Opinion: Stars contribute to Ben’s greatness
than he did by excluding Roethlisberger.
“Yes, he’s a future Hall of Famer and there’s no doubt he can still help the Steelers,” Carr said of Roethlisberger. “But, he has the most talented skill players in the league on his unit, and that pair — Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell — makes him look great 14 seasons in. I don’t think Big Ben could win a ton of games without them at this stage in his career.”
You know what they say about opinions, right? They are like noses. Everybody has one.
I know I’m not very smart. I never was able to figure out if Terry Bradshaw made John Stallworth and Lynn Swann or if Stallworth and Swann made Bradshaw. I just believe they made each other Hall of Famers.
So it is with Roethlisberger and Brown and Bell. I’m not going to hold it against Roethlisberger that he plays with great players and a top offensive line. I believe he would be just as successful if he played with the Brady Bunch in New England or Rodgers’ group in Green Bay or Brees’ teammates in New Orleans.
You might agree with Carr about Roethlisberger. I hear some people say they are eager for Mason Rudolph to step in for Roethlisberger. My advice: Be careful what you wish. It was 20 years between Bradshaw and Roethlisberger. It might
“I don’t think Big Ben could win a ton of games without [Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell] at this stage in his career.” David Carr
be another 20 years — or longer — before the Steelers find their next franchise quarterback.
Roethlisberger did better on the NFL Network list than he did with Carr. He came in at No. 18 overall, sixth among quarterbacks behind Brady, Wentz, Brees, Rodgers and Wilson. I have him fourth behind Wentz, Rodgers and Brady. I think Wentz is the best player in the NFL. He was going to be the league MVP last season before he was injured late in the year.
The Steelers were wellrepresented on the NFL Network list with six players in the Top 50. Antonio Brown was No. 2 overall behind Brady and Bell, as mentioned, No. 5. David DeCastro (44), Ryan Shazier (47/ based on last season) and Cam Heyward (48) made the cut. Maurkice Pouncey didn’t make the Top 100 despite being the Steelers’ best and most valuable offensive lineman. Talk about lost credibility.
Bell reacted to his spot on Twitter.
“top 5? humbled, but not satisfied.”
What Bell said later on the NFL Network was more interesting. He sounded much more upbeat about his contract negotiations with the Steelers than he did the previous two times we heard from him, when he called himself a “bad guy” and a “target” in a rap song because he believed a lot of fans were against him. He also referred to himself as a “villain” on Twitter.
“We’re a lot closer than we were last year at this time,” Bell said in his network interview. “That’s what I’m happy about. I got confidence we’ll get it done. I want to do it.”
The Steelers put their franchise tag on Bell and are committed to him for $14.5 million this season. They also say they want to do a multi-year deal with him before the July 16 deadline. I would love to see that happen. I agree with the NFL Network poll that Bell is the best running back in the NFL and, if I’m Art Rooney II and Kevin Colbert, I want him on my team. But I still have doubts the two sides will get something done. They spoke optimistically at this time a year ago and Bell still ended up playing under the tag in 2017 for $12.1 million.
“I don’t want to have a [repeat] of what happened last year,” Bell said. “If it came down to that, obviously I have to do what I have to do. I have to take my stand and protect myself. But I don’t want to do that. I want to go to camp and play for the Steelers long term.”
And if there is no deal and Bell misses training camp and the preseason before joining the Steelers the week of the first regular-season game, as he did last year?
“I’ve got to find a way to get back quicker,” Bell said, acknowledging for the first time that missing practice time led to his slow start last season. He averaged 60 rushing yards and 18.7 receiving yards in the first three games, 92.3 rushing yards and 59.25 receiving yards in the next 12 before sitting out the final game.
“Maybe taking Ben aside and, literally, me and him, one on one, him throwing me the ball. It’s a lot of timing. I think, for me, that was the biggest thing, my timing with Ben and us getting together on the same page.”
It’s nice to think that won’t be a problem this season.
We can hope, right?