the diagnosis has not been announced.
Brees left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter after the thumb on his right hand hit the hand of on-rushing Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald on the follow trough of a throw.
The Saints lost the game 27-9, with backup Teddy Bridgewater going 17 for 30 passing for 165 yards during the last three-plus quarters.
Saints coach Sean Payton declined on Monday to go into detail about Brees’ condition or even rule him out for this Sunday’s game in Seattle.
Bridgewater, a second-year Saints who returned to New Orleans this season on a one-year, $7.2 million freeagent deal, is the primary backup.
Taysom Hill, who was with the Green Bay Packers in 2017 but was released during the final roster cuts before the regular season, is the third string QB. It remains to be seen how his playing time at various positions will be affected if he is elevated to second-string QB while Brees is out.
The Saints, meanwhile, also signed Payton to an extension running through the 2024 season.
The club, which announced the extension before Sunday’s game against the Rams in Los Angeles, did not disclose financial details.
Payton had been earning about $9 million per year in a contract that was due to expire after the 2020 season.
Payton is the most successful coach in franchise history, having won the club’s only Super Bowl in the 2009 season and coached New Orleans to a total of seven playoff appearances and three NFC title games.
Before kicking off against the Rams, Payton had a career regular-season record of 119-74 with New Orleans.
Ramsey seeks trade: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey has requested a trade following a sideline argument with Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone.
The Jags are willing to entertain offers.
Ramsey’s agent asked the Jags to move the disgruntled defender after Ramsey and Marrone got into a heated exchange during the team’s 13-12 loss at Houston, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Ramsey’s agent, David Mulugheta, confirmed to ESPN that he asked the Jags to trade his client.
Brown’s status in question after strong debut: Antonio Brown had a stellar debut with the New England Patriots.
Whether he will have an opportunity for a repeat performance this week will be up to the NFL.
Brown led the Patriots with four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown during New England’s 43-0 win over Dolphins on Sunday.
Now as the Patriots prepare to host the New York Jets, Brown and the team must again wait and see if looming sexual assault and rape allegations against him will make him subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
On Monday, the NFL declined to comment on when it was meeting with Britney Taylor, a former trainer of Brown who filed a civil lawsuit in Florida last week alleging he sexually assaulted her on three occasions between 2017 and 2018. But the league told the Patriots last week that it planned to open an investigation into the matter.
Brown has denied the allegations made in the lawsuit. Darren Heitner, a lawyer representing Brown, told The Associated Press his client plans to countersue.
Sports Illustrated also published a story Monday afternoon in which a second woman, an unnamed artist, alleged that Brown exposed himself to her while she was working on a mural for him. Brown also denied those allegations through his attorney.