I think they'll play him because isn't Batch out for the season? Who else do they have?

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Pete's reply: Their No. 3 guy is Dennis Dixon, the former Oregon QB. He has been taking snaps this week, too.

If you want to know why Matt Wieters didn't get named to the Toops RoY team, here's your answer:

http://blogbeckett.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/razor-signs-matt-wieters-to-exclusive-autograph-deal-%E2%80%93-with-a-bit-extra/

"Razor Entertainment signed an exclusive autograph deal with top Baltimore Orioles prospect Matt Wieters on Wednesday that prevents other companies from producing cards and autographed cards until a year after he makes his debut on a major league (25-man) roster."

Topps can't put out his card until late May, one year after he debuted with the club.

So rather than pick the best player, they picked the next best player because they could produce his card.

I'm with you Pete. As much as I dislike the Steelers, I wouldn't want to see Roethlisberger sustain serious injury by sustaining another concussion so soon after the other one. I'm a bit surprsied that an organization as classy as Pittsburgh would even risk it.

Watching NFL quarterbacks over the years, they sometimes are a little gunshy when playing so soon after a concussion. We will know soon enough Sunday Night because it is an unforgiving league and there is no doubt in my mind that Greg Mattison will go all out to put pressure on Big Ben.

The Ravens are due for a lot of reasons and I feel confident that they will come away with a victory.

After just recently learning how much damage football players sustain long-term from head trauma, it is beyond belief that the NFL and the Steelers are going to let Big Ben play on Sunday. Naturally as a Ravens fan I'd prefer to see the 3rd string QB play, but this is absurd. Do we have to have another death on the field before the NFL will take player safety seriously?

This just in from the Land of Irony ...

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed a QB to their practice squad (and in effect is now their #3 QB) after waiting 48 hours for him to clear waivers from the CFL's Montréal Allouettes. The Allouettes are the former Baltimore Stallions.

The QB happens to be Tyler Palko who was chosen by NFL failure, Dave Wannstedt, to be the starting QB for the Pitt Panthers. Palko's back-up was none other than Joe Flacco who transferred to Delaware.

Palko has been sniffing around professional football still waiting to take a meaningful snap since being undrafted. He has been nothing but gracious whenever Flacco's name comes up in conversation and deserves high marks for at least sticking with his dream.

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Pete's reply: Great stuff, doc.

Pete, You're right to question whether playing Sunday is in Ben Roethlisberger best long long-term interest. Along with his great talent, he's a great competitor, but there are times when it's far smarter to be cautious then play the stud.

His most recent concussion is at the very least the fourth in the last 3-1/2 years (I qualify because there are likely some "mild" concussions that haven't been reported by the Steelers--and perhaps more prior to his pro career).

These are the documented ones:

June 2006--motorcycle accident.

October 2006--Falcons' game.

December 2008--Browns' game (carted off the field).

November 2009--Chiefs' game.

Big Ben and Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin have kind of pooh-poohed all the attention, saying not to worry, but this isn't something to take lightly.

Writing in the Boston Globe about the Steelers' seeming lack of concern about Roethlisberger latest concussion, Derrick Z. Jackson notes:

"What is this franchise waiting for? For [Troy] Polamalu [he has seven known concussions dating back to high school--K.F.] or Roethlisberger to die instantly on the field? No team like the Steelers knows the emerging long-term effects of football brain trauma. Former players Mike Webster, Terry Long, and Justin Strzelczyk died at the respective ages of 50, 45 and 36, all with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The NFL, up until the congressional hearings last month, has gone so far as to have its brain injury consultants say that they did not see a connection between concussions and long-term brain trauma. [see bottom of this comment for link]"

For the NFL to deny the obvious is a major scandal in my book, as they seem to place more importance on seeing that star players get on the field for as many snaps as possible than that those players aren't put in harm's way anymore than is necessary.

While like all Ravens' fans, ideally I would prefer to see them beat Pittsburgh with Roethlisberger playing--beat their best, under the circumstances I would breath a sigh of relief to see Deenis Dixon lining up under center and Ben on the sideline with baseball cap and clipboard. His long-term health is a zillion times more imporant than whether the Steelers defend their Super Bowl title.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/11/28/setting_the_retirement_bar_on_concussions/

I do agree with Ken F, but I want to see Roethlisberger out there so when the RAVENS beat the crap out of them there are no excuses. Yes, of course I don't want to see anyone jeoperdize their health but do you think the Steeler fans would have the same compassion about Flacco like we have for Roethlisberger?...give me a break if you do. Whether the guy plays of not, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RAVENS beat the snot out of them!