Jordan DeFigio, @fidgenewton
SteelerNation.com
Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a hell of a lot to overcome this season. And he has a hell of a lot of people he wants to prove wrong.
After years of having not only his health and shape relentlessly questioned and mocked by national media, Roethlisberger has spent the majority of the 2020 training camp looking good and looking sharp. But perhaps, even more importantly, he has (hopefully) put to rest any notion that he is not a good leader.
In the aftermath of the departure of a certain well-known wide receiver (who, for our own sake, we'll leave nameless), it seemed as though any and all talk surrounding the Steelers' quarterback was dragging his name through the mud. After all, what kind of leader causes this amount of chaos? It couldn't be the nameless wide receiver's fault, as so many in Pittsburgh were claiming, so it had to fall on someone's shoulders. And given the perceived width of Roethlisberger's shoulders, they placed the blame on his.
However, it's looking more and more like not one report on Roethlisberger outside of Pittsburgh has held a single grain of accuracy. He is back. He is stepping up. And in his return, the players around him have stepped up too. Not just because of his elevated level of play. But because of things like this.
Coach Tomlin on Ben Roethlisberger helping Kevin Dotson off the field: He's a teammate. He's been there. He's been down on the field before. He knows the fear associated with that.
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) August 18, 2020
That is not the kind of thing just anyone would do (let alone for a rookie who is still developing rapport and chemistry and relationships with his teammates). Roethlisberger was not only being a good guy, he was being an excellent leader. He knows what it's like to be injured in the NFL. He understands what it means to be the franchise quarterback of a team. He knows all the eyes on the field look to him to set the tone, not only after snaps but in-between them as well. And he's raising the bar.
People can say whatever they want about his past. It isn't spotless. In fact, it's rather messy and murky. But the Ben Roethlisberger we've seen over the past several years is one who has not only learned from his mistakes, but grown through them. Leaders always do. And they motivate those around them to be better, not only as players but as people.
He is a leader. He's OUR leader. And the team is lucky to have him back.
What are your predictions for Ben Roethlisberger's season after returning from his elbow injury? Let us know in the comments below.
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