Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben Can Be Mad But Should Be Quiet
By Erik Lambert
Ben Roethlisberger needs to get a grip on reality. He’s 36-years old. His time as the Pittsburgh Steelers flag bearer is coming to an end, like it or not.
Yes, the Steelers drafted a quarterback in Mason Rudolph. Could he be the future of the team? Sure, but the odds aren’t favorable. Most 3rd round picks on average fail to overcome an established starter. In these situations, it’s perfectly fine for Roethlisberger to be irritated and a little upset. Nobody likes it when their job is being openly threatened. No king ever likes it when another man emerges to take his crown. Ever see Game of Thrones?
Except Roethlisberger may have taken things a little far. If people are wondering why the Steelers haven’t gotten back to the Super Bowl, they might have to start questioning his stance as a leader. Does a leader openly criticize the team for making a draft pick? Not only that but also expressing total ignorance of other players who were also selected? That is exactly what Roethlisberger did in an interview following the draft interview with KDKA’s Cook and Poni in Pittsburgh.
"“So, I was surprised when they took a quarterback,” Roethlisberger said Friday, “because I thought that maybe in the third round, you can get some really good football players that can help this team now. And nothing against Mason, I think he’s a great football player … I just don’t know how backing up or being the third guy, who knows where he’s going to fall on the depth chart, but helps us win now.”"
Roethlisberger started a fire right where it wasn’t needed
There are a number of things wrong with what Roethlisberger said. First of all, he started a beef with a rookie quarterback, creating a tension where it absolutely wasn’t needed. Not only that but his line about taking players to help the team win now completely ignored the 1st and 2nd round picks the Steelers expected on safety Terrell Edmunds and wide receiver James Washington. Two guys who should be able to help right away.
Oh, and one mustn’t forget the OTHER 3rd round pick they spent on offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor. So, in essence, the Steelers scooped three players who should be able to contribute within the next year and one on a quarterback who could be for the future. Roethlisberger is flat out wrong with his assessment. He didn’t attack Rudolph because the Steelers didn’t address immediate needs or because he was sorry for his current backup QBs.
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He’s upset because Rudolph is the first serious threat he’s ever faced to his job. Landry Jones and Joshua Dobbs were backups. Everybody knew that. Rudolph is different. He may be a 3rd rounder but he’s got considerably more upside than Jones ever did. Roethlisberger knows this and is feeling that heat. It’s uncomfortable. That’s normal. Feeling that way isn’t a crime.
Openly attacking the move? He needs to be better than that.