Ben Roethlisberger: Don't plan on Mason Rudolph replacing me for a while
- Thread starter antdrewjosh
- Start date
Yup. A lot of people passed on Marino. It was the roaring cocaine era, and there were whispers that he did it in Pitt. Might have been a reason why they passed on him.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 35,693
- Reaction score
- 40,400
- Points
- 113
- Location
- between $2 short & ten buck two
That plus Pitt got a new head coach for Marino's senior year, the defensive-minded Foge Fazio, and Marino's stats as a senior weren't as good as they were the year before.
Other than Ben's relationship with Bettis, and Jerome's veteran leadership, our defense is the one that helped him the most. It allowed him to make mistakes, because the D often bailed him out. But......we have way more offensive weapons at Rudolph's disposal then Ben did (as much as I love Ward and the Bus), that kind of talent around him will make things easier for him if they above scenario were to take place
Bradshaw started 9 games in 1982, had an 81 rating, took a beating his entire career, who ever thought he could play 5 more seasons was an idiot or just really hoping, but they passed on Marino because of drug suspicion
Sent from my XT1585 using Steeler Nation mobile app
Sent from my XT1585 using Steeler Nation mobile app
I don't give a **** about the PG from the 76ers. But its May. Why does there have to be negative media because Ben cannot just STFU? Do Brady, Rogers, Manning get this kinda ****** press. It was a useless statement he should have just kept to himself. It does nothing good. He is paid mega dollars to be the face of the franchise. Media discipline is something this team clearly needs and Ben can't even make it past the draft without an idiot move.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
- Messages
- 6,581
- Reaction score
- 4,342
- Points
- 113
I said many times in the draft process I did not want a QB until round 3. So we waited until round 3. I just don’t see much if any downside. Worst case scenario Rudolph is a wasted 3rd round pick or a bust. Sammie Coates, Dri Archer, Curtis Brown...
Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
The moment they said and with the whatever number pick the Pittsburgh Steelers select Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma State he becomes a teammate. And just as when Bryant made his Coates comment when Juju was drafted it added no value, neither did Bens comments.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
- Messages
- 1,464
- Reaction score
- 1,162
- Points
- 113
Unless ******* up his knee made him unable to see which jersey was which, that wasn't his problem. He'd throw a perfect pass to our guy, then come right out and throw one to the other teams guy. His passes were always on target, just too many to the other team.
Joe
Sounds like another guy we knew who played for us during the QB drought of 1983 - 2003: Neil O'Donnell
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 35,693
- Reaction score
- 40,400
- Points
- 113
- Location
- between $2 short & ten buck two
Neil rarely threw picks he was very conservative with the ball. He didnt force things at all..thats why the super bowl sucked.. i know miscommunications but Neil was good at protecting the ball.. good QB for those defensive teams..my issue with him was not coming back to redeem himself. Im older now and i understand the Jets backed up the Brinks truck
Very true. Often times he would chuck it out of bounds rather than take a chance at an INT but the one I'll remember will last with me for a long time. Neil was a relief during the drought. We just didn't know it until after he left. The guy had a good record while he was our QB and it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he had re-signed with us. Would all have been forgiven if he was able to get us back to the SB the next year? Other QBs have thrown INTs in the SB before but this one was pretty much the death nail to an otherwise good career.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
- Messages
- 14,243
- Reaction score
- 12,263
- Points
- 113
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2014
- Messages
- 9,583
- Reaction score
- 5,866
- Points
- 113
The first interception was just a terrible throw. On the second one, Hastings said he ran the hot route and O'Dummy didn't throw the hot route.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
- Messages
- 14,243
- Reaction score
- 12,263
- Points
- 113
Wow. I always heard/read the opposite. That both passes were hot reads where the WR's didn't run the right route. When I was younger a watched the SB I always thought it was Neil's fault. Didn't have the internet and all. Then years later I heard just what I posted above.
https://www.nbcsports.com/video/pittsburgh-steelers-ben-roethlisberger-honest-rant?ls=pftvod
Another perspective..........
Another perspective..........
So we would agree that Ben's statement was basically pointless.
I do, however, believe that Rudolph will, eventually, have a bigger impact on the Steelers than just about anyone I listed. Hopefully.
Tom, did you happen to peruse the list of third rounders the Steelers have chosen in the third round since 2000? Which guy left on the board would have been your choice to "possibly make plays this season"?
I know you're Ben's biggest fan, but you don't have to agree with everything the guy says, too.
This has nothing to do with Ben, I said during the draft I didn't want to take a QB, stop with Ben is your guy ****, or you don't have to agree with everything he says crap. If one of the top 4 fell to us at 28 I still wouldn't want to pick him, it doesn't have a damn thing to do with Ben.
Who cares what we've done in round 3 since 2000, does that mean we shouldn't even try, by that logic Rudolph isn't going to amount to much.
Sent from my XT1585 using Steeler Nation mobile app
http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...r-explains-why-he-speaks-his-mind-with-media/
I can respect this
I can respect this
Steelers' Big Ben challenge: Balance ticking clock with eye on future
play
Steelers using Rudolph to motivate Big Ben? (2:00)
Facebook
Twitter
Facebook Messenger
Email
comment
11:53 AM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger saves some of his most explosive quotes for his in-season weekly radio show. When he joined 93.7 the Fan for an impromptu session just six days after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a quarterback who might one day replace him, he came out firing like a deep out to Antonio Brown.
Just about everyone got mic-checked:
The Steelers, who surprised Roethlisberger by taking a quarterback instead of someone who can "help this team now."
Third-round draft pick Mason Rudolph, whose remark after the draft that it's not Roethlisberger's job to teach him prompted the veteran QB to pull away, saying with a laugh: "...he said he doesn't need me. If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook." Roethlisberger eventually said he'd answer the rookie.
Even opposing quarterbacks weren't safe, with Roethlisberger noting the massive money given to signal-callers around the league "whether they've proven it or not."
MORE ON STEELERS QBS
Steelers
• Rudolph is Steelers' Jimmy G experiment »
• Roethlisberger 'surprised' by Rudolph pick »
• Rudolph shrugs off Big Ben's remarks »
The session left much to unpack about a star player's relationship with a storied franchise, football immortality at the game's most important position and how quarterback transitions aren't always smooth.
The notion of a starter reacting strongly to a new guy entering the quarterback room is hardly new ground. Brett Favre wasn't much of a mentor to Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady's presence loomed large in the New England Patriots' decision to trade Jimmy Garoppolo.
While some fans might see the comments as cold, a former teammate sees something heavier at play with a 36-year-old.
"He's still in his prime, he knows the clock is ticking and he wants to win a third Super Bowl," said Trai Essex, part of two Super Bowls as a Steelers offensive lineman from 2005 to 2011. "He's not going to beat around the bush. He'll tell you how he feels. Why does he need to toe the company line? When I was there, he was nothing but the epitome of a great teammate. He puts everything on the line every week, so you go to battle with that guy."
Ben Roethlisberger "knows the clock is ticking and he wants to win a third Super Bowl," said Trai Essex, a former Steelers teammate and offensive lineman. Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports
More motivation
Technically, the Rudolph pick is the Steelers' chance to examine a potential down-the-road starter as insurance in case Roethlisberger retires, gets injured or experiences an unforeseen decline in play.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subtly, it wasn't lost on the franchise that the Rudolph selection might fire up Roethlisberger, who already enters a de facto contract year.
For as well as Roethlisberger played at the end of the 2017 season -- averaging almost 350 passing yards and three touchdowns per game over the final seven outings -- the Steelers know players are at their best when pushed, even if Rudolph won't actually push him for playing time any time soon.
The franchise drafting quarterbacks in consecutive years has the attention of Roethlisberger, who publicly flirted with retirement last offseason.
Josh Dobbs, a fourth-round pick in 2017, sees the Rudolph acquisition as "another opportunity to have competition."
As if chasing the franchise's seventh Super Bowl and a new deal in his late 30s wasn't motivation enough, Roethlisberger can manufacture more of it if he chooses to feel overlooked or slighted by the Rudolph pick. That's a well-worn formula for many great athletes, and one Roethlisberger utilized early in his career after getting drafted behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers in 2004.
Drafting a quarterback won't change the Steelers' plans to build around him, general manager Kevin Colbert said.
"We're never going to lose sight of making sure we can compete each and every year," he said.
Always know where he stands
The Steelers aren't about to respond to Roethlisberger's words publicly. That's not their style, plus they are used to his pointed comments. For example, he was critical of Brown for last year's Gatorade cooler flare-up and has subtly criticized coaching in the past.
Essex believes the Steelers organization is successful in part because of the way it handles different personalities, and even if players have mixed emotions about Roethlisberger's comments, they always know where he stands.
"This isn't their first rodeo dealing with Ben. He knows what to expect from the Steelers," Essex said. "They take care of him. They talk to him. They wouldn't shy away from approaching him if they need to. It's been a great relationship for these 15-odd years. (Roethlisberger) talks. He's candid. It's no secret to (Mike) Tomlin, who coaches the same way. You always know where he stands as a player."
The criticisms will pass as long as Roethlisberger keeps playing well and the Steelers' offense keeps churning.
The Steelers are counting on that, with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner publicly hoping for four to six more years from Big Ben and Colbert diffusing any attention with post-draft praise of his veteran quarterback.
"If (drafting Roethlisberger in 2004) wasn't the case, who knows what would have happened because, obviously, without Ben, we're probably not winning as many Super Bowls as we've been able to," Colbert said.
The selection of quarterback Mason Rudolph surprised Ben Roethlisberger, who wondered why the Steelers wouldn't pick a player who could "help this team now." Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo
Look to Brees for contract clues
A new contract would turn Roethlisberger's current $20-million-per-year clip into a steep discount. The quarterback market has ballooned almost 50 percent since Roethlisberger signed his five-year, $99 million contract in 2015.
Roethlisberger said on the radio that "Aaron Rodgers is probably licking his lips right now" after the Atlanta Falcons finalized Matt Ryan's $150 million contract last week. Rodgers and the Packers are negotiating this offseason, setting the table nicely for Roethlisberger the following year.
Dry Run
Here are the quarterbacks drafted by the Steelers since Ben Roethlisberger entered the NFL in 2004.
PLAYER YEAR ROUND
Omar Jacobs 2006 5th
Dennis Dixon 2008 5th
Landry Jones 2013 4th
Josh Dobbs 2017 4th
Mason Rudolph 2018 3rd
"To me, there are more important pieces that need to be taken care of beside myself," said Roethlisberger, who is a free agent in 2020, during his show. "I've got two years left, this one and one more. I want to go out and do the best I can. To me, it's about addressing it next year. But if they want to talk and address something this year, we will obviously talk and listen."
Roethlisberger's financial outlook could look similar to Drew Brees' in recent years.
In his late 30s, Brees has signed a pair of two-year deals that pay out roughly $25 million per year, with the 39-year-old admitting in March that he could have held out for more.
QB inflation would push Roethlisberger into a higher bracket than that. Roethlisberger wanting to finish his career in Pittsburgh will most likely be a factor in negotiations.
Working a new deal seems a formality at this point, but the Steelers must secure their franchise QB while eventually planning for a future without him.
Based on the last week, that might not be easy.
play
1:26
Steelers QB situation comes down to Rudolph's progressionESPN's Jeff Darlington notes that Ben Roethlisberger has benefited from Pittsburgh drafting for value, which also resulted in the pick of Mason Rudolph.
Maximizing his final seasons
From a roster perspective, there's a case that Roethlisberger has a legitimate beef with the team trading away one of his best playmakers (Martavis Bryant) for a third-round pick that won't play quarterback for a while.
To be sure, the Steelers took receiver James Washington in the second round to help offset the loss of Bryant, who kept safeties honest for Brown and others. And Roethlisberger has been around for more than a dozen trust-the-board Steelers drafts, which works out well most years.
Perhaps the Steelers could have gotten more help for the defensive front seven. But what's clear is the Steelers need to maximize Roethlisberger's last years.
Steeler great Joe Greene saw that coming back in December when ESPN asked him about keeping up with the New England Patriots. These comments are pertinent five months later.
"We got a fantastic quarterback that in my view can do things that nobody else in the league can do," Greene said. "You name them, he can make the passes just like anybody else, better. But none of them can stand in the pocket and take the heat that he takes and make the plays.
"And he has the heart to play, but he has to believe in his team, that they feel the way he feels. Football is a hard game, very tough, and you got to love it. And if you don't, you can't give your very best and you can't play. You got to love it."
play
Steelers using Rudolph to motivate Big Ben? (2:00)
Facebook Messenger
comment
11:53 AM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger saves some of his most explosive quotes for his in-season weekly radio show. When he joined 93.7 the Fan for an impromptu session just six days after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a quarterback who might one day replace him, he came out firing like a deep out to Antonio Brown.
Just about everyone got mic-checked:
The Steelers, who surprised Roethlisberger by taking a quarterback instead of someone who can "help this team now."
Third-round draft pick Mason Rudolph, whose remark after the draft that it's not Roethlisberger's job to teach him prompted the veteran QB to pull away, saying with a laugh: "...he said he doesn't need me. If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook." Roethlisberger eventually said he'd answer the rookie.
Even opposing quarterbacks weren't safe, with Roethlisberger noting the massive money given to signal-callers around the league "whether they've proven it or not."
MORE ON STEELERS QBS
Steelers
• Rudolph is Steelers' Jimmy G experiment »
• Roethlisberger 'surprised' by Rudolph pick »
• Rudolph shrugs off Big Ben's remarks »
The session left much to unpack about a star player's relationship with a storied franchise, football immortality at the game's most important position and how quarterback transitions aren't always smooth.
The notion of a starter reacting strongly to a new guy entering the quarterback room is hardly new ground. Brett Favre wasn't much of a mentor to Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady's presence loomed large in the New England Patriots' decision to trade Jimmy Garoppolo.
While some fans might see the comments as cold, a former teammate sees something heavier at play with a 36-year-old.
"He's still in his prime, he knows the clock is ticking and he wants to win a third Super Bowl," said Trai Essex, part of two Super Bowls as a Steelers offensive lineman from 2005 to 2011. "He's not going to beat around the bush. He'll tell you how he feels. Why does he need to toe the company line? When I was there, he was nothing but the epitome of a great teammate. He puts everything on the line every week, so you go to battle with that guy."
Ben Roethlisberger "knows the clock is ticking and he wants to win a third Super Bowl," said Trai Essex, a former Steelers teammate and offensive lineman. Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports
More motivation
Technically, the Rudolph pick is the Steelers' chance to examine a potential down-the-road starter as insurance in case Roethlisberger retires, gets injured or experiences an unforeseen decline in play.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subtly, it wasn't lost on the franchise that the Rudolph selection might fire up Roethlisberger, who already enters a de facto contract year.
For as well as Roethlisberger played at the end of the 2017 season -- averaging almost 350 passing yards and three touchdowns per game over the final seven outings -- the Steelers know players are at their best when pushed, even if Rudolph won't actually push him for playing time any time soon.
The franchise drafting quarterbacks in consecutive years has the attention of Roethlisberger, who publicly flirted with retirement last offseason.
Josh Dobbs, a fourth-round pick in 2017, sees the Rudolph acquisition as "another opportunity to have competition."
As if chasing the franchise's seventh Super Bowl and a new deal in his late 30s wasn't motivation enough, Roethlisberger can manufacture more of it if he chooses to feel overlooked or slighted by the Rudolph pick. That's a well-worn formula for many great athletes, and one Roethlisberger utilized early in his career after getting drafted behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers in 2004.
Drafting a quarterback won't change the Steelers' plans to build around him, general manager Kevin Colbert said.
"We're never going to lose sight of making sure we can compete each and every year," he said.
Always know where he stands
The Steelers aren't about to respond to Roethlisberger's words publicly. That's not their style, plus they are used to his pointed comments. For example, he was critical of Brown for last year's Gatorade cooler flare-up and has subtly criticized coaching in the past.
Essex believes the Steelers organization is successful in part because of the way it handles different personalities, and even if players have mixed emotions about Roethlisberger's comments, they always know where he stands.
"This isn't their first rodeo dealing with Ben. He knows what to expect from the Steelers," Essex said. "They take care of him. They talk to him. They wouldn't shy away from approaching him if they need to. It's been a great relationship for these 15-odd years. (Roethlisberger) talks. He's candid. It's no secret to (Mike) Tomlin, who coaches the same way. You always know where he stands as a player."
The criticisms will pass as long as Roethlisberger keeps playing well and the Steelers' offense keeps churning.
The Steelers are counting on that, with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner publicly hoping for four to six more years from Big Ben and Colbert diffusing any attention with post-draft praise of his veteran quarterback.
"If (drafting Roethlisberger in 2004) wasn't the case, who knows what would have happened because, obviously, without Ben, we're probably not winning as many Super Bowls as we've been able to," Colbert said.
The selection of quarterback Mason Rudolph surprised Ben Roethlisberger, who wondered why the Steelers wouldn't pick a player who could "help this team now." Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo
Look to Brees for contract clues
A new contract would turn Roethlisberger's current $20-million-per-year clip into a steep discount. The quarterback market has ballooned almost 50 percent since Roethlisberger signed his five-year, $99 million contract in 2015.
Roethlisberger said on the radio that "Aaron Rodgers is probably licking his lips right now" after the Atlanta Falcons finalized Matt Ryan's $150 million contract last week. Rodgers and the Packers are negotiating this offseason, setting the table nicely for Roethlisberger the following year.
Dry Run
Here are the quarterbacks drafted by the Steelers since Ben Roethlisberger entered the NFL in 2004.
PLAYER YEAR ROUND
Omar Jacobs 2006 5th
Dennis Dixon 2008 5th
Landry Jones 2013 4th
Josh Dobbs 2017 4th
Mason Rudolph 2018 3rd
"To me, there are more important pieces that need to be taken care of beside myself," said Roethlisberger, who is a free agent in 2020, during his show. "I've got two years left, this one and one more. I want to go out and do the best I can. To me, it's about addressing it next year. But if they want to talk and address something this year, we will obviously talk and listen."
Roethlisberger's financial outlook could look similar to Drew Brees' in recent years.
In his late 30s, Brees has signed a pair of two-year deals that pay out roughly $25 million per year, with the 39-year-old admitting in March that he could have held out for more.
QB inflation would push Roethlisberger into a higher bracket than that. Roethlisberger wanting to finish his career in Pittsburgh will most likely be a factor in negotiations.
Working a new deal seems a formality at this point, but the Steelers must secure their franchise QB while eventually planning for a future without him.
Based on the last week, that might not be easy.
play
1:26
Steelers QB situation comes down to Rudolph's progressionESPN's Jeff Darlington notes that Ben Roethlisberger has benefited from Pittsburgh drafting for value, which also resulted in the pick of Mason Rudolph.
Maximizing his final seasons
From a roster perspective, there's a case that Roethlisberger has a legitimate beef with the team trading away one of his best playmakers (Martavis Bryant) for a third-round pick that won't play quarterback for a while.
To be sure, the Steelers took receiver James Washington in the second round to help offset the loss of Bryant, who kept safeties honest for Brown and others. And Roethlisberger has been around for more than a dozen trust-the-board Steelers drafts, which works out well most years.
Perhaps the Steelers could have gotten more help for the defensive front seven. But what's clear is the Steelers need to maximize Roethlisberger's last years.
Steeler great Joe Greene saw that coming back in December when ESPN asked him about keeping up with the New England Patriots. These comments are pertinent five months later.
"We got a fantastic quarterback that in my view can do things that nobody else in the league can do," Greene said. "You name them, he can make the passes just like anybody else, better. But none of them can stand in the pocket and take the heat that he takes and make the plays.
"And he has the heart to play, but he has to believe in his team, that they feel the way he feels. Football is a hard game, very tough, and you got to love it. And if you don't, you can't give your very best and you can't play. You got to love it."
I think this is the first year we go into preseason with all 4 QBs that we drafted. Steelers have made a shift from all Vet FAs to all drafted players.
Build the commodities and if Ben is still good, bank them for draft picks.
Build the commodities and if Ben is still good, bank them for draft picks.
Tommy Maddox: Ben Roethlisberger's primary job is 'to win'
play
Hasselbeck: Roethlisberger selfish for comments about Rudolph (1:09)
Facebook
Twitter
Facebook Messenger
Email
comment
5:40 PM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
Not many people understand the Ben Roethlisberger-Mason Rudolph dynamic better than Tommy Maddox, a former starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who graciously handled the handoff to the rookie Roethlisberger in 2004.
Fourteen years later, after Roethlisberger aired displeasure over the team's selection of Rudolph in the third round, Maddox believes Roethlisberger might not owe it to Rudolph to mentor him -- but he won't shun him, either.
"I think Ben will treat him with respect," Maddox told ESPN from his classroom at Decatur (Texas) High School, where he serves as the head baseball coach and is preparing for the playoffs. "His No. 1 goal is to get ready to play and help the team be successful.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Rudolph shrugs off Big Ben 'help now' remark
Steelers draft pick Mason Rudolph said he understands where Ben Roethlisberger's comments came from after the future Hall of Famer downplayed the former Oklahoma State quarterback's addition to Pittsburgh.
Big Ben hedges on mentoring QB Rudolph
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was surprised the Steelers selected Mason Rudolph in the third round of the draft. Roethlisberger had informed management early in the offseason that he planned to play at least three more years.
"I've heard a lot of people say he owes it. That kind of gets into a little bit of a slippery slope. His job is to win football games right now. But, with that said, I think everybody in the locker room, the more it gets along, the better this team is going to be."
Roethlisberger, 36, said on his radio show last week that he was surprised by the Rudolph selection over a player who could potentially "help this team now."
Asked about mentoring Rudolph, Roethlisberger said that won't be necessary since Rudolph says he doesn't need the veteran.
"If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook," Roethlisberger said with a laugh, later acknowledging he would probably answer questions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rudolph -- who told the media on draft night that it's his job to learn and it's not up to Roethlisberger to teach him -- was diplomatic in his response, telling NFL Network over the weekend he'd probably react the same way is he were in Roethlisberger's position.
During Roethlisberger's rookie year, Maddox entered the season as the starter but hurt his throwing arm in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. Roethlisberger, the 11th overall pick, took over and the team never looked back.
This week, Sports Illustrated unearthed a Roethlisberger quote from 2005, as told to USA Today, praising Maddox's role in the transition: "He'll meet me halfway out on the field to answer a question for me. I owe so much of my success to his help."
Tommy Maddox, who was the incumbent, helped Ben Roethlisberger with the transition of becoming a rookie starting quarterback with the Steelers in 2004. David Maxwell/Getty Images
Maddox said he learned a lot from that experience and helped Roethlisberger because it was best for the team. But this situation, with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback still playing at a high level, is a bit different.
"Everybody's going to handle things differently. I'm not going to sit here and say I think Ben owes it to him to [mentor]," said Maddox, who played nine NFL seasons and won comeback player of the year in 2002 after stints in the XFL and AFL. "I think all of us, when you're playing, you owe it to your teammates to be respectful and do what's best for the team and all that.
"I don't think it's a situation where Ben owes it or that's his job or whatever. But it is his job as a leader of the team to lead the team and make sure there's no distractions."
Maddox, now 46, assumes Roethlisberger was simply responding to a situation that surprised him. The initial shock tends to fade when everyone comes to work, Maddox said, but that doesn't make the concept of quarterback mortality any easier to handle.
The Steelers have drafted quarterbacks in back-to-back years as insurance while Roethlisberger plays into his late 30s.
"Sooner or later, your day will come and someone else will be playing," Maddox said. "For many guys, that's hard to consider. But it's coming eventually."
Maddox understands Rudolph's predicament. He remembers John Elway's unhappiness with the Denver Broncos' selection of Maddox with the 25th pick in the 1992 draft. Elway hoped for receiver help but got Maddox instead.
Advice for the rookie?
"Be yourself, go about your business, do the things that you need to do," Maddox said. "Kind of control what you can."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...hlisberger-treat-rookie-mason-rudolph-respect
play
Hasselbeck: Roethlisberger selfish for comments about Rudolph (1:09)
Facebook Messenger
comment
5:40 PM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
Not many people understand the Ben Roethlisberger-Mason Rudolph dynamic better than Tommy Maddox, a former starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who graciously handled the handoff to the rookie Roethlisberger in 2004.
Fourteen years later, after Roethlisberger aired displeasure over the team's selection of Rudolph in the third round, Maddox believes Roethlisberger might not owe it to Rudolph to mentor him -- but he won't shun him, either.
"I think Ben will treat him with respect," Maddox told ESPN from his classroom at Decatur (Texas) High School, where he serves as the head baseball coach and is preparing for the playoffs. "His No. 1 goal is to get ready to play and help the team be successful.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Rudolph shrugs off Big Ben 'help now' remark
Steelers draft pick Mason Rudolph said he understands where Ben Roethlisberger's comments came from after the future Hall of Famer downplayed the former Oklahoma State quarterback's addition to Pittsburgh.
Big Ben hedges on mentoring QB Rudolph
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was surprised the Steelers selected Mason Rudolph in the third round of the draft. Roethlisberger had informed management early in the offseason that he planned to play at least three more years.
"I've heard a lot of people say he owes it. That kind of gets into a little bit of a slippery slope. His job is to win football games right now. But, with that said, I think everybody in the locker room, the more it gets along, the better this team is going to be."
Roethlisberger, 36, said on his radio show last week that he was surprised by the Rudolph selection over a player who could potentially "help this team now."
Asked about mentoring Rudolph, Roethlisberger said that won't be necessary since Rudolph says he doesn't need the veteran.
"If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook," Roethlisberger said with a laugh, later acknowledging he would probably answer questions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rudolph -- who told the media on draft night that it's his job to learn and it's not up to Roethlisberger to teach him -- was diplomatic in his response, telling NFL Network over the weekend he'd probably react the same way is he were in Roethlisberger's position.
During Roethlisberger's rookie year, Maddox entered the season as the starter but hurt his throwing arm in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. Roethlisberger, the 11th overall pick, took over and the team never looked back.
This week, Sports Illustrated unearthed a Roethlisberger quote from 2005, as told to USA Today, praising Maddox's role in the transition: "He'll meet me halfway out on the field to answer a question for me. I owe so much of my success to his help."
Tommy Maddox, who was the incumbent, helped Ben Roethlisberger with the transition of becoming a rookie starting quarterback with the Steelers in 2004. David Maxwell/Getty Images
Maddox said he learned a lot from that experience and helped Roethlisberger because it was best for the team. But this situation, with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback still playing at a high level, is a bit different.
"Everybody's going to handle things differently. I'm not going to sit here and say I think Ben owes it to him to [mentor]," said Maddox, who played nine NFL seasons and won comeback player of the year in 2002 after stints in the XFL and AFL. "I think all of us, when you're playing, you owe it to your teammates to be respectful and do what's best for the team and all that.
"I don't think it's a situation where Ben owes it or that's his job or whatever. But it is his job as a leader of the team to lead the team and make sure there's no distractions."
Maddox, now 46, assumes Roethlisberger was simply responding to a situation that surprised him. The initial shock tends to fade when everyone comes to work, Maddox said, but that doesn't make the concept of quarterback mortality any easier to handle.
The Steelers have drafted quarterbacks in back-to-back years as insurance while Roethlisberger plays into his late 30s.
"Sooner or later, your day will come and someone else will be playing," Maddox said. "For many guys, that's hard to consider. But it's coming eventually."
Maddox understands Rudolph's predicament. He remembers John Elway's unhappiness with the Denver Broncos' selection of Maddox with the 25th pick in the 1992 draft. Elway hoped for receiver help but got Maddox instead.
Advice for the rookie?
"Be yourself, go about your business, do the things that you need to do," Maddox said. "Kind of control what you can."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...hlisberger-treat-rookie-mason-rudolph-respect