PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – CBS Sports ranks Ben Roethlisberger in the same group with Andy Dalton, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. Essentially in the bottom quarter of quarterbacks in the NFL.
Bill Cowher was Ben's first head coach. They won a Super Bowl together. The Crafton native said Tuesday Ben isn't done.
"I'm sure he's just thriving right now on the fact that everyone thinks he's done," Cowher said. "The Steelers are done. I used to say to people that the greatest thing in sports is to do something nobody thinks you can do. It's one of the greatest accomplishments."
"I think right now Ben is thriving on that. He can't wait to get out there, probably chomping at the bit. I would be very surprised if he didn't have a great year this year."
ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum predicts the Steelers will bench Roethlisberger during the season. A former NFL general manager, Tannenbaum said last year Roethlisberger was the worst quarterback in the AFC North.
"It's a tough division," Cowher said. "He's a Hall of Fame player, no question, first ballot. He's won two Super Bowls, been to three. He continues to play the game with a great passion. He's a great competitor. I think you will see that this year."
Cowher himself going into the Hall of Fame in a couple of weeks, recalled drafting Roethlisberger 12th overall in 2004. Not only did they not expect anything immediately, he likely wouldn't dress for games.
"My idea with Ben was, ok, Philip Rivers could probably start from day 1," Cowher said of the quarterbacks drafted ahead of Roethlisberger. "Eli Manning, day 1. They came from big time programs, they have pedigrees. Ben came from the MAC. I figured this is a great situation. We had Tommy Maddox to start. We could bridge the gap here and we also have Charlie Batch to back-up. So he could be the third quarterback."
So originally the record-setting Miami of Ohio junior was to hold a clipboard his rookie year.
"As it unfolds, Batch gets hurt in the third preseason game," Cowher said. "Won't be ready 'til the fourth game of the season. We'll have a dual package for him, doing some of the one-minute stuff. You know, a little package for Ben until Charlie gets back and Tommy will be the starter. Tommy goes down in week 2 and now all of a sudden, ahead of Eli, ahead of Rivers. The guy who is supposed to sit for a while was now starting. I guess he proceeded to win his first 15 games."
Roethlisberger threw for 2,621 yards and 17 touchdowns his first season. The 39-year-old now holds almost every Steelers passing record including yards (60,348) and touchdowns (396).
"It was just amazing, not just as his athleticism and his size," Cowher said. "His feel for the game. He could see the field better than anybody. He got comfortable outside the pocket, not afraid to make throws. It was never too big for him. What you've seen him do for a period-of-time and consistently. He is a great competitor."
An analyst for CBS Sports since leaving as the Steelers coach, Cowher sees a different season than most. Maybe Cowher would use Roethlisberger's line. 'This old cowboy's got a little left in him'.
