The Pittsburgh Steelers are now into the offseason, following a year in which they had high hopes for Super Bowl success, but ultimately fell short of even reaching the postseason at 8-8. It was a tumultuous season, both on the field and within the roster, and the months to follow figure to have some drama as well, especially in light of the team’s failure to improve upon the year before.
The team made some bold moves over the course of the past year, and some areas of the roster look quite a bit different than they did a year ago, or even at the start of the regular season. Whether due to injuries or otherwise, a lot has transpired, and we’re left to wonder how much more will change prior to September.
How will Ben Roethlisberger’s rehab progress as he winds toward recovery from an elbow injury that cost him almost the entire season? What about some of the key young players, some of whom have already impressed, others still needing quite a bit of growth? Will there be changes to the coaching staff? The front office? Who will they not retain in free agency, and whom might they bring in?
These are the sorts of questions among many others that we have been exploring on a daily basis and will continue to do so. Football has become a year-round pastime and there is always a question to be asked, though there is rarely a concrete answer, as I’ve learned in my years of doing this.
Question: How many quarterbacks from the 2004 NFL Draft will ultimately make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
2004 is certainly one of the most famous draft classes in NFL history for quarterbacks. Is it the greatest ever? That’s debatable. And part of that debate will ultimately entail how many of the three quarterbacks who get talked about from the class make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We are talking, of course, about Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger, all three of whom up to his point have spent their entire careers with one team. Manning, who retired yesterday, played for the New York Giants and won two Super Bowls. Rivers plays for the Los Angeles Chargers, though he may leave in free agency. Roethlisberger…well, we know all about Roethlisberger.
Big Ben is guaranteed to make the Hall of Fame. He has the rings and the stats and the wins. Manning, he has the rings, and some of the stats. He also has a career .500 record. Rivers…he has the stats. In fact, statistically, he could make the case that he is the best of the three.
Roethlisberger is a lock to make it. I think a legitimate conversation could be had about the other two, though I think all three will eventually be in. All three are in the top 10 all-time in almost all of the major passing categories in NFL history, and the others in the top 10 who are eligible are already in the Hall.
