I'm not a fan of Big Ben's (nor of the Steelers) but I have to defend him. Pounding the table about the "helmet issue" is not pertinent to this story. He was sitting, legally, waiting to turn legally, and was hit and nearly impaled through her windshield. She didn't see him. The helmet would have saved his face injuries but let's wait and see if some improvement might have occurred (just kidding). But wearing a helmet would not have prevented this accident. He breaks his clavicle anyway and it wouldn't have done his neck any favors bouncing off the windshield.

I'm ok with the helmet law, though ordinarily, I view such a law as the "nanny state" protecting stupid people from their own choices, to which I believe they are entitled. Once the gene pool thins out a bit, no such laws will be necessary.

But, Ben broke no law and violated no codicile in his contract with the Steelers. He is the victim of an accident, no smarter nor more stupid than thousands of other law-abiding young daredevils enjoying the sweet success that only a few get to taste. Save the helmet discussion for a situation where it is pertinent.

Not really a big deal, except Roethlisberger is one of those athletes ESPN chooses to overexpose. So everybody is told that this is a big deal, when in reality it isn't.

Really not that big of a deal. . .the story happened out-of-season when not much else was going on. . .

Today Roethlisberger made his first public announcement since his motorcycle accident on June 12th, when he was rushed to the hospital after having been hit by a car when he was riding his motorcycle without a helmet. He was pretty messed up, and left the ER with a broken jaw and some missing teeth. When I heard the news that day I was fired up, and I don't even like the Steelers. Even Terry Bradshaw told him a year back - save that crap for when your retired. You can't expect the guy to live in a bubble during the offseason but at least take the right precautions - like obeying the law and wearing property equipment when taking your bike out. In his statement, Roethlisberger apologized to fans and teammates for putting himself in jeopordy. He also apologized to coach Cowher, who had to cut his vacation at Hilton Head short with a trip to a Pittsburg hospital back in June. Apparently the injury was almost fatal because he broke an artery in his lip and blood was filling up his stomach. Fortunately it looks like he's had a full recovery, and maybe his accident will serve as a lesson for some to be more careful.