DUBAI - Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has recovered from a near-fatal motorcycle accident and, as if the accident never occurred, he's on a whirlwind tour of high-profile television appearances. First he made a surprise visit to the ESPY awards in Los Angeles earlier in the week.Next, Big Ben popped up playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
And this morning, Al-Jazeera Television aired a tape obtained from Iraqi militant group Hell's Brigade showing hostage Robert Haines, an American contractor, surrounded by five unidintified hostage takers -- and Roethlisberger. The Steeler quarterback is pictured in the photograph above, third from the left.
"The Al-Jazeera deal was too good to turn down," said Roethlisberger's agent, Colonel Tom Parker.
The Steelers issued a statement emphasizing that the third year quarterback "did not participate in activities involving torture or, for that matter, any activity contrary to the Steelers' philosophy. He merely stood there, next to the evildoers."
But Coach Bill Cowher expressed concern about Roethlisber's appearance with the terrorists. "I'm certainly alarmed," said Cowher. "Despite all my preaching and regardless of everything that happened to him, I understand that Ben was seen riding in an Iraqi Jeep without a helmet," said Cowher.
