Ben Roethlisberger had plenty of reactions when the New York Giants benched quarterback Eli Manning, including this one:
“It sparks the reality that that could be me,” Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette Thursday. “They could do that to me next year or whenever, who knows?
“It’s eye-opening that you have to take every play, every game, don’t take it for granted, take it for what it is because you never know when you’re done.”
Roethlisberger, however, does not believe the Steelers would bench him the way the Giants have pulled the rug out from under their star quarterback who was part of the same 2004 draft class.
“I don’t, and I don’t mean to talk negatively about the Giants, especially I know the Steelers and Giants are very close and are family, too. But I don’t think they would, I think they would handle it differently.”
Other than their draft selections and each having won two Super Bowls, there are not many similarities between Roethlisberger and Manning in 2017.
The Giants are 2-9 this season under Manning. The Steelers are 9-2 with Roethlisberger. Manning’s career win-loss record is 110-100 (52.4 percent). Roethlisberger’s is 132-62 (68 percent).
While Roethlisberger’s statistics this season are not quite up to normal, he does not appear to have fallen off in his play and has his team tied for the best record in the AFC.
Still, Manning’s benching for Geno Smith surprised the Steelers quarterback.
“It’s crazy. I mean, the guy’s won two Super Bowls for a franchise and has started every game. Obviously, that means he’s poured his heart and soul into that franchise.
“I don’t know the Maras [the Giants owners]. I don’t want to talk bad about anybody. But just from the perspective from an outsider looking in, for a guy who has done a lot for that team, it seemed like it was kind of harsh.”
Roethlisberger believes Manning, who turns 37 Jan. 3, still has some good football left in him and that he will wind up somewhere else next season.
“I do. I think there are a handful of teams that would take him and I think there are some teams that would really benefit from having him.”
Roethlisberger, who turns 36 in March, mulled retirement shortly after the Steelers lost the AFC championship last season, but committed to playing in 2017, although he has not announced his plans beyond that.
One thing he said he will not do is play somewhere else if presented a similar scenario to Manning’s.
“No. If they said, ‘Ben, you’re done here,’ I don’t want to play for anyone else, even if I felt like I still had it in me. That black and gold bleeds through me.
“Joe Montana did it for me. It killed me when he went to the [Kansas City] Chiefs. I couldn’t watch. It wasn’t the same.”
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First Published: November 30, 2017, 7:15 p.m.
