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View Full Version : Pittsburgh's Forgotten Classics: Steelers vs. Giants, 2004



polamalubeast
04-22-2012, 10:36 AM
When the Pittsburgh Steelers chose Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th overall selection in the 2004 NFL draft, fans in the Steel City who eagerly hoped to see "Big Ben" fall into the team's lap waved their Terrible Towels in delight.

In fact, the University of Miami (Ohio) quarterback became the highest-drafted signal-caller that season to play for the team that drafted him. After all, Eli Manning was the first selection, but the younger brother of the acclaimed Peyton Manning refused to play for the San Diego Chargers.

Eli's refusal to play in San Diego was reminiscent of another great quarterback—Stanford's John Elway, who refused to play for the Baltimore Colts during the 1983 draft. It doesn't take a league historian to vividly remember No. 7's success in Denver. Like Elway, Manning's wishes were honored.

After Philip Rivers was chosen by the Giants one pick later, the two teams swapped (along with some draft picks, but why get lost in the details?)

Eli Manning was a happy and contented member of the New York Giants.

Ben Roethlisberger also had a connection to Elway, wearing his jersey number in honor of the legendary quarterback. And, Big Ben's draft class, like the acclaimed "Class of 1983," entered the NFL with high expectations and constant comparisons.

Whether they liked it or not, the race to "finally" win a Super Bowl was the reality for John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Much like their trio of careers were compared against each other, the peer group of Philip Rivers, Roethlisberger and Manning were going to endure similar comparisons.


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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1073889-pittsburghs-forgotten-classics-steelers-vs-giants-2004