Ben breaks Bradshaw’s record but not barriers

by UK American Sports Fans

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This past Thursday night, in a losing effort against Tennessee, ‘Big’ Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, broke a long standing franchise record.

Terry Bradshaw the legendary QB of the 1970’s Steelers ended his career with 27,989 passing yards.

With around three minutes left in the third quarter, Roethlisberger completed an over-the-middle throw to pass this landmark. This really is a great achievement.

But will we see Bradshaw come out and acknowledge this? Don’t count on it just yet.

Back in April 2010, the Hall of Fame QB blasted Big Ben for his off the field behaviour. Rightly so, you would say.

Ben had been in countless dramas in his young career. His first major incident was a horrible motorcycle accident in June 2006, which needed seven hours of surgery to repair broken bones in his face, which included his upper and lower jaw, as well as his nose. Then came allegations of sexual assault. Not once, but twice within a year; it seemed that Ben just couldn’t stay out of trouble.

But then maybe he courted it?

Bradshaw went on record in June 2010 to say he had hardly ever went to a club in his 14 years in Pittsburgh.

“I was petrified of the problems you can get into. And I almost did into. It’s there, believe me,” the now FOX TV analyst told reporters. “He [Roethlisberger] has an image problem right now. He wants to go and break all my records, go and break them I really don’t care”.

The authorities didn’t pursue the allegations, but the NFL did suspend Roethlisberger for six games (which was reduced to four) under their personal conduct policy.

Speaking last week before his record breaking night, Roethlisberger in his ninth season, said: ” We haven’t talked, I’ve never had an issue with him. He said a bunch of things in the past about me; it hurts a little bit.”

And about the record? “It’s an awesome honour. A storied franchise, and he’s The Guy (Bradshaw); the face of all this”.

Right now we have a standoff between the Steelers two most successful quarterbacks. Bradshaw led his team to four Super Bowl wins during a six year span in the 70’s, and Roethlisberger has two Lombardi trophies tucked away in his still active career.

For now the relationship is non-existent. For how long remains to be seen.