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You Name It, Roethlisberger Has It

The Associated Press

Big Ben has seven postseason wins - second-most for a quarterback in his first five seasons.

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2009

TAMPA - Ben Roethlisberger has arrived at Super Sunday almost anonymously. That's not easy for the starting quarterback of a participating team to do, but he has almost casually slid through all the interviews and managed to look at times like he was even enjoying it.

He has also stayed off the front page, which is no doubt part of his game plan. Where is the maniac who once wrecked a motorcycle and almost killed himself? Where is the raging bull who once trashed the guy who now coaches the Arizona Cardinals? (They've made up, by the way.)

That person has yet to show himself.

But sometime tonight, we'll have a much clearer picture of the Steelers' quarterback than we do now. That's when the talk stops and the game begins, and that is when we'll get to know the competitor who focuses on one thing only.

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians used a pool and ping-pong tournament sponsored by teammate Charlie Batch as a fundraiser to illustrate the point.

"Ben has to go win everything," he said.

In other words, don't confuse the issue. When you talk about the intangible "it" that separates the pedestrian from the champion, his teammates and coaches keep coming back to his seven postseason wins - second-most for a quarterback in his first five seasons.

"We're not one of those teams that is going to throw the ball 50 or 60 times a game. Arizona has three 1,000-yard wideouts. That's probably unheard of in Pittsburgh history," Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. "We don't really worry about stats. The main stat we worry about is wins or losses."

It has been like that for Roethlisberger since the Steelers made him their No. 1 pick out of Miami (Ohio) - 11th overall - in the 2004 draft. He was mad he didn't go higher.

Maybe he should have.

The Steelers turned to him after Tommy Maddox was hurt, and he went 13-0 in starts as a rookie and took them to the AFC title game. He broke a couple of Dan Marino's rookie passing records.

A year later, they beat Seattle in the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger wasn't good in that game, but he helped get them there and became the youngest starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl. A few months later, he crashed his motorcycle and needed seven hours of surgery to repair a broken jaw and nose. He wasn't wearing a helmet.

That raised some eyebrows. And when his second season didn't equal his first, it became fashionable to say that he was a fortunate son, surrounded by great players. His critics have been many.

Even this week, the quarterback focus has been on Kurt Warner. While we all agree that Warner is a terrific story, Roethlisberger isn't bad, either. He is what his football team needs him to be - poised, under control.

His 17 touchdown passes (against 15 interceptions) and 80.1 quarterback rating this season are pedestrian, but that's fine with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who calls him "comfortable."

Until the play breaks down, that is.

Against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, the Steelers hadn't done much on offense - just a couple of field goals - when a play broke down early in the second quarter. This is where Roethlisberger is at his best. He scrambled, dodged traffic and lobbed one in the direction of Santonio Holmes near midfield.

It wasn't pretty - it looked at first like he was throwing the ball away - but 65 yards later, the Steelers had a touchdown en route to a 23-14 win. His teammates say he is as good as there is at keeping busted plays alive.

Yet when Roethlisberger was asked at a media session during the week what distinguishes him from the competition, he responded, "My last name."

Well, as someone once asked, "What's in a name?"

If things go as the Steelers hope tonight, that scrambler with the funny last name can stand among the greats. That would give him two Super Bowl rings in five seasons. Nothing else matters.

"It's all about winning the football game," he said. "I don't care how I do it - if I throw for 300 yards or 100 yards.

"If we win the game, that's all that matters to me."

It'll be tough to stay anonymous, but sometimes you have to take one for the team.

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