Ben Roethlisberger went on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan and whined and complained about the Steelers drafting the quarterback that they hope replaces him commented on the Steelers quarterback room.
Big Ben is feeling insecure about his future with the team after they traded up to draft Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph. Except he doesn’t really want to admit it. Instead, he wanted to ask “What about Dobbs?”
“[Dobbs] and Landry [Jones] were the two guys I’ve spoken to the most. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t worried about someone taking my job. I feel confident that I can go out and beat whoever I need to beat out for my job, that’s just the confidence I have in myself. And I just got back to those guys. . . . I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I assume Landry’s still the [No.] 2. I don’t really know. And Josh, same thing, last year he was taken in the fourth round. So does that mean the like Steelers screwed up in that pick? Like, do they think he wasn’t the one that they thought? Or has he not developed the way they thought? Why else would you take a quarterback in the third round the next year.”
. . . OK, Ben.
I’m sure that it’s Josh Dobbs you’re worried about.
Look, it’s okay to feel insecure, Big Ben. Sometimes the biggest of men are the most sensitive. And yeah, sure you’ve threatened retirement like three times the past couple of years, but you have a right to be upset that the organization is beginning to think of a contingency plan to protect themselves.
You just don’t have to pretend like you’re worried about the third-string quarterback who you’ve only known for about a year’s feelings.
Second year quarterback Josh Dobbs had a little bit different- and more mature– approach.
“I know how the league works. It’s just another opportunity to have competition,” Dobbs said. “I’m sure it will be a great addition to the [quarterback] room. … [The Steelers] were really excited with how I performed last year in the preseason and in practices and overall preparation.
“It’s like you can’t really take it personal. They are always looking for the next player. Quarterback is the most important position. No matter who they bring in, you have to compete every single day. Your play speaks for itself. That’s all you can do, show the leaps and bounds I made last year, continue to progress in the offense and add new ideas. I plan on being [at camp] and plan to compete. When you’re a true competitor, you rise to the competition.”
The Steelers aren’t going to keep four quarterbacks. Landry Jones in the last year of his contract in Pittsburgh. The organization obviously has plans for Rudolph after trading up to take him in the third round of the draft.
That leaves Josh Dobbs as the early favorite to be the odd man out. We’ll see how this offseason shakes out for the former Vol, but at least he’s publicly handling it like a seasoned veteran.
