2004

On youtube there is a video called "Ben Roethlisberger's HISTORIC Rookie Season". Apparently my memory isn't good. I thought Ben bought time by breaking tackles early in his career. After watching the video I realized he was fast. Not sure exactly what year he lost the speed. On a separate note I wish he didn't have the motorcycle accident we will never know how that changed his play and ability. 2006 was a wasted year. I feel like he wasn't right and had a couple concussions during that year. Either way its a really good video. Also keeping Burress past 2004 would have been nice. We also lost Santonio Holmes 1 year too soon.

 

It’s an interesting what-if question.

I feel that while the crash was tragic for the season, in the long run it served to give him perspective when he was, by all accounts, rapidly becoming a thoroughly unpleasant piece of work.