Give him another year or two of numbers like last season, and he’ll get his respect. I think we have every reason to expect him to put up great numbers for the next 3-5 years, based on his age, experience, and the weapons around him. So, yes, I think he will be one of the top 5 QBs in the league for the foreseeable future.

One thing about Carson Palmer is that he built his reputation before Ben did. At the time, he was putting up numbers second only to Peyton Manning. Also, he was viewed as the major reason that the Bengals revived in 2005. Ben, on the other hand, came to a good team, so it’s probably harder for him to get the credit. He’ll get it, though.

1.Brady-leads a pack of cheaters but what he did was incredible last year.
2.P.Manning-The numbers and the ring are all there.
3.Brees-The guy just knows how to play
4.Ben Roethlisberger- give him another year like last and he’ll be ranked higher than Brees. He’s got the Superbowl Ring, he’s got the stuff to dominate, and his got the team to do it with.

P.S. Tony Romo does not appear on this list as he has yet to win a playoff game.

All I can say is what I’ve said before. When Ben went in as a Rookie I thought we were going to loose like stink. He proved to me that year and forever, that he’s great. He has added to that…of course…since then and has only improved.

BTW, what were the stats on Montana for sacks suffered during that same statistical period? Just wondering.

There have been many games when only the measured scramble and quick wits of Ben have pulled us back towards a win. How many of Brady’s wins came on his own effort and scramble and toughness. I could be wrong, but my impression is that he is much more the product of his machine than of his effort. If he was thrown in the dirt as much, would he be where he is? Could be sour grapes on my part (some hatred included – cheatin so and so’s!), but I really just always felt like Brady was working the plan laid out for him. Ben is working his ass off to make the completion – or so it seems.

Still, just like Hines gets fire in his belly when he feels unloved, I think that the fact that Ben gets slighted by the media and a lot of folks drives him on. I’m sorry that he doesn’t get respected in some corners, ….but some corners are full of idiots. If that idiocy can drive the man on…..well, we all have that little motivator in our actions… At the end of the day he leaves the field a warrior and not a pretty-boy model. I’ll take our guy over that any day.

ben is a freak of nature. no one that’s 6’5" 245 should move like him. leftwich sure doesn’t move like ben, and he’s about the same size. what really separates ben, at this point, from other qb’s in the league is his athletic ability. seeing him last night escape pressure on three or four occasions (once with a d-lineman literally pulling him down by the back of his jersey) to complete a pass was very impressive.

i think that right now, ben uses his combination of athletic ability, size, desire, passing talent, and quarterback intelligence better than any other qb in the league. is he the best at any one of those aspects? no. however, he is the most complete package in the nfl…at least i believe he is.

if we think he’s good now, wait 3-5 years. most nfl experts/analysts will agree that a qb is like a pitcher; they reach their prime between the ages of 28-32. each season, with the exception of 2006, ben has shown better decision-making, better elusiveness, better arm strength, better pass accuracy, and better patience. he’s a pro bowler now, he’ll be all pro in the next 2-3 seasons.

if i’m kevin colbert, mike tomlin, the ronney’s, etc…i spend AS MUCH MONEY AS I POSSIBLY CAN ON UPGRADING THE OFFENSIVE LINE TO PROTECT BEN. he’s the franchise and the future…if he wasn’t, and if the organization wasn’t 100% sold on the fact that this kid has all kinds of greatness in him, they would not have spent $100 million on him.

Let me start by saying Ben is one of my favorite Steelers and the best Steelers QB since 12.
I rate Ben well inside top 10 QB in the NFL. I think he is a real good QB and capable of being Top 3. Continual seasons with stats like 07 will help. Winning in the playoffs with Tomlin will definitely raise him to top 3. For obvious reasons Brady and Manning are rated 1 and 2. There will then be valid arguments made for Palmer, Brees, Romo, Favre and even Garrard. After all, Garrard beat Ben twice last year!
Personally I wouldn’t want any other QB behind our putrid OL other than Ben. That includes Manning and Brady.

The guy over at the SB Nation’s fantasy blog is high on him this year.

http://www.faketeams.com/2008/8/14/593835/fantasy-football-preview-b

I agree he could easily be a top 1- 5 QB this year. Does that mean the Steelers will be a top 1-5 team this year? We’ll see! I sure hope so.