Steelers 2004 Draft Could Have Been Much Different

[polamalubeast]

With the Steelers’ 2012 schedule being announced today and including fellow 2004 NFL Draft alums Eli Manning (pick #1) and Phillip Rivers (pick #4) to face Ben Roethlisberger (pick #11); as well as throwback jerseys being displayed it brought about an old story. A 2004 NFL Draft throwback per-say.

As the 2004 NFL Draft approached there were three standout quarterbacks available: Manning, Rivers, and Roethlisberger. The San Diego Chargers held the number one overall pick and were set to draft Eli Manning first overall and make him their franchise quarterback. The Giants held the fourth pick in the draft and wanted Manning, but were ready to draft Ben Roethlisberger with the fourth pick since Manning would likely go number one overall. The Steelers sat at pick 11 with hopes of drafting whoever had not yet been picked.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher was set on drafting Phillip Rivers he believed that Rivers was the best of the three quarterbacks and he was his pick if he had the choice. However, as the draft approached Manning made it clear that he would not sign with the Chargers. If the picked him with the first pick he would holdout until he was traded to another team. The question then arose: who will trade for Manning and which quarterback is the Chargers second favorite.

Chargers’ coach Marty Schottenheimer had coached Rivers during the Senior Bowl and had named him as his second option over Roethlisberger. When the draft came the Chargers selected Manning and later traded him to the Giants for Rivers and two other picks. The Steelers were left with only one option at quarterback; Miami of Ohio star Ben Roethlisberger. However, Cowher was upset about missing out on Rivers and was not convinced Roethlisberger was the man for the Steelers. Cowher and Steelers GM Kevin Colbert discussed drafting offensive tackle Shawn Andrews and sticking with Tommy Maddux at quarterback (Andrews is out of the league after playing for the Eagles and Giants until 2010).


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http://steelblitz.com/steelers-playe...rs-2004-draft/

[st33lersguy]

Good thing Rivers was taken, otherwise Cowher would have been considered the equivalent of Marty Schottenheimer and the Steelers would still be searching for one for the tnumb

[suitanim]

Hate to say this, but the World would not have ended had we actually picked Rivers. The Steelers top-to-bottom is a better organization than the Chargers, better run, better coached, and with a better defense year-to-year. Both teams run a lot, so the stats are pretty easy and comparable to do as an apples-to-apples.

BR-63.1 completion %
PR- 63.5%

BR- 26579 total passing yards
PR- 24285 total passing yards

BR- 165/95 TD/INT
PR- 163-78 TD/INT

BR- 92.1 QBR
PR- 95.5 QBR ( I read somehere that Rivers QBR was third best all-time behind Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers).

Rivers actually has better stats in most categories, but Ben DOES have a better playoff win% as well as a better win % overall, although a very compelling argument could be made that this is simply a function of the better team being in Pittsburgh.

Stick Rivers on this team and we'd have probably been just about as successful.

[BnG_Hevn]

Put Ben on the Chargers and everyone here, to a man (or woman) would have lambasted the Chargers organization for drafting a "drama queen".