If you could have any Steelers player for an eternity, who would it be?

[stillers4me]

Welcome to imagination land! Where pigs fly, Cleveland wins championships (wait, shoot....), and football players don't get injured nor aged.


If you could pick any Steelers (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) player in their prime, past or present, to have for the rest of eternity, with no worries of injury or aging, who would you pick?



This truly is a tough question because there are so many routes you can take, and the list of Steelers legends seems to go on forever.


Since I was born in 1993, I was not exposed to the historical greats such as Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Greene, or Mike Webster. I grew up with Joey "Jerry" Porter (Is that joke dead yet?), Jerome Bettis (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/143192/jerome-bettis), Hines Ward (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1642/hines-ward), and company.


It's easy to get nostalgic and focus more on past players when making your selection, but don't overlook some of the elite, current players. Even though he still has plenty of years left, anyone in their right mind has to throw Antonio Brown (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108636/antonio-brown) into consideration. Le'veon Bell? It's early, but possible-- especially if you don't have to worry about injuries. A healthy Ben Roethlisberger (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1630/ben-roethlisberger)? He's as good as any quarterback in the National Football League right now.


No matter who you pick, there will always be people that disagree because of the extremely long list to choose from.


My take? Future Hall of Famer, Troy Polamalu (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1626/troy-polamalu). The eight-time pro bowler, 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, safety out of University of Southern California.


In his prime, Polamalu was the best safety the city of Pittsburgh has ever seen. Whether he was blitzing on the line, or deep in the secondary, you could always trust that the defense was in good hands. Even though his turnover numbers may not show it, nobody impacted the game like Troy. He would come out of nowhere, and be involved in every single play...............

read more @ http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2016/6/22/11989046/if-you-could-have-any-steelers-player-for-an-eternity-who-would-it-be

[Steeldude]

Jack Lambert

[Devilsdancefloor]

Mel Blount he changed the position due to the "bump" rule.

[steelreserve]

I'd go with Troy hands-down. You can count on one hand the number of players who have been able to singlehandedly change the whole game on that level.

Of course, I was 2 or 3 years old when Greene, Lambert, Ham, Blount, etc. were playing at a high level, so it's hard to factor them in accurately.

[Count Steeler]

As much as I love defense, we don't have a prayer unless we have a QB, especially in the new NFL.

This is more about having a championship team and not about favorite player.

I'll take Ben.

[pczach]

As much as I love defense, we don't have a prayer unless we have a QB, especially in the new NFL.

This is more about having a championship team and not about favorite player.

I'll take Ben.


When you consider the fact that they have only had two standout quarterbacks in the history of the franchise, this is a no brainer. I would be happy to have either Terry Bradshaw or Ben, but I believe Ben is the better quarterback.

Your post is spot on.

[Dwinsgames]

while I love what Troy brought to the field and admire all his accomplishments most will disagree with this but the majority that do would not have seen his competition play as they where not yet born or where to young but while Troy may in fact be considered the best S to play in the burgh by the masses it does not make it true , at the very least an argument could be made for Donnie Shell to wear that crown ...

shell was a different kind of player than Troy but Shell is the interception leader ... statistically they match up very closely so if a computer was to pick who knows which way it would actually go

(http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PolaTr99.htm)

[ALLD]

I would take #75 in his prime to build a defense around, then you only need a systems QB because the other team will not score like the 1976 Steelers.

[Rotorhead]

I would take Troy, that said, there are too many players which could be included on this list.

[fansince'76]

Huey Richardson! :chuckle:

[tube517]

Huey Richardson! :chuckle:


We need a "bust" smiley....:chuckle:

[Born2Steel]

I'm taking Big Ben and never worry about the QB position again.

[vasteeler]

toss up between ben and troy. leaning more towards ben

[zulater]

So hard to choose, but I would have to go Big Ben.Not that he's the greatest Steeler ever, but having a franchise qb is so important and outweighs every other position by a lot. Terry was great in his own ways but he also was maddeningly inconsistent when you consider the surrounding talent he had to work with.

Mean Joe and Jack Ham tie for runner up.

[vindrow]

For me it would be between Ben and Lambert.

[Born2Steel]

Can we pick Noll?

[SteelerFanInStl]

As much as I love defense, we don't have a prayer unless we have a QB, especially in the new NFL.

This is more about having a championship team and not about favorite player.

I'll take Ben.

Yep, I agree completely. I lived through all of those years between Terry and Ben and they were terrible. Give me Ben!!!!

[86WARD]

I'm taking Big Ben and never worry about the QB position again.

This. Easily the choice. Most important position on the team and to never have to worry about it again? No Brainer. On the defensive side of the ball it would be Mean Joe or Woodson.

[teegre]

You have to have a QB. The 1980s & 1990s proved that.

Thus... Kent Graham.

[teegre]

Entertainment-wise...

Offense: Kordell Stewart as Slash.

Defense: Troy Polamalu


I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of those games. When they were on the field, I waited with baited-breath and jubilant anticipation before every single snap ... because, on any given play, you could have witnessed magic.

[pczach]

You have to have a QB. The 1980s & 1990s proved that.

Thus... Kent Graham.


"Can't Graham"

An all-time great! :rofl2:

[Steel Peon]

Rod Woodson

[steelcityboyz]

Jack Ham.. IMO the best I've ever watched at that position

[st33lersguy]

Gotta go with Big Ben. Franchise QBs like Ben are a rarity. Plus with a franchise QB you can win with a lesser cast and if you have a great D you are golden

[Mojouw]

Polamalu or Joe Greene. Only guys, in my opinion, who could and did do things no one else will ever repeat. Other QBs can and will be as good as Ben. Others can cover like Woodson. ETC.

[tube517]

Jack Ham

Did everything and did everything very well.

[Iron Steeler]

Ben AND TROY a tie

[Edman]

Ben.

The Steelers would be set for the rest of their days.

[Kittyfish]

I"d take Ben as well. As a newer football fan, I'll always be grateful to him for making being a Steeler fan so easy (for the most part) and fun (for the most part) - I've never had to suffer through a losing season yet. As others have said, you're nothing without a good QB, and they are so hard to come by. But aren't Steeler fans lucky to have so many outstanding players to choose from?