Ben says he may have been targeted by the Niners

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/58434/on-big-bens-suggestion-49ers-targeted-him

 

I love having Ben as our QB, but sometimes I wish he would just shut up.

 

he really doesnt complain that much about the hits he takes imagine if say Brady took some of the hits Ben does he would be all over talking about them till there were rule changes! justsaying

 

If there was any ounce of truth to his comments I wouldn't have a problem with it, but come on. If you go watch that game there wasn't a a single play that looked the least bit shady. There's a colossal difference between bounties (which is what Dan Patrick asked him about), and the fact that he got beat up because our OL looked like a revolving door in that game.

I'm not sure anyone went anywhere near his ankle in that game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr9ZF2CzJTg

 

I agree. Ben was asked a question and he answered honestly and even prefaced his comments by saying he doesn't complain about hits. And he emphasized that "...for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it (to get hit hard)." What's the big deal? Oh yeah, here's the big deal: ESPN has blown this way out of proportion, as they always do. Again (and I have been called out for bring this up before) ESPN has a real jones for stirring up anti-Steeler fervor.

 

Look I'm not going to blame ESPN the same way I didn't blame Bouchette when he blew up the "Ben hasn't talked to Haley" crap. They're writers, that's their job.

It seems that I along with all of you understand that, so why would Ben not understand that? Don't give the media a headline! When Dan Patrick asked Ben about bounties he could've said "no, I haven't seen anything like that." And it would've been true, because to say the Niners had any bounty on Ben whatsoever is trash.

 

True. Good point.

 

The reporter has taken Ben to be saying that defenders were targetting his injured ankle (though technically he says "I had an ankle when I played", though I think we know what he meant. Otherwise an odd statement). He doesn't actually say that: he says he had an injury, and he felt there was some targetting of him because of that - not that they're going for his ankle. Alternative interpretation, for example: his mobility is slowed, so the 49ers blitz more as they have more chance of catching him.

I don't want to sound like a homer, and I agree that Ben could give less material to the press sometimes, but I think the journo here has analysed a throwaway comment to quite a degree.

 

If you click the link contained in the article, it gives more of what Ben said. This may clarify things a bit:

Ben basically said he couldn't say much about the bounty issue. The Niners comment came after this, when he was asked if anyone had gone for his knees, ankle, etc. I think he was referring back to the earlier quote where he was talking about the poking going on under the pile, not bounty hunting.

 

Thanks for this, alienux, it clarifies things well.

 

my first response would be: DUH you think? My second thought would be gee Ben you didn't move at all in the pocket, lined up in shotgun the entire game and winced in pain every other play, heck even pop warner coaches would have targeted you as the weak link and sent the house. Jam the receivers at the line and blitz all game long because he wasn't moving at all, sitting duck. He should have never played in that game.

 

Yeah, I was a little confused before I found that, but it made more sense in context.

 

No Visual Proof that 49ers Targeted Big Ben
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/47935/no-visual-proof-that-49ers-targeted-big-ben

 

Right, if he's talking about pokes under the pile, which is what I was getting at before, there wouldn't be much, if any, visual evidence.

 

All QB's are targets for opposing defenses.

 

Thank you someone finally said it !

 

I'm still more concerned that the coaches even let him play in this game. That's the biggest problem.

 

YA Ben yapped in BA's ear who in turn yapped in MT's ear cause and effect

 

finally, a voice of reason.............. someone needs to quote this and send it to ben's twitter account!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ben wasn't even close to 50%. He couldn't even move and they had to change the way they called that game due to his inability to even slide around in the pocket. Not only that, but he couldn't even plant his foot to make the throws. I have played competitive sports at a high level and I agree with what you're saying that athletes don't ever want to come out, but he was so badly injured he really should have known better.

The coaches absolutely should have known better and should never have allowed him to play.

 

People see what they want to see....What I saw was Ben answering a question....with the 49ers came at me a little extra....followed up with...I expect to be tougher than them.....and I read on here how stupid he is for opening his mouth again, and why would they not target him.....of which he said they should..and he expects it.

HACK

 

Ben just seems to come across as awkward at times. It seems like everything he says results in controversy, even when that's not his intention. I think he just has one of those personalities. It's not just people on this site, analysts and fans of other teams say the same things about him, that's he's a drama queen, attention whore, fakes injuries, etc. Whether he is or isn't those things isn't my point, it's that he seems easy to dislike.

He'll never get the love that Rodgers, Brady, Manning or Brees do, and part of that is his sexual assault allegations, but I think part of it is just his personality rubs some people the wrong way (me being one of those people).