Ben Roethlisberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers found a real gem when they drafted AFL
quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Nicknamed "Big Ben," this Ohio
native led the Steelers to the Super Bowl during his second year
in the league.
An interest in sports during his high school years perhaps led
to Roethlisberger's success. As captain of the football,
basketball and baseball teams, this star in the making finally
landed his spot as the quarterback of his high school football
team during his senior year. It appears as if that practice paid
off - literally. In 2004, when Ben Roethlisberger found his way
into the NFL Draft, the Steelers signed him to a six year
contract with an impressive signing bonus. During his rookie
season, Roethlisberger succeeded with a 13-0 record for the best
start by a rookie. In October 2005, just one year after he was
selected in the draft, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL
Offensive Rookie of the Year as named by the Associated Press.
During his rookie season, passing records were something to be
broken by this Findlay High School graduate. Among them, best
passer rating and highest completion percentage. It was obvious
to all who saw him, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill
Parcells, that this young man was here to play. And play he did.
As the 2005 regular season wrapped up, the Steelers had secured
the AFC league's wild card position in the Super Bowl XL. On
February 5, 2006, the Steelers took hom the Super Bowl victory
in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Roethlisberger is far from being your average quarterback. In
fact, his stature leaves little doubt that he is a force to be
reckoned with. Tied with few others as the tallest starting
quarterback in the NFL, "Big Ben" knows how to use his height to
read the competition. In addition, his arm seemingly has a knack
for guiding the passes to their intended receiver. There is no
doubt that height would be an advantage to any quarterback
trying to spot an open receiver on the field.
Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest quarterback to play in
the NFL Super Bowl. While he has been compared to many legends
of the game, Roethlisberger is out to make a name for himself.
With only his second regular season behind him, and 4 years
remaining on his contract with the Steelers, it looks as if
Pittsburgh can expect "Big Ben" to be a powerhouse for the team
in the years to come. What's next for this NFL superstar in the
making? Stay tuned and find out.