Originally Posted by stormdriver

I didn't say a word in this thread about that joke of a Super Bowl. YES, Ben sucked it up in that game. YES, that trophy was gift wrapped with black and yellow paper before the game even began. YES, you're right, you didn't deserve that win, as Seattle outplayed you in every category. Is that your fault? Is that Ben's fault? Is that anyone on that team's fault? NO. No one can blame the Steelers for what happened, regardless of how they benefited from it. As I've said before, now you have a trophy that you'll spend more time defending than celebrating, what fun is that?

Back to Mr. Roethlisberger. I would never base my opinion of any player on his performance in one game. Even if that game is the SB. I base my opinion on inconsistent play, failure to effectively lead, and dependence on talent around him to win. Those are issues he had since day one. He came in to a team that had an amazing defense, a killer running game, a line anchored by two sure HOFers, and very high caliber receivers. Who couldn't win with a team like that? I'll tell you. Tommy Maddox. So when he went down and Ben came in, Ben looked great. Was that because he was a top ten QB? No, it was simply because he was a lot better than Maddox. So a really good team, having rid themselves of the cancer under center, becomes a playoff team. Then a SB team. Then the talent around him starts leaving. A defender here, a HOF RB there, a Pro Bowl special teamer, bit by bit until it becomes an average team. Then his true colors came out, and he showed that without people around him being able to make plays, he's just another Eli Manning.

You'll continue to call me a hater. I don't care. Ben will continue to be himself, and the Steelers will continue to lose, and you, my friend, will be looking at a top ten pick next year. So says the one man who called your non-playoff finish last season. So call me a hater. But just remember what I said when the time comes. Better yet, "mark it down".