Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 13, 2006
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- In year one, he outdid every quarterback in NFL history by winning all 13 of his regular-season starts.
In year two, he became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl -- and that led many to wonder what Ben Roethlisberger could possibly do for an encore in year three.
Would you believe he topped himself on the opening drive of the first exhibition game?
Two months removed from a death-defying motorcycle accident, Roethlisberger played Saturday as if those seven hours of reconstructive facial surgery had never happened.
Afterward, everybody said everything was normal out there. No surprise to us. Ben was his usual self.
In many ways he was, completing 3-of-4 passes for 29 yards on his only series of the day. He fearlessly and resourcefully dodged Arizona Cardinals' pass rushers, took a hit and even answered reporters' questions with the usual hint of defiance.
Did it feel like a normal preseason game, Ben, or was there a little extra to it?
"No, you guys make it a bigger deal than I do. I felt just as comfortable and normal as always."
How was it taking the hit (the one where three defenders weighing a combined 820 pounds or so buried him)?
"I was fine. I didn't feel any different than any other hit."
It wasn't until the final question that Roethlisberger revealed what everyone knew: This was not a normal game. There was something bigger going on, and not just because it marked the christening of a state-of-the-art, $465 million stadium and was televised nationally by the NFL Network.
"It kind of hit me right before the kickoff to sit here and say, 'Thank you that I am able to be out here, to put on the jersey, to be in front of people playing again, two months to the day after a pretty bad accident,' " Roethlisberger said.
The plan called for Roethlisberger to play one series, even if the Steelers went three-and-out. It appeared they might, after two handoffs to Willie Parker.
On 3rd-and-3 from his 30, Roethlisberger lined up in the shotgun and whipped a quick screen to Verron Haynes for a first down. On the next play, he ran away from 290-pound Darnell Dockett and hit Parker for 7 yards.
After an end-around to Nate Washington, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt called another first-down pass because the Cardinals were crowding the line.
This time, Roethlisberger twirled out of the grasp of safety Adrian Wilson, sprinted to his right and threw a strike against the grain to Heath Miller -- between two defenders -- for an 11-yard gain.
Every time Roethlisberger dropped back, Steeler Nation no doubt held its breath as it watched him attempt to leap yet another hurdle.
By the end of the drive, he was Roger Kingdom, clearing each with ease.
First game. Check.
First pass. Check.
First scramble. Check.
First hit. Check.
First late hit: Check.
On the series-killing sack -- Jeff Reed would miss a 54-yard field-goal attempt -- defensive end Bertrand Berry grabbed Roethlisberger, as Antonio Smith took a diving shot at the back of Big Ben's legs. Linebacker Chike Okeafor piled on late but wasn't whistled.
That hit wouldn't have happened if Quincy Morgan had come down with a perfectly lofted ball along the sideline a play earlier, but it probably was a blessing.
As Whisenhunt said, "It's good, because next week the emphasis won't be on, 'Can he take a hit?' It'll be on how he plays and how the offense plays, which is what it should be. All the other distractions, maybe they've been put to rest."
Amazingly enough, they have.
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com
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