Did Richard Seymour punch Ben Roethlisberger? Should we care?
Posted on Monday, November 22, 2010 at 03:25 AM
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To paraphrase Paul Hogan, ‘That’s not a punch…’Last night amidst the chaos of the volatile Pittsburgh v Oakland game, Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour (left, styling)) was ejected for ‘punching’ Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.
What’s really interesting is how this is being reported across the online sporting media
First of all, what a completely stunning, misleading smoke screen. In last nights game the Steelers played one of the dirtiest 60 minutes in recent memory in the NFL.
Not the Raiders, the Steelers. Remember, this is the team whose player, James Harrison, said earlier this season he would be happy to injure people in the course of a game. Last night the Steelers committed 163 yards in penalties, including six personal fouls to break the club record of 154 yards set against Cincinnati in 1989. One of those included Harrison slamming Raiders QB Jason Campbell to the turf in an act that could have caused serious injury.
Harrison risks a player’s career (literally) and gets a penalty and no further rebuke, Seymour objects to a Steelers player taunting him after a score, and is ejected.
Having seen the incident, and having seen it again on video (probably now taken down by the video Nazis at NFL HQ), Seymour did not punch Roethlisberger. He shoved him out of his face, after Roethlisberger foolishly ‘got in his grill’ after the Steelers scored.
Check the screenshots out below, you can see Roethlisberger approach Seymour, who angrily shoves him away, only for Roethlisberger to fall to the ground as if a hidden sniper just took him out.
If you didn’t see the incident, and instead read what ESPN or any of the other big media outlets are describing this morning, you would think Seymour actually did ‘punch’ Roethlisberger. It couldn’t be clearer to the naked eye, he simply shoved him, pushed him, as Roethlisberger invaded his private space. Roethlisberger’s pathetic, LeBron James like NBA flop (anybody see LeBron flop to the floor pathetically trying to sell a blocking foul on Friday night? Legions of ‘diving’ soccer players would have been so proud) was a sad attempt to get Seymour in more trouble than he deserved.
Ask yourself this, if the roles had been reversed, how would this be being viewed this morning? Imagine Seymour scoring a fumble return touchdown, then turning and saying something to Roethlisberger (several Raiders players are reporting that the Steelers QB was verbally taunting Seymour), while getting ‘in his face’. Imagine Roethlisberger then shoved him out of his face.
Would ESPN and friends be reporting that Roethlisberger had punched Seymour? Or would ESPN be reporting that the Steelers QB was merely defending himself in the face of an inane taunt?
This isn’t a guiding, rhetorical statement, I am genuinely asking you, how do you think ESPN would have reported the incident, with a complete roll reversal? There is, after all, a shiny, blank comment section below this article, just waiting for your input.
Last word for now from the blog ‘Bay area bridge banter’, one of those taking a slightly different view to the incident.
Richard Seymour Does America A Favor And Punches Ben Roethlisberger
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TheOriginalWesW | Nov 22, 2010, 04:22 PM EST
I like turtles
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marinewife | Nov 22, 2010, 04:20 PM EST
First of all Ben has more respect then to punch another player and secondly, Ben was celebrating with his teammates when Seymour took a cheap shot... I was at the game and from what I saw, Seymour was in the wrong... Seymour deserved to be ejected and every Steeler fan at the game, felt the same way... As for Harrison, when he took down the Raiders QB, it was on the end where I was sitting, that was not a bad hit and he did not slam him to the grown.. Before you start accusing, maybe you should get better facts...
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amfamf9 | Nov 22, 2010, 12:04 PM EST
First, Harrison never said he would happy to injure people. In fact, what he did say is there is a difference between "hurting" a player and keeping them out for the next play and "injuring" a player and cause serious damage. He said he likes to hurt players never injure them. So if you're going to use "his words", use them correctly. Next, there was nothing dirty about that game. On either side. There were a handful of ridiculous calls that were made that the instant replays proved weren't even close to what were called. And lastly, its absurd that you're arguing over whether the hit was actually a punch or a slap or whatever it was. Fact is, Ben was struck in the face with enough force to knock him to the ground. And last I checked, thats not allowed in football.
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DaddyMac22 | Nov 22, 2010, 11:46 AM EST
Please, any of you who think a football player said "Let's go kick the extra point" are completely and utterly deluded. Stop singing the company line and have an original thought for yourself for once in your life. Give me a break.
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PhlutiePhan | Nov 22, 2010, 11:41 AM EST
I did not see the incident in the way that you saw it. He ran by Seymour and said something to one of his players to the effect of "Let's go kick the extra point". Seymour then slammed him in the face with his open palm kmocking him to the ground. Roethlisberger definitely said nothing to Seymour and just as definitely did not "get in his space".
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Coltsfan88 | Nov 22, 2010, 11:04 AM EST
He's a Patriots fan, so he has NO reason to have "sour grapes" does he!! Did YOU not enjoy last weeks game KerryLKing??! Keep up the great work Cormac :-)
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rcrdskpr@aol.com | Nov 22, 2010, 11:03 AM EST
maybe you should stick to what you know, the girlie-man game of soccer.
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DaddyMac22 | Nov 22, 2010, 10:49 AM EST
Really interesting to see the angry, knee jerk reaction from Steelers fans, who are refusing to sit back and question if the arrogant taunting that Big Ben was taking part in didn't deserve a healthy shove..
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tsawyer42 | Nov 22, 2010, 10:42 AM EST
Cormac, are you a resident of Oakland?? Seems ike it because this was one of the most biased pieces of "reporting" I've ever read! You lose a lot of credibility with crap like this.
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33toyou | Nov 22, 2010, 10:40 AM EST
No matter *what* Roethlisberger said, physical contact was not warranted. Pimp slap? More like a fist under the grill. Nobody slides an open hand under the mask unless they want to break a finger...or lose it at the first knuckle.
I saw the incident and have reviewed it several times...it was a sucker punch...and Seymour deserves whatever he gets. Wuss.
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KerryLKing | Nov 22, 2010, 10:38 AM EST
I agree totally with "irishlaughter", ohdannyboy & the others who "actually" DID see waht happened. They showed it from "several angles" on TV and Seymour "Obviously" did an "open hand punch"...not my words...those are the words of "both" announcers of the game.
And I guess you don't watch very many Steelers games...do you??? Or else you would know that it usually takes 3, 4, or more defensive players to tackle Roethlisberger to the ground. So when he went down as fast as he did.....it was a very hard punch!!!! You are obviously a Raiders fan....just crying sour grapes bnecause of your team's miserable loss & tryhing to place blame elsewhere. Think of this....it it hadn't been for the "horrible officiating" against the Steelers (that was "also" mentioned several times by announcers) the Steelers score would have most likely been "even higher"....
Just a word of advice....if you want to be a "real" reporter then you had better learn to write in a "factual & unbiased" manner....or find another job!!
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Coltsfan88 | Nov 22, 2010, 10:26 AM EST
I like Ben Roethlisberger, but, he deserved this. And he did not get punched, he got PIMP SLAPPED! And you guys writing hate comments on here, get a life, seriously.
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ohdannyboy | Nov 22, 2010, 09:42 AM EST
Not sure why you're so biased, but many of your "points" are ludicrous. And what's the point of trying to use some weak "role reversal" situation, which would be nothing but subjective speculation? Ben was working on his jaw on the sidelines, after the incident, because he got punched - not shoved.
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irishlaughter | Nov 22, 2010, 08:34 AM EST
PS you suck
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