ESPN asked Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson to rank each of the 106 players participating in this year’s Super Bowl. The players were evaluated and then ranked by their “current performance” and “play throughout the season”.

Players were then divided into six categories: elite players, blue chips, core players, solid contributors, clear backups and special teams players, and bottom of the roster players.

The results were posted today on ESPN.com and Ben was ranked at #1 in the “elite players” category. Also in the top five was James Harrison and Troy Polamalu.

1. QB Ben Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger has that “been there, done that” factor over Rodgers. That isn’t a knock on Rodgers, but Roethlisberger is simply amazing when it matters most. He didn’t throw the ball well versus the Jets, but played a far better game than his numbers would indicate. His playmaking ability is just off the charts. Roethlisberger finds a way time and time again.

2. QB Aaron Rodgers
3. OLB James Harrison
4. OLB Clay Matthews
5. SS Troy Polamalu

“Blue Chip players” included Mike Wallace (6th), Lawrence Timmons (12th), LaMarr Woodley (13th), Brett Keisel (16th), Rashard Mendenhall (17th), Heath Miller (18th), Casey Hampton (19th), and Maurkice Pouncey (20th).


To see all the rankings, click here.



Quotes of the Day:

“Bottom line, if you ask football people, they’re going to put Ben Roethlisberger up there with [Manning and Brady] almost unanimously. No one would leave him out. And others who have made the Pro Bowl, for example, wouldn’t even get consideration if you took a poll of all 32 general managers.” — Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian, from an interview in the Los Angeles Times.

“There ought to be a stat for ‘What did you do when you needed a pass completion to win the game’. That’s where Ben’s stats would show up, when you make the play when you need to. A lot of guys get stats when they don’t need them. Ben doesn’t.” — Hall of Fame coach John Madden, from the same interview.



Also Today:

I have added a couple of photos from the Steelers Super Bowl XLV Rally at Heinz Field tonight here.


I have added a few more photos from the AFC Championship Game here.


Check out a podcast of an interview with Mr. George Whitfield (who coached Ben last Fall) at Steelers Depot here.



And:

The only thing Jovan Ortiz wanted Santa to bring him on Christmas morning was “cool stuff” for a Steelers/Big Ben bedroom.

Obviously Jovan was a good boy all year, because that is exactly what Santa brought him! His dad Jonathan sent in a photo of Jovan posing in his decked-out new room!


You can see it in the Lil’ Fans album here.


If you have a photo of a Lil’ Fan that you would like to share, send it to me (bigben7website@gmail.com)!