Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger on verge of NFL greatness, but redemption must wait
The comeback of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is nearly complete.
Not long ago, Roethlisberger was a scourge upon the league. He had twice been accused of sexual assault, although neither allegation resulted in charges being filed. He was suspended four games at the start of this season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Today, he has a chance to become a legend.
With a win against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, Roethlisberger would join the exclusive list of Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks with three or more rings.
It's been quite a journey, even a heroic comeback, if you will -- just don't call it redemption.
That might come later. Years later.
It's impossible, in just a few months, to erase the image of Roethlisberger as an NFL pariah.
Roethlisberger seemed to represent everything that was wrong with the league and its egomaniac stars -- their outlandish lifestyles, their sense of entitlement, their boys-will-be-boys mentality. He felt he could do what he wanted when he wanted and with whom. And it caught up to him.
"I think that happens to a lot of these guys who come in and have success," Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "There is a sense of entitlement. It's different when that success kind of becomes who you are and you stray from your family, your roots, your everything. It takes a punch in the nose to get you back."
There's no question that Roethlisberger was not only punched in the nose but knocked down. It forced him to mature, change his life and become more reflective. He says he has an inner peace now because of a renewed emphasis on faith.
But Roethlisberger readily admits that this moment and this stage is about football and his bid for greatness on the field.
"I think you always go through changes in life," Roethlisberger said "When you're faced with challenges, you find ways to overcome them. Just like when there are doubters that challenged me in football, it challenged me to rise above. As a person it's the same way. When people say you can't do it, you want to rise above and be the best you can be. But it's not that time now because it's really about this game."
When it comes to this game, no one rises to the challenge better than Roethlisberger. He didn't play quarterback until his senior year in high school. Yet, he progressed fast enough to earn a scholarship to Miami of Ohio.
Even after becoming a small-school star, Roethlisberger was considered an afterthought in the great quarterback draft of 2004.
Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers stole the headlines as the top two quarterbacks taken.
But it's Roethlisberger, picked 11th overall by the Steelers, who is on the brink of Super Bowl greatness. After winning a Super Bowl title as a bus-driving second-year quarterback, he was the star of the 27-23 Super Bowl victory against the Arizona Cardinals in 2008.
He has always thrived in pressure situations. He was right at home when he led the Steelers down the field before tossing a game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left.
Now he is looking for his third NFL title in seven years in the league. He already has more than Peyton Manning and a win today would give him one more than Hall of Famer John Elway.
Three of the four members of the three-ring club -- Montana, Aikman and Bradshaw -- are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brady will certainly join them as soon as his career with the New England Patriots is over.
"That's unbelievable company," Roethlisberger said. "I don't put myself there. I think they are too good. Maybe that's a question for if we win and I'm sitting there at the podium."
Roethlisberger is good, too. That's the reason a conservative organization like the Steelers stood behind him when they have gotten rid of players such Holmes for much less.
Great quarterbacks and possibly soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterbacks aren't easy to find.
The Steelers are learning during his comeback journey toward redemption that Roethlisberger is at least trying to put in the work toward improving his image off the field.
"Ben is a highly respected member of our football team, not only because of what he has done this year but his body of work and the person that he is," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We all fall short of perfection. We all make mistakes. His are well documented. He's doing the best he can in terms of moving forward."
To that end, Roethlisberger won't be redeemed until he reaches his ultimate goal of not just being considered a great quarterback but a great man.
"I want to be a role model," Roethlisberger said. "I want people to look up to me."
No matter what happens in Super Bowl XLV today, that will take a while to achieve.
Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760
This story was originally published February 4, 2011 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger on verge of NFL greatness, but redemption must wait."