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Ben Comes Up Big

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Roethlisberger is 59-22 as an NFL starter, including 9-2 in the playoffs.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2009

TAMPA - He is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 241 pounds (sure he does) and sometimes he's a sitting duck for defenses, to say nothing of his critics. What's that nickname? Worthlisberger, right?

But there is nothing for anyone to say this morning.

Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest starting quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, just won himself another one, and this time his fingerprints were all over it. In word and deed, he willed the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

This is how the winning touchdown drive began, with the Steelers suddenly losing for the first time, with Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner having all but assured his place in the NFL Hall of Fame. There was 2:37 left in the game. Pittsburgh was at its own 22-yard line. Roethlisberger leaned into the huddle. Big Ben chimed greatness.

"It's now or never, guys. You'll be remembered forever if you do this."

That's what he told his teammates.

Then big, clunky Ben led a signature football drive that reminded us of his heroes growing up, like John Elway and Joe Montana. Could they have done better? This was one for all the other great Pittsburgh-area quarterbacks, like Montana, like Unitas, like Marino, like Namath.

Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes won game MVP with all his catches, most notably that remarkable toe-tapper for the win. But Roethlisberger could have been named MVP just as easily.

"He's our guy, and he showed why," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

Roethlisberger's final throw, as he rolled slightly right, couldn't have been placed any more perfectly, over three Arizona defenders into the back of the end zone. Holmes was the only man on the field who could have caught it, and he did, and the Steelers were champions for the second time on Roethlisberger's watch.

There is no denying this big galoot anymore. This time around, the Steelers won because of him, not despite him. He threw for twice the completions and yardage he did three years ago, when Pittsburgh won Super Bowl XL. That night in Detroit, Roethlisberger had nine completions, two interceptions, 123 yards and the lowest QB rating in Super Bowl history. In the offseason that followed, that big lunk went out on his motorcycle without a helmet and nearly killed himself.

That was Brother Ben.

Now look.

There is no denying that Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls. And he's only 26. There is no denying that he's a gaudy 59-22 as an NFL starter, including 9-2 in the playoffs. And he's only 26. There is no denying he has already led the Steelers from behind in the fourth quarter 19 times in his career. And he's only 26.

He doesn't always look pretty. He doesn't have Tom Brady's flash or dimple, or Peyton Manning's talent, or Eli Manning's and Philip Rivers' draft number. He just wins and wins and wins. He escapes rushes, as he did Sunday, by strength or guile, a spin here, a twist there. He just makes plays that matter when they matter most. He just wins and wins and wins.

Roethlisberger became the 10th quarterback to win at least two Super Bowls. The all-time leaders are Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four. Brady has won three. Funny, but Bradshaw, an old Pittsburgh hand, was criticized early in his Steelers career, heck, even after Pittsburgh won its first two world championships. There are some old Steelers who privately insist the dynasty would have won more if not for Bradshaw's erratic ways. It took Bradshaw winning consecutive Super Bowl MVP awards in the late '70s to get his place in history.

Of the 10 quarterbacks who've won at least two Super Bowls, seven are in the Hall of Fame. Brady will make it one day, so that's eight. The only two on the outside are Jim Plunkett ... and you know who.

And he's only 26.

There's no denying Ben Roethlisberger anymore. Not after Sunday. Not after that drive.

So it's on with the postseason.

Wear a helmet, big boy.

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