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Ben Roethlisberger has always been an easy target.
Sure there have been off field issues which plagued him early in his career, but for many there was seemingly always something which rubbed them the wrong way with No. 7.
Even after going to three Super Bowls, and winning two, Roethlisberger was never considered a top tier quarterback. Others were also ahead of him, even though they don’t have nearly the same success.
Peyton Manning
Tom Brady
Aaron Rodgers
And now Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson have all catapulted well above Roethlisberger on those yearly rankings. And this was before Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury in Week 2 of 2019.
When the Tiki and Tierney show on CBS Sports Radio was talking about Roethlisberger and whether he would be able to resurrect his career at the age of 37 and coming off a nasty injury to his throwing shoulder, Roethlisberger’s former teammate Ike Taylor came to the rescue.
Listen for yourself...
Former @steelers DB @Ike_SwagginU says #BigBen is still underrated
— TikiAndTierney (@TikiAndTierney) August 6, 2020
"The man can do pretty much whatever he wants to. When Big Ben plays, he's hell"
Full interview: https://t.co/s1PTgFyI8v pic.twitter.com/VInfMWR9gD
Taylor, clearly biased due to what they have accomplished together, brings some valid points when comparing quarterbacks. Roethlisberger has two rings, more than someone like Rodgers, and never played in a system where the goal was to air it out all the time.
On top of that, Taylor discusses how Roethlisberger has had his share of clutch moments with the game on the line, none larger than the final drive of Super Bowl 43 which was capped off by an amazing throw and catch between Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes.
Sadly, this discussion is nothing new for Steelers fans. Media and so-called experts love to hate on Roethlisberger for one reason or another. Yet he continues to win. 2020 will be different for Roethlisberger with this being his first time coming off a season ending injury, but if time has proven anything, Roethlisberger loves to prove people wrong.
Will he have the last laugh? Only time will tell...
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they continue to roll through Training Camp at Heinz Field.