USA Today Sports
It’s only April, but people are already doubting the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s only natural, as the team has lost numerous key players from the 2012 squad. One person who’s aware of fans’ expectations for the Steelers, is none other than Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben recently commented on this very topic during an interview with a local radio station:
“I’m fine with people saying that we’re going to be terrible and, ‘Let’s overlook them,’ because that means our opponents are doing the same thing. I like that. I like being the hunter.”
Steelers’ fans should be encouraged by this, because the team will have to find an edge somewhere this season. We’ll have to wait and see how good of a draft class they field, but based on what we know about this team, they’ll likely be fighting for a playoff spot in 2013.
You have to love the ‘well screw you, then’ attitude from Roethlisberger. He’s as big of a competitor as there is in the NFL, and there’s never going to be a year when he thinks he can’t get the job done. That’s the thing, even with all the turnover in Pittsburgh, they just have too good of a program in place, to not be competitive.
Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau are two of the best coaches in football, and they won’t let this team sink to the bottom of the AFC. As long as those two and Big Ben are in the Steelers’ locker room, fans shouldn’t worry too much. If Roethlisberger happens to develop a little chip on his shoulder because of the doubters, it should only benefit the franchise in 2013.
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