"Big Ben" in Stable Condition

You probably have already heard about Ben Roethlisberger motorcycle accident. Ben is the quarterback for the (Super Bowl Champion) Pittsburgh Steelers. Where I live, these guys are like "stars." We always thought.. Someday.. The Steelers would pick up a fifth Super Bowl ring. Ben helped do just that.

Forget about this up-coming season. Ben, 24 years old, had one hell of a career ahead of him. We are hopeful that he doesn't have any career ending injuries. It doesn't look like he does. There was some talk of knee injuries. As I am writing this, the only thing I know for sure is Ben broke his nose and jaw. He was aware and alert.

Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher had talked to Ben about riding his motorcycle (pictured) without a helmet. There was no evidence that Ben was acting reckless. Just a very bad accident.

This has sparked a controversy on how much control should team owners have on players. Most players do have a reckless activity clause. But is it really spelled out.

In my opinion- No! I have never cared much for employers telling employees what they can do on their own time. On company time.. That is another thing.

But, if you sign a "big dollar" contract, then you must honor that signed contract.

Well, legal crap aside. We all hope Ben makes a full recovery. If not for this season, there is always 2007.

Here is the full story.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday and underwent surgery.

Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition Monday afternoon, said Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital. The player's agent, Leigh Steinberg, described the injuries to The Associated Press and said he did not know if there was further damage.

"He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."

Steelers president Art Rooney said the team was "encouraged by the early reports from the medical team" at the hospital.

"I am sure Ben knows that we are praying for his complete recovery," he said.

The 24-year-old Roethlisberger likes to ride without a helmet, a habit that once prompted a lecture from Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher. It was not known whether Roethlisberger was wearing a helmet when he crashed.

The accident happened at an intersection at the edge of downtown at about 11:30 a.m. and a pool of blood was still visible there by early afternoon. A silver Chrysler New Yorker with damage to the front passenger fender was removed and Roethlisberger's black bike was loaded onto a flatbed truck.

Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and homicide units were investigating the crash, a standard practice when there is an accident with critical injuries. He gave no details on whether anyone else was hurt.

In only his second year in the NFL, Roethlisberger helped guide the Steelers to the Super Bowl title in February at age 23. Training camp for next season begins at the end of July.

Several teammates, including backup quarterback Charlie Batch, linebacker Joey Porter and safety Mike Logan, arrived at the hospital emergency room but did not comment.

Some fans also gathered at the hospital, including Juanita Clark, who sells Steelers' paraphernalia, and her daughter.

"I just feel like he's a family member," Loretta Clark said.

Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet when riding his motorcycle. He has pointed out Pennsylvania's state law requiring helmets to be worn was repealed in September 2003.

In May 2005, Cowher warned him about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season.

"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."

Roethlisberger continued to ride after Winslow's accident and that angered Terry Bradshaw, who quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during the 1970s.

Visiting the Steelers' training camp last summer, Bradshaw remarked: "Ride it when you retire."