Big Ben or Big Bum???

Sitting in the serene of landscape of Alco Tailgate Lot Green 22, listening to that overly re-hashed collage of Copeisms and savoring the delicately blended aromas of perogies, puke, and piss, our good friend J.D. McNugent asked an important and oddly relevant question: "who was more popular, Ben or Bradshaw?" Contrary to what the legendary crooner Bob Dylan might expect us to believe, the answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind. As Ed Bouchette points out in his daily question, the starting quarterback on the North Shore is, and will always be, an amazingly scrutinized position.

a good question, indeed

Despite the short flashes of brilliance from journeymen like Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, Tommy Maddox, and the unforgettable Kordell Stewart, there have only been two blue chippers behind a Black and Gold clad center in the post-merger era...Ben and Bradshaw. Both have written their own bio's in the epic tale of Steeler football.

This blogger is not qualified or motivated to write the great comparison article. We'll leave that to the writers who are actually gifted enough to be paid for their work, not a hack writing free dribble for all of you who are simply one click away from beholding today's newest YouPorn files. This hack, however, would like to offer some opinion on Ben's current funk, in hopes of opening some healthy dialogue.

So what about Big Ben? Is this the first serious speed bump on his mercurial rise to superstardom? You know, 2006 can conveniently be dismissed as his post-motorcycle thing. Can the same excuse be made of his ailing shoulder, now that the Large One is no longer a brash 23 year old hot shot, but a wise, seasoned 26 year old veteran with a 102 million dollar check tucked next to the condoms in his sock drawer.

From the moment Ben stood behind center as a redshirt freshman at Miami of Ohio, he has basically been "the guy". Even Coach Bill Cowher's plan of bringing him along slowly as a rookie in 2004 was foiled as the team took injuries to veterans Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox. Essentially, Ben has been the guy that had been called upon to be the hero day in and day out for the last eight years. It's amazing to think that Ben has only been in the NFL for five seasons when you consider the accomplishments. If anyone understands (and responds to) pressure, it's Number 7. Reverting back to the original question, it's a safe argument to say that Ben has accomplished more in his 4+ years than Bradshaw did in his first 10. Maybe a few less Superbowls, but hey, a few less Hall of Famers around him, as well.

of course, Ben hasn't recorded a hit country album yet

It's hard to find a more textbook definition of golden boy. Since Week 2 of his rookie season, Roethlisberger has been the face of a franchise,...and not just any franchise, but a franchise that other programs are measured against. He is the oarsman that rows the lifeboat of Steeler Nation, and at the moment, the waters are somewhat choppy. NFL fans have short memories, and it won't take many more bad performances before Big Ben hears some Big Boohs.

This scenario is not unique to the Burgh. Just ask those few dozen Philadelphians that are still card carrying members of the Donovan McNabb Fan Club. When you are expected to win, you are expected to win. It's that simple. Ben is now at that lonely crossroads where guys like Favre, McNabb, Brady and Manning have stood before him. He's no longer the wunderkind, but the franchise guy who has been given the keys to the city along with a briefcase full of money, and the great commission to just "win, baby". Mike Tomlin says it clearly every week during his press conference: "the expectations do not change." One must wonder if the great gunslinger himself, Brett Favre, would be clinging to his career so zealously at the senior age of 39, had he not experienced all of his major success at the early stages of his career.

The optimist inside me says that Ben will rise above this as he does every time adversity knocks. Like Bradshaw, decades before, it's his job to lead this team. I truly believe that his performance, as well as his team's, over the next 9 days will dictate the balance of the 2008 season. Will the team re-group and make a drive for yet another AFC North title, or will we be remembering 2008 as the lost season?

life was so much simpler then

Comments please...I'm spent!