Big Ben A New Man At Superbowl 43

Hope you all don't mind that I used regular numbers in the title, I'm not good with the Roman kind. This year's Superbowl reminds me of the last time the Steelers were in the Big Game three years ago. I remember after the game as I walked into the Steelers locker room to grab some interviews. It was quite a scene, Joey Porter and James Harrison were puffing on the biggest cigar I've ever seen in my life, 325 nose tackle Casey Hampton was walking around in a bath towel looking like an over-grown Tony Soprano, head coach Bill Cowher was smiling ear to ear and hugging his players. Then there was Ben Roethlisberger. He was sitting at his locker with his head in his hands. He seemed a little emotional but not because he had just won the biggest game of his life. A group of reporters gathered around in hopes of getting a few more quotes. Ben picked his head up, looked at the group and snapped: "Guys, I'm not doing any more interviews, go away!" After the scrum cleared, I walked over, extended my hand and said: "Ben, I just wanted to say congratulations." He replied: "Thanks, J.B., thanks." Then, he put his head back in his hands. The reason why? Well, I think he realized that the Steelers beat the Seahawks on that cold day in Detroit in spite of him. Ben played poorly that day, completing only nine passes, tossing two interceptions (the second one killed a game-clinching touchdown drive) Remember, it was Antwaan Randle El who threw the game winning touchdown pass that day, not Ben. While Roethlisberger was the youngest QB ever to win a Superbowl, he was also posted the lowest rating of any quarterback ever to win one as well. This time around, Ben is much more mature, he's established himself as a true team leader, and I think he would like nothing more than to play a solid game on Sunday and take home the Lombardi trophy AND a Superbowl MVP award. Trust me, Ben keeps track of what's going on in the league. He saw what Eli Manning, a player who was drafted ahead of him in 2004, did last year for the Giants. Ben admits nerves were a huge factor in his poor play three years ago, don't expect that this year. Don't be surprised if Big Ben plays the best game of his life on Super Sunday against the Cardinals. I certainly won't be.

Cardinals Will Provide Tough Challenge For Steelers

If you think the Pittsburgh Steelers will have an easy time against the Arizona Cardinals in Superbowl 43, think again. First of all, the Cards haven a quarterback in Kurt Warner who has seen virtually every defensive scheme in his long career. It will be hard for Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau to come with a package that will fool Warner. Plus, with all the offensive weapons Arizona has (Boldin, Fitzgerald, Breaston) if the Steelers don't "get home" with their blitzes, Warner has the ability to make them pay. Plus, let's not forget that Ken Whisenhunt would like nothing more than to beat the team he helped win a Superbowl three years ago. "Whiz" was a finalist for the Steelers head coaching job which eventually went to Mike Tomlin, and he's probably still a little miffed that he didn't get the Steelers job after serving as the team's offensive coordinator. Whisenhunt helped develop Ben Roethlisberger as a quarterback, but it seems a rift between the two developed during Big Ben's injury-riddled 2006 season and the hard feelings haven't subsided. Whisenhunt said after the season (one which saw the Black and Gold go 8-8 and miss the playoffs) that Roethlisberger wasn't physically able to perform at his best after his near-fatal motorcycle accident, emergency appendectomy, and concussion. In 2007, the week before the Steelers played the Cards in the regular season, I asked Roethlisberger about his relationship with Whisenhunt. He didn't have too much to say and seemed uncomfortable talking about him. (BTW: The Cards won that game in Arizona and Roethlisberger threw a critical interception the endzone.) Here's another thing to consider: The Arizona Cardinals are pretty much "Steelers West." Besides Whisenhunt, their Offensive Line Coach is former Steelers assistant Russ Grimm, another finalist for the Steelers job which went to Tomlin. Wideout Steve Breaston is from Pittsburgh, fellow Wideout Larry Fitzgerald was a star at Pitt as was linebacker Gerald Hayes. Outside linebacker Clark Haggans was a starter on the Steelers 2005 Superbowl team (how fired up do you think he is for this game?) The point I'm making is: A lot of people don't expect much from the Cardinals, but they're dead wrong. Expect the Cardinals to play a physical game to try to match the Steelers intensity on Super Sunday. So: Who wins? Well, I'm not ready to give you my fearless prediction yet, keep logging on as the big game gets closer.

Later,

jb

Welcome To My Blog Site!

First of all, I want to thank all of you who have been asking and wondering where I am and what I'm doing. Let me assure you that I'm fine. In fact, I'm more than fine. I'm in the process of taking the next step in my career and it starts with doing what I love to do most: Talking Pittsburgh sports with you. Be on the lookout for my sports blog. I will be giving you my thoughts on the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Pitt, Penn State, WVU and all the high schools. It's insight you can only get from someone who has spent nearly a decade covering sports in the Steel City. I look forward to hearing from you!

Talk to you soon!

jb