Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox Sports NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw had the best comments, on-the-mark and unfiltered, about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this week. And they came early in the week -- before even more allegations about the incident in Georgia involving Roethlisberger, 26, and a college undergraduate became public.
While critics of Bradshaw would argue (and possibly correctly) that Bradshaw, a former Steelers quarterback himself, certainly enjoyed himself off the field during his playing days, that's no reason to dismiss his comments. It's not a matter of the pot calling the kettle black, or Bradshaw forgetting how he conducted himself 30 or 35 years ago during his career.
Bradshaw was asked a question and responded. With age and experience on his side, his criticisms and perspective were valid.
Plus, he was showing midseason form as an NFL studio analyst.
During his career Bradshaw has evolved. He's gone from being called dumb as a player to someone who was goofy and entertaining that crafted a career in movies and on TV. Now, as an elder statesman (or at least the oldest guy on the set) on NFL studio shows, he's becoming more a voice of the game.
Sure, he might come off a bit grumpy or old school, bit it rarely sounds bitter. He remains one of TV's best studio talkers and in this situation -- having played his entire career in Pittsburgh for the Rooney family that owns the Steelers -- he brings an important point of view.
Maybe people feel emboldened to pile on with Roethlisberger facing a growing public relations nightmare (and, it seems, a possible suspension), but Bradshaw was not one of them. What he said was heartfelt, personal and spot-on -- and it came without an ulterior motive. Rarely to TV types provide such insight, whether on air or in a moment like this, but that approach has become what's defined Bradshaw's quality work in general.