Ben Roethlisberger often is ranked among the top five quarterbacks in the NFL.
Quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have stood in the way of Roethlisberger being called the best quarterback in the NFL, however.
Unless you ask Terry Bradshaw.
The Hall of Fame quarterback and FOX analyst, who led the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins in the 1970s told the team’s website, via ESPN.com, that Roethlisberger is the league’s top quarterback.
“I would rate Ben right on top of the list, ahead of (Tom) Brady for sure and anybody else, (Philip) Rivers, Eli (Manning),” Bradshaw said.
Roethlisberger and Drew Brees tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards in 2014. Last year, Roethlisberger led the league with 328.2 passing yards per game. But he missed four games with various injuries.
“He could have been the MVP in the league last year if he would have stayed healthy,” Bradshaw said. “I am not saying this because I am a Steeler and trying to suck up to anybody.”
It might be hard to believe the last part of what Bradshaw said. However, Bradshaw was critical of Roethlisberger when Roethlisberger was suspended amid sexual assault allegations in 2010. He even said the Steelers should have “dumped” him.
So Bradshaw had to backtrack to some degree to compliment Roethlisberger like this six years later.
Even some of the most ardent Terrible Towel wavers might have to disagree with Bradshaw, however. Brady, Rodgers, Brees and Rivers all have lower career interception percentages than Roethlisberger’s 2.7 percent. Brady and Rodgers both have been named NFL MVP twice. Roethlisberger has never been the MVP.
If the 34-year-old Roethlisberger can match Bradshaw’s four Super Bowl rings, he would make a better case to be considered the best quarterback in the NFL.