Ben Roethlisberger: Future Hall of Famer or Product of the System?

There are a million things to debate and rank in football. The media has shows dedicated to voicing their opinions on such topics as team speed, depth, units, and position players, and where teams lay on a scale of greatness from week to week. The NFL is a day-to-day league, where "what have you done for me lately" is the most relevant term, and most people’s opinions reflect that. But there is no more debated or highlighted topic up for discussion more frequently than the rankings of the NFL's quarterback position. A few quarterbacks are widely accepted as the best in general consensus (Tom Brady and Peyton Manning), while others are grouped and flipped around in the second tier on a game-to-game ratio (Rivers, Brees, Rodgers, ect). But the ranking of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on that list is probably the most inconsistent and widely debated. I'm here to give the cold, hard facts, but also tell you why the debate isn't as hard to break down as it's made out to be.

Ben Roethlisberger was drafted by the Steelers 11th overall in 2004 out of Miami of Ohio. Part of that famed 2004 draft class which also included Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning, he wasn't expected to play for several years, but instead of learn under the tutelage of veterans Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch. But injuries to both men within the first few games of the 2004 season threw Ben right into the fire. Ben came in and won all 13 of his starts that regular season, and also won a playoff game before being knocked out in the AFC title game. That led to one of the liveliest discussions in NFL history, with Ben's supporters touting his unprecedented record and playmaking ability, while the doubters pointed to the defense and running of the Steelers favorable system. That debate continues to this day. This piece will present the facts for both sides, as well as bare my honest opinion in all its responsibility.

Sure, Roethlisberger was drafted into an excellent, established system that already had a culture for winning and a favorable platform for a rookie that was predicated around pounding the ball and relying on its stellar defense. But that shouldn't be held against him, nor was it in his control. You still have to make the plays and manage the games, which haven’t always proven so easy for other rookies to do in similar setups. Peyton finished 3-13 in his rookie year, leading the league in INT's. Troy Aikman finished 0-11 for the Cowboys in his first season, on a team with a similar culture. The examples go on and on. You simply must do what the coaching calls for and make plays when asked. The other knock on Ben is that his accuracy fluxuates at times. While that is true, and his arm may not be as consistant as the other upper mid-range QB's of today, his completion percentage is still very high, and his feet and tackle-breaking ability allow him to make plays that nobody else can.

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The 'Big Ben' highlight reel sees new additions every week, as he overcomes surely decided plays to extend the hopes of the fans. Peyton and Brady get high esteem for their ability to run the offense and improv in play calling, and nobody has become more adept at that than Ben. Not only with his legs and strength does he lead receivers open, but he has become a huddle general with his pre-snap audibles and hot reads as well. The other stat that Brady and Peyton became so well known with, was record. "YOU PLAY...TO WIN...THE GAME", may well be the most famous football or sports quote known to man (coined by the great Herm Edwards), and the Steelers leader has done just that. Roethlisberger has assembled an astonishing 81-33 record up to his 8th season, with a winning percentage of .711, which is the highest of any Steeler QB ever with that many starts (including Bradshaw, who also had the Steel Curtains famed D), and second to only Tom Brady of ANY QB with that many starts (no matter WHAT system).

'Big' games and 'clutch' performances also define a QB's career. Freezing up in the moment has set the tone for the Bills losing dynasty, as well as hampered Dan Marino’s nearly perfect career, but Big Ben shines when the stage is in its final act. He has 20 comeback wins and 26 game winning-drives up to current day, both are records for any QB in NFL history. His playoff record is 10-3, which encompasses 3 division titles, 3 Super Bowl appearances, and 2 Super Bowl Championships (more appearances and titles than any active QB outside of Tom Brady).

Maybe Ben was lucky to be drafted to the city that he was, and maybe his arm at times doesn't fit the style of today's top QB, but those are things that can't be changed at this point. The game today simply relies on leadership, management, playmaking, and winning. My opinion may be diluted with the retort of being a 'homer' with a Steeler bias, but the facts don't lie. Toughness, improv skills, comeback ability, and titles are what I want in my franchise QB, and thankfully, that's exactly what I have. For what it's worth, these things catapult Big Ben into the top TWO active QB's (behind Brady) in my opinion, and may even surpass that with another playoff run. The debate will continue as this is posted, and long after for that matter, but one thing remains true...whether it's a debate, a contest, or football...you play to win the game.

By Jason Burke
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer