By rule, voters are supposed to consider only the on-field resumes of Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates. But the voters are human and everything else is taken into account. It’s ostensibly why Bill Belichick was snubbed from the Hall after decades of prickly media interactions and cheating scandals. Mike Florio thinks if Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t make Canton in 2027, his reputation could be the reason why.
“If it’s a close question of whether or not he gets in, the voters I think are incumbent, or it’s incumbent upon them to take into consideration questions like, what kind of a leader was he?” Florio told 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller Wednesday afternoon. “What kind of a teammate was he?”
Roethlisberger’s reputation has come under the microscope following Joey Porter Sr.’s recent harsh comments that sparked support and their own criticism. Some have defended Porter’s remarks while others have come to Roethlisberger’s defense. If his latest podcast is any indication, Roethlisberger is staying out of the drama, though he’s regularly referenced early-career immaturity.
“If it’s close, will they seek guys out?” Florio said. “And will they take into consideration his reputation as a teammate, his reputation as a leader? And will that be relevant to whether or not he gets in? That’s my point.”
The debate over Roethlisberger’s quality as a teammate is never-ending. It partially depends on which player talks about him and when they played together. Early-years Roethlisberger is different than career-end Roethlisberger.
Typically, those complaints won’t rise to the level of excluding a player from Canton. The element that could are the two sexual assault allegations against him, one of which resulted in a four-game suspension to begin the 2010 season. Charges were never brought against Roethlisberger, but they are part of his resume along with his two Super Bowl wins and Steelers passing records. Will voters take that into account? In a close vote, could one or two deciders work against Roethlisberger either out of principle or to send a message that he doesn’t deserve first-ballot honors?
Florio didn’t answer in the affirmative or negative. He doesn’t have a vote. But if Roethlisberger is frozen out of his first chance at Canton, it’ll be worth wondering if those elements played a role.
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