Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
A few years ago, Pittsburgh Steelers fans would fret to think about Ben Roethlisberger as the face of their franchise. The allegations of shady doings down in Georgia cast a dark cloud above an organization that typically prides themselves being able to rent a cottage up on Mt. Pious, to borrow a turn of phrase from NFL Network analyst and noted Steelers fan David Dameshek.
However, Big Ben has stayed out of trouble three offseasons running and seems to have set out on the straight narrow. Given that by far he is the team’s most valuable player in almost any game at this point, Roethlisberger’s face is cemented at the forefront of any conversation about Pittsburgh’s chances in 2013.
I know everyone and their grandparents is building their own Mt. Rushmore-type quartet for every franchise in sports this offseason, but I’m going to a pull twist on it I haven’t seen yet: only accomplishments over the past couple years will apply, in the effort create the most relevant set of four mountain-side faces as possible. So I’m crafting the Steelers’ Mt. Rushmore to beat all Steelers Mt. Rushmores: Whose face makes it in stone?
Ben Roethlisberger: Face of the franchise with his play on the field, no longer distracting with issues off it.
Troy Polamalu: This does not necessarily come on the back of his 2012 play, but if he can string together one more healthy year as leader of this defense then Pittsburgh has a title shot.
Lawrence Timmons: Narrowly bumping LaMarr Woodley from mountain, Timmons has also taken the mantle from Polamalu as the best player on this defense.
Antonio Brown: Pittsburgh essentially chose Brown over Mike Wallace last offseason, and this offseason gets to proving they made the right call.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
