Former Steelers running back Josh Harris says Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose late in a 2014 game because he wanted to spite offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who had called an offensive play when Roethlisberger thought the Steelers’ lead was large enough to kneel down.
It was the very last game of the 2014 regular season, Bengals-Steelers with the AFC North on the line. The Steelers had the ball and a 27-17 lead with 1:09 to play, and they could have just kneeled three times to run out the clock. But the coaching staff decided to call a play. That’s when, according to Harris, Roethlisberger fumbled intentionally.
“Todd Haley called a run play with very little time left in the game,” Harris wrote on Twitter. “Ben wanted to kneel. He rolled his eyes in the huddle. He then purposely fumbles the ball. I had to recover it. At that moment I knew what kinda person he was.”
Harris, lined up at running back in an I-formation, said he was supposed to get the handoff on the play, and Roethlisberger intentionally stuck the ball out in front of fullback Will Johnson to cause a fumble. After Harris recovered the fumble, Roethlisberger kneeled to run out the clock on the next play.
“And I was a fan of Ben,” Harris wrote. “I was star struck when I first saw him. It was an honor to see Big Ben. Then I saw what he was. It made it sour for me. That’s why they tell you never meet your hero’s.”
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Also, side note, Ben was right to want to kneel. No clue why people in decision making positions on an NFL sideline don't understand math. When you can run the clock out by kneeling, why call a play?
Suppose the Bengals ran it in for a touchdown, got the ensuing onsides kick, got 30-40 yards on a pass interference, and sent the game to overtime?
Suppose the Bengals ran it in for a touchdown, got the ensuing onsides kick, got 30-40 yards on a pass interference, and sent the game to overtime?
Not a chance. When has that type of fumble ever happened before to change a game.....?
Good friend of mine is a die hard Steelers fan, always tells me Big Ben is a scumbag and he can't wait to move on from him.
+1
?
Since they were not able to finish the trade before their pick, their choice came down to drafting Roethlisberger as their second choice or drafting Rivers and hoping they could successfully consummate the trade.
I wanted Eli, but was leery of them drafting Rivers to make that happen. I thought it gave too much of an advantage to the Chargers as they knew that the Giants did not really want Rivers.
But it worked out, though you would be hard pressed to concede that given the Eli hate in this group.