Home 2013 Preseason Charlie Batch Stirs Up More Drama in Pittsburgh

Charlie Batch Stirs Up More Drama in Pittsburgh

by Steeldad

BatchMuch like there are Democrats and Republicans, there are Pro-Haley’s and Anti-Haley’s in the city of Pittsburgh. Former Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Charlie Batch has thrown another match onto this fire courtesy of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Alan Robinson.

Much like how ESPN won’t let anything ‘A-Rod’ die, it appears that some in the Pittsburgh media are unwilling to let the Todd Haley – Ben Roethlisberger relationship run its course. Last evening, Robinson quoted Batch as saying that Haley came in to run the football and wouldn’t allow Ben to audible.

If, and this is a Monster if, Haley stripped Roethlisberger of the ability to audible then there are larger problems on the south side than anyone could possibly imagine. Batch claims that restriction no longer exists and that Ben was never restricted during the no huddle offense but still, the ramifications are daunting.

The two Haley camps have already been at it over the course of the last two weeks and Robinson’s article intensified the debate on Twitter last evening.

My feeling is this… If Haley came in and eliminated the audible option from Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL veteran, then something is not right within the organization. Whether it be with Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert or Mike Tomlin, this stuff happens to rookies or second year QBs, not seasoned veterans.

Roethlisberger has played this game long enough to have the right to change the play at the line. For crying out loud high school quarterbacks have audible abilities. There are always certain formations or plays where audibles are limited, but those are few and far between.

If on the other hand Batch is not accurate in his comments then why would he make them? I highly doubt Batch has confused audibles with ‘check with me’s’ at the line of scrimmage. Something doesn’t fit here. And by the way, there is a significant difference between a ‘check with me’ and an audible at the line of scrimmage.

This whole thing being brought up yet again concerns me greatly. I have a hard time believing that Mike Tomlin would want to bring in a coordinator that would put so many restrictions on the very quarterback that delivered his only Super Bowl title as head coach.

This whole thing just stinks and without saying a damn word, Ben Roethlisberger is caught in the middle of it again.

Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard Mondays on Trib-Live Radio at 4pm ET talking Steelers.

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6 comments

OHSTEELERS August 23, 2013 - 12:29 am

“If Haley came in and eliminated the audible option from Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL veteran, then something is not right within the organization”

Why would that surprise anyone? Tomlin didnt fire Arians, ARII Jones did, Tomlin wanted Kirby, ARII Jones wanted Haley. Run Run Pass ARIIJones does not want anyone the ability to be bigger than the organization. Yinzers can kiss my ass cause they know its true but wont admit it bc of their hatred toward Ben and passing and not #Yoi3ydsCloudofDust #EvolveTodaysNFLorDie

OHSTEELERS August 23, 2013 - 12:42 am

If Haley came in and eliminated the audible option from Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL veteran, then something is not right within the organization

Would that shock anyone? Tomlin didnt fire Arians, ARII Jones did, Tomlin wanted Kirby, ARII Jones wanted Haley. Yinzers can kiss my ass they want to win with 3yds and a cloud of dust but that was 20 yrs ago football. Yinzers need to imagine life w/o Ben and just watch Landry in this offense ha thats laughable

steeldad August 23, 2013 - 3:48 am

I’m at a point where the more this Ben-Haley crap keeps popping up the more inclined I am to believe you KimJong. You just don’t do this kind of stuff to a veteran QB. It reeks of something much greater and as much as I don’t want to go there, I may have to if this stuff continues.

Blkandgold4Life August 23, 2013 - 3:26 pm

That explains runnin the ball up the middle 7 times a game with 8 in the box on 3rd and long! lol Ben would audible from one run play to another run play..its all clear now

steeldad August 23, 2013 - 3:44 pm

I thought there were a lot of times last year where it was apparent Ben was limited. You’re right, lots of up the middle…

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