Never fear, Tom Brady to the rescue!

[Chucktownsteeler]

In the 11th hour, Tom Brady will save the day on the Big Ben Doomsday Clock

Even if Ben Roethlisberger wants to try to come back Tom Brady style, that ain't happening. He was the epitome of a shot fighter last year. While the Pittsburgh Steelers made the AFC playoffs one last time with him as their quarterback, this team is going nowhere until they find the heir apparent. Unfortunately, this is a bad quarterback class, even if you love Pitt star Kenny Pickett.

So to give the six-time Super Bowl champions a seventh Lombardi Trophy, why not call up a guy who is looking for No. 8? For one year, Brady could hold his own in the AFC North. While there are no guarantees he would get the Steelers back to the Super Bowl, a lot of their perpetual nonsense would dissipate with The GOAT taking over the quarterback room. Just look what he did in Tampa.

The only thing that would be crazier is if the Steelers go into 2022 without a future at quarterback.

Read More: Tom Brady rumors: 5 teams that will call the GOAT out of desperation (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/tom-brady-rumors-5-teams-that-will-call-the-goat-out-of-desperation/ar-AATCNUE?ocid=msedgntp)

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Personally, I'm mad that Tom hosed Ben one last time on the way out the door...

When he also announced his retirement, it meant there's a good chance Ben isn't a 1st ballot HOF guy now. Often, if there is a GOAT at a position, they are the only one in their class... I think they make it so that Tom will be the ONLY QB inducted into the HOF his class, now pushing Ben by 1 year

[Chucktownsteeler]

Personally, I'm mad that Tom hosed Ben one last time on the way out the door...

When he also announced his retirement, it meant there's a good chance Ben isn't a 1st ballot HOF guy now. Often, if there is a GOAT at a position, they are the only one in their class... I think they make it so that Tom will be the ONLY QB inducted into the HOF his class, now pushing Ben by 1 year

That's why I am hoping Brady comes back for at least a year (not necessarily with the Steelers). Read where the "Gronk" would consider catching passes from Burrow.

[feltdizz]

Personally, I'm mad that Tom hosed Ben one last time on the way out the door...

When he also announced his retirement, it meant there's a good chance Ben isn't a 1st ballot HOF guy now. Often, if there is a GOAT at a position, they are the only one in their class... I think they make it so that Tom will be the ONLY QB inducted into the HOF his class, now pushing Ben by 1 year

It would be a sham and bogus if they denied Ben simply so Brady could have the spotlight.

[T.Ferguson]

Personally, I'm mad that Tom hosed Ben one last time on the way out the door...

When he also announced his retirement, it meant there's a good chance Ben isn't a 1st ballot HOF guy now. Often, if there is a GOAT at a position, they are the only one in their class... I think they make it so that Tom will be the ONLY QB inducted into the HOF his class, now pushing Ben by 1 year

I don't think so, Ben is top 10 in pretty much every passing category, 2 time SB winner, never had a losing season, etc. It would be totally ridiculous if he wasn't a 1st ballot regardless of Brady going in at the same time. Then again Ward isn't in the HOF yet either so who knows but this would be even more egregious obviously.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

It would be a sham and bogus if they denied Ben simply so Brady could have the spotlight.

they would use his early career missteps as the reason for not making him first ballot.

[Chucktownsteeler]

they would use his early career missteps as the reason for not making him first ballot.

That would not surprise me either.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I don't think so, Ben is top 10 in pretty much every passing category, 2 time SB winner, never had a losing season, etc. It would be totally ridiculous if he wasn't a 1st ballot regardless of Brady going in at the same time. Then again Ward isn't in the HOF yet either so who knows but this would be even more egregious obviously.

Tim Brown (same year as Jerry Rice) wasn't 1st ballot... ultimately, he was a few years later (maybe so it wouldn't be so obvious?), but he was top 3 in every major category at the time of retiring ...

At the time of him retiring he was #2 in Yards, only to Rice... #3 in TD and Receptions (Rice, Cris Carter).

I swear, it happens.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Not sure why but because of the title I have the song "Jim Dandy to the Rescue" playing in my head.

[Northern_Blitz]

I don't think so, Ben is top 10 in pretty much every passing category, 2 time SB winner, never had a losing season, etc. It would be totally ridiculous if he wasn't a 1st ballot regardless of Brady going in at the same time. Then again Ward isn't in the HOF yet either so who knows but this would be even more egregious obviously.

I don't think Ward should be in (even though he's a player I loved and the only guy who's jersey I bought).

I do think it will be stupid if Ben doesn't get in on the 1st ballot. But I won't be surprised if it happens now. I think many voters (not just Peter King) will be looking for reasons to make Ben wait because of the off-field stuff. And this gives them a better excuse than "we don't like him".

[T.Ferguson]

I don't think Ward should be in (even though he's a player I loved and the only guy who's jersey I bought).

I do think it will be stupid if Ben doesn't get in on the 1st ballot. But I won't be surprised if it happens now. I think many voters (not just Peter King) will be looking for reasons to make Ben wait because of the off-field stuff. And this gives them a better excuse than "we don't like him".

Yeah I don't get how Ward isn't a HOF'er, his numbers are very comparable to most HOF WR's and better than some. Great playoff numbers, SB MVP. Beyond stats the dude was clutch and played a good bit of his career in a run heavy offense with bad QB's, to compile the numbers he did is nothing short of amazing, definitely should be HOF but then I realize goofballs like Peter King have a say, sad.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Yeah I don't get how Ward isn't a HOF'er, his numbers are very comparable to most HOF WR's and better than some. Great playoff numbers, SB MVP. Beyond stats the dude was clutch and played a good bit of his career in a run heavy offense with bad QB's, to compile the numbers he did is nothing short of amazing, definitely should be HOF but then I realize goofballs like Peter King have a say, sad.

Numbers don't tell the whole story... Moreover, as the league becomes more of a passing league, the less impressive his career numbers will look.

[T.Ferguson]

Numbers don't tell the whole story... Moreover, as the league becomes more of a passing league, the less impressive his career numbers will look.

When Ward retired he was 8th all time in receptions and the same could be said for any of these WR's that are in the HOF from past eras.

[Eich]

It doesn't personally affect me at all if Ben isn't first ballot HOF. He'll eventually get in.

It would never happen and we wouldn't have the talent around him yet but Brady coming to the Steelers would honestly make me ill. He's the face of an enemy I hated for years. I have no desire for him to come to the Steelers to be a savior for a year.

[WindyCitySteel]

Tim Brown (same year as Jerry Rice) wasn't 1st ballot... ultimately, he was a few years later (maybe so it wouldn't be so obvious?), but he was top 3 in every major category at the time of retiring ...

At the time of him retiring he was #2 in Yards, only to Rice... #3 in TD and Receptions (Rice, Cris Carter).

I swear, it happens.

I just scrolled through 20 years on pro football reference and can't find a counterexample. Closest I found was Dan Marino and Steve Young both going in 1999. Was Marino considered the GOAT at that point? Probably not.