SteelCrazy
01-18-2011, 11:18 PM
Call him Ben Roethlisberger, wise man.
No, it's not a reference to the education the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has acquired during his off-the-field life, which involved toppled motorcycles and topsy-turvy judgment in bars.
Rather, of the four quarterbacks remaining in the NFL playoffs, Roethlisberger is the only one without anything to prove. He's the one the other three should seek out for advice, since he has been there and done that. Twice.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was spectacular in beating the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. He shut up a lot of critics, and he put Brett Favre so far back in his rear-view mirror that you'd need Google maps to find him. But that was Atlanta. Rodgers still needs to beat the hated Chicago Bears and get to a Super Bowl to solidify his status as one of the best in the game.
Jay Cutler of the Bears still has many doubters, and understandably so. He always seems as if he's one inexplicable throw away from imploding and ruining his team's chances at victory. That's his reputation. But if Cutler beats the Packers in the NFC championship game, all that will vanish. He will be Jay Cutler, leader of men.
And Mark Sanchez played well in the New York Jets' upset of the New England Patriots. But in his case, it's all about decision-making, even moreso than for other quarterbacks. If he has plenty of time to think and fling, Sanchez is fine. If he doesn't, he overthrows, or delivers it to the wrong jersey. The Patriots didn't pressure him nearly as much as the Steelers will. If he can come up with another sharp effort in Pittsburgh, he'll step up in class.
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger already has two Super Bowl rings, so his status in the game is secure. And he's playing well again in this postseason.
He could conceivably take this weekend off, if he wanted to. He's earned it.
The same can't be said for the other three.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41137078/ns/sports/
No, it's not a reference to the education the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has acquired during his off-the-field life, which involved toppled motorcycles and topsy-turvy judgment in bars.
Rather, of the four quarterbacks remaining in the NFL playoffs, Roethlisberger is the only one without anything to prove. He's the one the other three should seek out for advice, since he has been there and done that. Twice.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was spectacular in beating the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. He shut up a lot of critics, and he put Brett Favre so far back in his rear-view mirror that you'd need Google maps to find him. But that was Atlanta. Rodgers still needs to beat the hated Chicago Bears and get to a Super Bowl to solidify his status as one of the best in the game.
Jay Cutler of the Bears still has many doubters, and understandably so. He always seems as if he's one inexplicable throw away from imploding and ruining his team's chances at victory. That's his reputation. But if Cutler beats the Packers in the NFC championship game, all that will vanish. He will be Jay Cutler, leader of men.
And Mark Sanchez played well in the New York Jets' upset of the New England Patriots. But in his case, it's all about decision-making, even moreso than for other quarterbacks. If he has plenty of time to think and fling, Sanchez is fine. If he doesn't, he overthrows, or delivers it to the wrong jersey. The Patriots didn't pressure him nearly as much as the Steelers will. If he can come up with another sharp effort in Pittsburgh, he'll step up in class.
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger already has two Super Bowl rings, so his status in the game is secure. And he's playing well again in this postseason.
He could conceivably take this weekend off, if he wanted to. He's earned it.
The same can't be said for the other three.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41137078/ns/sports/