Sometimes even a portion of a show can make an impact or provide some interesting moments and that was certainly the case Tuesday with "NFL Live" on ESPN.
As part of a lead segment on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a series of spring practices, some insights from an ESPN analyst and former Steelers player seemed to overlook the obvious -- or at least prompt some questions.
Analyst Merril Hoge was brought into the show by phone to provide an update on a golf tournament his foundation had hosted and in which Roethlisberger had participated. According to Hoge, the suspended quarterback interacted well with fans during the event and was making steps toward being more accountable.
Hoge said the quarterback knows he's in trouble because of his own actions and only his subsequent actions can change the perceptions of fans.
Still, while the ever-positive Hoge set the stage for an eventual return to acceptance of Roethlisberger by fans, the overlooked aspect was whether or not Big Ben actually is a good person. After all, not every professional athlete gets that message or practices that approach. From Hoge's perspective, though, it was a foregone conclusion that the quarterback would change his ways.
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger's actual actions/motives/personality remains in question -- and those are not things that can be proven because some former player believes that's the case.