ESPN ranks the Super Bowl XLV players
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 […]
Ben to appear…
Ben will be a special guest on two episodes of KDKA‘s “PNC Steelers Huddle” show. The first episode will air this Saturday, and the second will air Saturday, February 5th.
Both episodes were taped yesterday in front of a live audience, and according to KDKA fans waited in line for hours to get in.
“When I heard that Ben was going to be here, I had to come,” one fan said.
You can read about yesterday’s taping and see a short video here.
Check it out….
The Steelers Super Bowl Diary at Steelers.com.
Wednesday: Notes & Quotes
Ben spoke to the media prior to practice today. Some of the highlights:
When asked about the significance of playing in Dallas –
“You know, you get asked the question, ‘if you win one, what would it mean for you?’ Well it would mean a lot for everything I’ve gone through, but honestly it means just as much if not more for me to win for Flozell [Adams] – to get to go back to Dallas. He has never had a chance to play in a Super Bowl and to get to play in one and it would be in Dallas – so I want to win one for him as much as I want to win one for myself.”
When asked what he knows about the Packers’ Clay Matthews –
“He’s an animal! He’s got long hair, wears number 52 plays for Packers…that’s a few things I know!
He’s really, really good. We have to account for him and know where he’s at. There’s not much else to say about one of the best players in the game.”
On whether he has a “set routine” now when he goes to the Super Bowl –
“Just have fun with it. Enjoy it and enjoy the circus that is the media, the schedule….just try and have fun with it and not get overwhelmed and not let it stress you out.”
On what he tells the young players who are making their first trip –
“Just tell them to enjoy it, because you never know if it’s your one and only, so enjoy it in that way. But know that you can have fun with the media and do it and it’s going to be crazy for you, but when you step on the field for practice and meetings, you need to focus in and put everything else behind you – your family, your car, the hotel, all the things you’ve got to do, and concentrate on football.”
On the play of Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers –
“I’m friends with Aaron. I think he’s a phenomenal quarterback. I think he’s an elite quarterback in this league, in my opinion. He has a really quick release, a strong arm, very accurate and a mobile guy.”
On […]
Win A Super Bowl XLV BBQ Gift Box
For your Super Bowl party, compliments of Big Ben’s BBQ Sauce!
Update: We have a winner!! See below!
Just be the XLV emailer (that’s 45th) and you will win a gift box filled with three single bottles of Big Ben’s BBQ Sauce, a BBQ 2-bottle gift set, and a Black and Gold jar candle!
Winner will be notified later today.
Please, one email per email address only! You can send it here (bigben7website@gmail.com).
Now, if you just want to stock up on BBQ sauce for the big game, check out the site for Super Bowl specials.
*Thank you Becky for the above image!
UPDATE: We have a winner!! Congratulations to Tito Medina from Arizona!
Thank you to everyone who emailed this afternoon. We will have more contests in the future!
What to watch this week…
As we get ready for Super Bowl week!
From NFL Network:
Monday, January 24th @ 10:00 p.m. – NFL Replay: 2009 Week 15 – Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12/20/09) – Ben Roethlisberger’s career-high 503 yards gives the Steelers a win and keeps their hope alive for a playoff spot. Mike Wallace catches the game-winning TD with three seconds remaining to stop Pittsburgh’s losing streak a five.
Tuesday, January 25th @ 9:00 p.m. – NFL Replay: 2010 AFC Championship – Jets vs. Steelers
Despite coming jumping to a 24-0 lead in the first half, the Steelers have to rely on their defense to hold off a Jets rally to solidify the 24-19 win the in AFC Championship. Pittsburgh’s took a fumble recovery in for a score and kept New York out of the end zone with an impressive goal-line stand late in the fourth.
Wednesday, January 26th @ 9:00 p.m. – NFL Replay: 2010 AFC Championship – Jets vs. Steelers
Thursday, January 27th @ 9:00 p.m. – Sound FX Championship
2010 Championship: On-field sights and sounds from Championship Week of the 2010 NFL season.
Thursday, January 27th @ 10:30 p.m. – America’s Game: 2008 Steelers
2008 Pittsburgh Steelers – Re-live the story of the 2008 Steelers through the eyes of Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu. Narrated by Jon Hamm.
Friday, January 28th @ 12:00 p.m. – Sound FX: 2010 Week 16
2010 Week 16: On-field sights and sounds from Week 16 of the 2010 NFL season including wires from Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger.
Friday, January 28th @ 12:30 p.m. – NFL Replay: 2009 Week 15 – Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh
2010 Week 16: On-field sights and sounds from Week 16 of the 2010 NFL season including wires from Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger.
Friday, January 28th @ 2:30 p.m & 5:30 p.m. – Sound FX Championship
2010 Championship: On-field sights and sounds from Championship Week of the 2010 NFL season.
30-minute Super Bowl Re-Plays:
Saturday, January 29th: @ 10:00 p.m. – Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
Saturday, January 29th: @ 10:30 p.m. – Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh vs. Dallas
Sunday, January 30th: @ 12:00 a.m. – Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh […]
Super Bowl XLV bound…
“I don’t care what the stats say or how it looks or any of that stuff. As a quarterback, you’re judged on wins and losses and getting to Super Bowls. And you can’t knock Ben’s record.” — Hines Ward, post-game.
What they’re saying…
Clark Judge, CBS Sports senior writer:
Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback people love, but when it comes to big games Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback they should trust.
You heard me. Love Rodgers; trust Roethlisberger. With Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers headed to the mother of all big games — their third Super Bowl in six seasons — I want a seat on the Big Ben Bandwagon.
Roethlisberger is one of the most reliable playoff quarterbacks out there, and Sunday’s 24-19 defeat of the New York Jets was more evidence. He didn’t produce big numbers; he just produced big plays, and isn’t that how it usually works? He converted that third-and-19 pass last weekend against Baltimore. He made the last-minute TD pass to Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLII. Now this.
You can read more here.
“Shoot, any time you get to the Super Bowl, it feels good. I don’t care what you’re going through or what’s going on. We put a lot of stuff behind us early and found a way.” — Ben, post-game.
John McClain, San Antonio News:
After the New York Jets scored 19 unanswered points to pull within five with 3:06 remaining in the AFC championship game, the Pittsburgh Steelers relied on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to save them from the embarrassment of a monumental collapse.
Roethlisberger didn’t throw a touchdown pass on Sunday, but he did complete two clutch passes for first downs on the Steelers’ last drive, securing a 24-19 victory that ruined the Jets’ magnificent comeback and earned Pittsburgh a place in Super Bowl XLV opposite the Green Bay Packers.
The Jets had three timeouts and the two-minute warning to work with, but the Steelers made Ryan’s strategy backfire when Roethlisberger completed 14-yard passes to tight end Heath Miller and [Antonio] Brown, a rookie from Central Michigan.
[Jets coach Rex] Ryan was stunned when Roethlisberger threw the passes to Miller and Brown.
“Without question, it was a gutsy play,” Ryan said about the pass […]