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Ben Roethlisberger was looking at the papers around Mark Whipple's desk when he noticed one that caught his eye.
Roethlisberger was not the highest ranked quarterback in the 2004 class, though he was highly ranked coming out of Miami. That made the young signal- caller angry.
He looked through the reports on my desk one day, and he was the quarterbacks coach at the time. Ben was typical when he was young. I told him that he would have been the first pick in the draft and gone to the 49ers if he stayed one more year.
I said Eli's brother was an NFL player and player of the year, and he got mad because I had ranked Eli higher than him.
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Roethlisberger had a rivalry with the younger Manning. He was challenged by everyone and constantly trying to convince those who knew him or watched him that he was the best. At everything.
In his 18th year as a quarterback, Roethlisberger admits "all signs" point to one final regular-season game on Monday night against the Cleveland Browns. The program is on the cable network, ESPN. He no longer has to prove himself, the fruits of his labor are visible in two Super Bowl trophies, six Pro Bowls and more than 60,000 passing yards and 400 regular-season touchdown throws.
Roethlisberger could have stopped playing a long time ago, but he kept pushing himself, because he wanted to win another title.
Roethlisberger only plays the game to win Super Bowls, according to his backup. When you have enough money, you don't have to worry about money, so you come back for one reason.
Ben Roethlisberger's 18th season in Pittsburgh is expected to be his last, and while it may not have been the season he envisioned at the beginning, his career has been filled with success.
The ultimate competitor was found in Roethlisberger. A man who cared about winning everything, no matter the stakes, was the one who passed on him in the NFL draft.
Ray-Ray McCloud said that he loves watching winners. He had four hip pads on, it looked like I was on the sideline. He had a bruise from his knee to his rib. He couldn't tie his shoe because he didn't practice all week. He took every hit that came his way. He came to the sideline and said, 'Next series, next series.' The mentality of doing whatever it takes. He is who he is because of that mentality.
The fans liked that mindset from the moment he took over for Tommy Maddox as a rookies and helped the team to a 15-1 regular-season record, 13-0 with Roethlisberger starting, before losing to the New England Pats in the playoffs. He was immature at times but never wavered from his ultimate goal. He wanted to win and he did it often. He has 52 game-winning drives, tied for third with Tom Brady.
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Roethlisberger's most memorable moments were the touchdown throw to Santonio Holmes to win Super Bowl XLIII, playing through a broken nose against the Baltimore Ravens, and his game-winning drive against the Dallas Cowboys.
The first time you see Ben Roethlisberger get hit in the backfield, it's enough to make anyone like him, said Carlson, who came in from Southington, Connecticut for the last home game.
The ability of Roethlisberger to play through injuries is something that Allan Huibers believes is part of his legacy.
He still went out and played despite being sore. That is how I will remember him.
When he was drafted by the Steelers in 2011, Cam Heyward was able to understand the depth of Roethlisberger's thirst for victory.
Roethlisberger didn't like the fact that Eli Manning was rated higher in the 2004 draft.
It got out of hand when we used to have tournaments. Ben was always very competitive. He always won. I think he is an All-American in three sports in high school. Ben is one of the top competitors.
The games were taken outside the locker room. Roethlisberger and Pouncey held a competition to see who could hit the goalpost with the ball.
Ben was always competitive. One time, Pouncey got us out of practice. Ben excelled in every game he played.
The need to win extended to the golf course. After the departure of the Steelers staff in 2006 and the arrival of the new one in 2007, he and Roethlisberger kept a standing Tuesday golf date.
He hadn't played much when we started playing golf. He could hit the ball a mile and had soft hands, which made the putts when he needed to.
I was always a sore loser. That is a great trait for a quarterback.
Those who know Roethlisberger understand that the losses eat at him more than the wins fulfill him.
The Ravens were one of Roethlisberger's fiercest rivals, and one play exemplified that as Ngata broke Roethlisberger's nose, and then watched the quarterback lead his team to victory.
He had an opportunity to win the Super Bowl in a two-minute drill, but we went four-and-out. We failed. Green Bay is celebrating. You don't get to that point again for 10 years.
He came back believing that they had a chance. I don't think he comes back if he doesn't believe they had a chance.
The season didn't go as Roethlisberger anticipated. Roethlisberger and the Steelers have had a roller-coaster season, with close wins and soul-crushing losses.
By acknowledging this is likely his final regular-season home game, Roethlisberger is setting the table for a grand home finale against the Browns with an outside chance to make the playoffs on the line. The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in the running to reach the playoffs despite the fact that they were eliminated on Sunday. It is the kind of circumstance that the ultimate competitor thrives on.
Roethlisberger hopes the fans will say he never quits. I have given everything I have. I was begging to get back in the game when I was down 30 with nine minutes to go. I was allowed to go in that series, but not the next one.
I don't know how to quit.
