The Legend of Ben
February 2
Beaver County Times columnist Mark Madden
"The Pittsburgh Steelers sit on top of professional football - for this season and for the entire Super Bowl era - because of one man, and one man only: Ben Roethlisberger. Hallowed be his name.
On a day when the Steelers coaching staff lost its collective mind and guts, when the offensive line was unspeakably bad, when the vaunted "Steel Curtain II" defense was reduced to Saran Wrap under the pressure of holding what should have been a safe lead, when James Harrison and Ike Taylor took costly penalties only overzealous ninnies would commit, when Troy Polamalu spent the entire second half running around to no discernible purpose, Roethlisberger saved the day.
Never question him again. Ben has one foot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the other in Terry Bradshaw's jewelry box.
Roethlisberger's teammates made it tough on him. Even co-hero Santonio Holmes (inexplicably named MVP) missed the winner before catching the winner.
The Steelers' performance raised many questions. Where was coach Mike Tomlin's renowned chutzpah when the Steelers settled for field goals from the Arizona 1 and 3? What was Taylor doing in single coverage on Larry Fitzgerald when Fitzgerald hauled in a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put the Cardinals ahead? What were Taylor and Harrison thinking when they took fourth-quarter unnecessary roughness flags? Was biting on every play fake in the second half part of Polamalu's endorsement deal with Coca-Cola?
Roethlisberger answered all those questions, or at least made them moot.
Roethlisberger lit up the Tampa sky on the game-winning drive, running a flawless two-minute drill under the most pressure-packed conditions possible. He was 5-of-7 for 84 yards, often running for his life (and the Steelers' season) as his beleaguered, untalented line did its best to at least not hold.
Informal poll: Does anyone still think Ben holds onto the ball too long?"
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