Former Steelers Wideout Sanders Calls Out Ben Roethlisberger’s Leadership

Nov 3, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard (37) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (88) during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re an Emanuel Sanders fan, then you might not want read on.  Or maybe you do want to continue reading so you can see how the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver’s colors quickly change.

The changing of team loyalty happens very quickly when a player signs with a new team, obviously.  And it usually happens right before the ink completely dries on a newly signed contract.  No one, especially me, is questioning or judging that fact.  However, it’s very easy to take issue when a former player decides to open their big mouth and starts trash talking the team and former teammates.

Sanders has been with the Broncos for only four months and has only been working with the team and practicing since OTA’s started.  Not very long in the big scope of things, and he is already yapping off about his former teammates – specifically the guy who used to sling him the rock, Ben Roethlisberger.

In an interview on Denver’s version or The Fan radio station, Sanders rips apart Roethlisberger by comparing his leadership to his new QB and teammate, Peyton Manning.

"I feel like Peyton is a far better leader, in terms of staying after practice, catching balls, wanting guys to get on the same page with him, things of that sort.  This is the first time that I’ve had a quarterback that every single day after practice — no matter what his accolades, NFL MVP, Super Bowl ring — he keeps guys like me and [rookie receiver Cody] Latimer after practice. . . . He’s not one of those guys you’ve got to chase down. He’s going to be right in the same spot, ready to work, every single day. I just feel like that’s a difference from a mental standpoint."

I feel like Sanders just needs to shut the hell up.  Don’t you?  It couldn’t be any clearer that Sanders is bending full out over and puckering up to kiss Pey Pey’s rear end.  When I first read this from PFT on Monday, all I could think of was it’s like Sanders yelling, “Daddy, daddy!! Don’t throw the ball to Welker! Throw it to me!”

I wonder how much he’ll be singing the praises of his QB when the passes are distributed all over the field.  Manning has an affinity for spreading the ball out to numerous targets over the course of the game.  He also has developed an affinity to choke in Super Bowls too.  I wonder how quickly it will be before Sanders is moaning to anyone who will listen that he wish he got the ball more?

Ben’s leadership is nowhere near up for questioning in a statement like this coming from Sanders who developed his own niche of dropping critical passes.  That’s what’s so ludicrous about his criticisms.  Just because Peyton puts more time in with his receivers after practice doesn’t make him a better leader – it just makes him a perfectionist.  Perfectionism is not a leadership type quality.

Instead of piping up and calling out his former teammate, perhaps he should review some old game footage and try to explain why he dropped (or fumbled) so many passes.  There’s no amount of leadership out there that could help him with that…. unless someone develops a way to will him to catch the ball.

So much for having “So much love for Ben.”

Was this play a result of Ben’s lack of leadership, Manny?  Doubtful, bro.  Move along.  Move along.

Oh how about this wonderful flop?