Malingering Steelers

Don't recall that. I remember Franco Harris in the twilight of his career would head for the sideline instead of taking a hit but I sure the hell won't fault him for that.

 

He didn't fake an injury to get out of playing. He was injured when training camp started in 2000 and said he was afraid the team was going to cut him to get rid of his salary, so he acted as if he hurt the knee during a drill. That way, the team couldn't cut him. Bettis started all 16 games that season, and it was actually one of his best as a Steeler.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2986809

What you are talking about is an entirely different matter, and there is no evidence whatsoever that supports your ridiculous claim.

 

I don't think he was making a claim. He just asked a question. Big difference I think

 

I agree with the OP. Watt and Haden don't show up when it counts. It's a pattern with them.

 

Read the OP and his subsequent post about Watt. He did make claims about both. He accused Haden of sitting out so he can be healthy when he goes looking for his next contract, and he claimed that Watt quit on the team Sunday. Neither accusation is supported by any evidence. Based on what we have seen from both players this year and in past seasons, both accusations are ridiculous.

 

Yeah, Watt just sucked when the Steelers needed him against the Ravens a couple of weeks ago.

 

Where was he vs. the Vikings? Lions? I call BS on that crap.

 

The original post could very well be correct. Haden might be protecting his career. That type of behavior is a byproduct of sucking . This happens to bad teams. Its also a byproduct of the nfl cba. I get why good players would want to protect their careers when a team refuses to give them a contract.

that said there’s zero evidence that is the case . Im also pretty sure good players buy an insurance policy to protect them against career ending injuries so it’s probably less of an issue then you think.

 

Watt won the Seattle and Ravens games by making a play at the end, I guess that doesn't count .

 

Agree, not the exact scenario. Nonetheless, a little deception on the part of The Bus to protect himself.

Watt's an incredible talent, as is Haden. Watt had a "tweak" after down 29-0 at the half. I'd put money on it late in that 4th quarter Watt was on the sidelines wishing he had his pads on. The most important game of the season, Ben leading another comeback, and our $90M dollar man is nursing a tweak on the sidelines.

Aren't those the moments you push through for your team?

 

Zero evidence, and certainly a (probably dumb) hot take on my part. Thanks for the discussion. Didn't realize there are insurance policies in place for stuff like this.

 

You said it was a pattern. Less than half a game against the Vikings during which he was injured doesn't qualify.

Against the Lions, Watt had one sack, two more quarterback hits, and two of his five tackles were for losses. He dominated the Ravens in a game the Steelers had to have. He had three sacks in a close victory over the Bears. He won the Seattle game for them with the strip sack in overtime. He led a dominant pass rushInjuries have definitely been an issue this season, but to claim that there is a pattern of Watt not showing up when it counts is simply you demonstrating your ignorance.

 

It is a completely different scenario. Bettis was trying to protect his roster spot. His deception had nothing to do with missing games. In fact, he played in every regular-season game that year.

Watt left with the injury before halftime. It might have even been in the first quarter. The score was 23-0 at the half, not 29-0. Is it possible that the team told him to shut it down for the night because the game looked hopeless? That seems more likely than Watt avoiding playing in the game. You do realize that coaches and medical personnel make those decisions, right?

 

Thank you! TJ taking plays off and quitting on the team is ridiculous.

 

I sure am glad Watt is a Steeler. He's incredible. Was really disappointed to see him in civvies on the sidelines Thursday night. Haden is a different feeling altogether. He's looking for his next K. A serious injury in this stage of the game (with nothing to play for) could cost him millions. Do you risk that for a team who won't sign you back?

Yup, fully acknowledge the differences with the Bettis scenario. Nonetheless, he still gamed the system (for all of our benefit!).

I think you nailed it though. More likely than not, the Staff shut him down. Coming off a short week against the Ravens, and the type of game he had, you just have to know his body was exhausted from the sort of output against Baltimore. Coaches probably pulled the plug.

 

There is nothing in Haden's history that suggests he would quit on his team like that. Remember, even going into the Minnesota game, the Steelers still had a decent shot at the playoffs. I get being frustrated by the injuries. It seems as if you want to justify being mad at players for getting hurt.

 

This brings up an interesting point - the smartness of players. Franco was stepping out of bounds early in his career and was being criticized by Jim Brown about it. Franco's response was to be smart by not taking an unnecessary hit for a half yard. The 70s Steelers had a whole bunch of cerebral players from Joe Greene suggesting the slant 4-3, to Wagner being able to recognize a formation and learning from a mistake, to Ham, Lambert, etc. Their cerebral play was as much of a factor as their talent for making them hall of fame players. A lot of that was the teaching of Noll. He told Andy Russell by moving his foot a certain way, it would make him a better linebacker. The 2005 and 2008 teams had guys like Farrior, Polamalu, Faneca, and others that played smart. Smart players in the culture of Tomlin are few and far between.

 

The worst thing for an old player to do is stay on IR. They have to show they can produce for a new contract. Now some 3rd year breakout talent who doesn't want to get hurt in a meaningless December? I could buy that.

 

And I thought it was Joe Jacoby.

 

Having his leg snapped in half by LT surely played it's part...

 

What's your take on Haden, if you don't mind me asking?

Was his team getting pummeled at the half? Was it just a "tweak" and he was good to go the following week?

 

Except I would add the players and coaching squad as kittens as well. Hardly any hard-nosed players with grit these days. Just worried about dancing, music and coaching staff not being too hard on them.

 

I think Joe Haden is genuinely hurt. He doesn’t strike me as a selfish player and I dont see the benefit for him in not playing. Who wants a 33 year old player that hasn’t played the previous season due to injury? Nobody, that who.

If he wants a new contract in Pittsburgh or even away from Pittsburgh the best thing he could do for himself is be available and go out and ball.

As for Watt not showing up when it matters that is laughable quite frankly, he makes game changing plays all the time and has done his whole career, Chicago and Seattle game most recently for example. Nobody can single handedly win every game for their team and cover over the very substantial cracks that exist on the defence all the time. This is not a great team and they are going to lose some games unfortunately.