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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Roethlisberger underrated? Absolutely

Frequent visitors to this blog should be well aware of how I feel about offseason rankings of this and that. They are dreamed up by TV and web site execs to keep people watching and visiting their sites.

But the NFL Network's top 100 players - which is also run on NFL.com - is voted on by the players. And Ben Roethlisberger ranked 61st.

That's right, 61st.

Does anyone in their right mind actually believe that Roethlisberger is the 61st best player in the NFL right now. Does anybody think if all the teams were dissolved and there was a redraft of players by a new league that Roethlisberger would be the 61st player selected?

Maybe in fantasy football. But in the real world, Roethlisberger is one of the 20 best players and most valuable players in the league.

Yet on this list, there are 11 quarterbacks ranked ahead of him. Seriously.

Yes, Roethlisberger is now 31 and missed three games in 2012 with a rib/clavicle injury. Yet he still threw for over 3,200 yards with 26 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions - all without any threat of a running game.

That got him ranked two spots ahead of Stephen Tulloch. Who's Stephen Tulloch, you might ask? He's a linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Yes, those same Lions who make the playoffs as often as your Pittsburgh Pirates.

Knowing Roethlisberger, this slight will fuel him. He was having an outstanding season in 2013 before suffering the injury and wasn't the same player after coming back.

But Roethlisberger is as competitive as anyone I've ever covered. He won't say it publicly, but he'll use this slight to come back with an even better year.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sadly that's the impression Ben leaves for people outside of Pittsburgh since he has not been consistant game to game his whole career and has never seemed to take the next step in being the leader of the Steelers. Despite winning the rings. No matter how good Ben really the perception of him is underwhelming due to his inconsistant stats and his injuries...

Dale Lolley said...

He is the unquestioned leader of the Steelers

Unknown said...

In consistant play... He plays with broken bones. Broke nose...floatin ribs seperated shoulders... This guy is a gladiator - he leads by example - when on the feild he is our general. I dont know wat ur watching, but I see a team that will that will traverse the depths of hell and back following Ben.

Anonymous said...

Ben's a warrior... always has been. While it cannot be denied he plays through injuries that most qbs would not and can't even be stopped by an old lady in a buick, there is also an undeniable bit of drama queen in him. That combined with his unfairly earned reputation of the field sometimes skews his value on lists like this.

Only thing that matters--- Is there any qb currently in the NFL I'd rather have behind center in the black and gold? No.

Anonymous said...

considering this list comes from the players, i'm not surprised. it's probably more of a popularity contest than anything else.

living in cleveland, i can give you a perspective from browns fans out here. they think #7 is good, but not great. many times he gets lucky that guys are open when he runs around to avoid a sack. however, they also feel he is incredibly clutch and will almost always win the game in the end if given the chance. they, too, believe he is tough as nails.

Tom said...

Off topic a little bit but for the sake of conversation, will we see Pittsburgh host a Super Bowl within the next 10-15 years? The NFL is deciding where to host Super Bowl 50 and 51 in the upcoming weeks and it sounds like Miami and San Francisco are the front runners. I can't remember the last time Pittsburgh was host to a Super Bowl and would love to see one played there. Bouchette's article from this past week on the size limitations of Heinz Field makes me think that the NFL will never seriously consider Pittsburgh until the stadium is renovated. Is the process behind picking the SB venues that in 30 years 30 teams will have hosted a SB?

TarheelFlyer said...

I honestly don't care where they rank him. It doesn't matter he is still ours. Now, when it comes to those 8 INTs last year, he had 4 in 9 games prior to injury, and 4 in the final 4 games, 2 of which led to losses.

He was having a GREAT year until he got hurt. He was never the same after that. Reverse those 2 losses and we would have finished tied with Cinn, won the head to head and gone to the playoffs.

DD in AZ said...

Complete joke to rank him that low. Who wins in this league?? Teams with a QB. If as you indicate Dale there were a redraft of every single position by each team right now, 6 out of the 1st 10players drafted would be QB's. And #7 would be one of those guaranteed.

Dale Lolley said...

Don't see a Super Bowl coming to Pittsburgh. There's not enough hotel space here.

Anonymous said...

I don't see it either. But maybe the NFL could at least dangle that carrot to get the Sports Authority to move on getting those necessary seats added.

Anonymous said...

traffic too, would be impossible for a super bowl in pittsburgh.