polamalubeast
10-31-2012, 12:58 PM
Ben Roethlisberger admitted that early in his NFL career, he wanted to out-do Eli Manning, who was drafted 10 slots before the Steelers selected Roethlisberger in 2004.
"Early for on me, it was more wanting to do better than him," Roethlisberger said on a conference call today. "I don’t want to say animosity, but he was the No. 1 pick, and I think as a guy that’s not picked No. 1, anytime someone is picked ahead of you, you want to beat that guy out."
That's changed over time. Each quarterback is in his ninth professional season and has two Super Bowl rings to his name. Roethlisberger said he's "100 percent" followed his Giants counterpart, and he's even taken some enjoyment in Manning's achievements.
"As I've gotten older, it’s more neat to see his success, to see him getting two Super Bowls, because I think it just adds to the legacy of our draft class," Roethlisberger continued. "And all four quarterbacks -- Matt Schaub, Philip (Rivers), myself and Eli -- that were drafted there. I hope we can play well enough that one day they talk about us as maybe the best quarterback draft class of all time."
Rivers was drafted No. 4 overall, part of the swap that sent Manning to the Giants and Rivers to the Chargers. Schaub, now the Texans starter, was drafted in the third round by the Falcons. J.P. Losman was also part of that draft class, selected No. 22 overall by the Bills. He's now out of the league.
"I think you always kind of take pride in your draft class and guys who have done well, so you look at Ben and see two championships, played in three Super Bowls, been to some Pro Bowls," Manning said. "So I think you’re proud when your other guys in your draft have done well and had success, but besides the fact of playing in three Super Bowls; that’s probably the only stat that I know that he has. "
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2012/10/ben_roethlisberger_once_wanted.html
"Early for on me, it was more wanting to do better than him," Roethlisberger said on a conference call today. "I don’t want to say animosity, but he was the No. 1 pick, and I think as a guy that’s not picked No. 1, anytime someone is picked ahead of you, you want to beat that guy out."
That's changed over time. Each quarterback is in his ninth professional season and has two Super Bowl rings to his name. Roethlisberger said he's "100 percent" followed his Giants counterpart, and he's even taken some enjoyment in Manning's achievements.
"As I've gotten older, it’s more neat to see his success, to see him getting two Super Bowls, because I think it just adds to the legacy of our draft class," Roethlisberger continued. "And all four quarterbacks -- Matt Schaub, Philip (Rivers), myself and Eli -- that were drafted there. I hope we can play well enough that one day they talk about us as maybe the best quarterback draft class of all time."
Rivers was drafted No. 4 overall, part of the swap that sent Manning to the Giants and Rivers to the Chargers. Schaub, now the Texans starter, was drafted in the third round by the Falcons. J.P. Losman was also part of that draft class, selected No. 22 overall by the Bills. He's now out of the league.
"I think you always kind of take pride in your draft class and guys who have done well, so you look at Ben and see two championships, played in three Super Bowls, been to some Pro Bowls," Manning said. "So I think you’re proud when your other guys in your draft have done well and had success, but besides the fact of playing in three Super Bowls; that’s probably the only stat that I know that he has. "
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2012/10/ben_roethlisberger_once_wanted.html