The release of the video on social media of Ben Roethlisberger throwing with teammates Monday sent a jolt through Steelers Nation that certainly lifted the spirits of many wondering if the star quarterback would be capable of returning for the 2020 season.
The Steelers have remained confident that will happen all along. But many outside the organization have questioned whether Roethlisberger will be capable of making a return from an elbow injury that required a season-ending surgery that limited him to just six quarters in 2019.
That seems more likely after Monday.
The next question that must be answered is exactly what kind of play the Steelers can expect from their 38-year-old quarterback?
Again, the Steelers seem confident regarding that prospect.
"He didn’t play last season so his body, the rest of his body, got the year off," GM Kevin Colbert told me at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "I think that’s part of it. Any time you repair anything with any kind of surgery, nobody knows at what point, you know when it happened, but what were the symptoms? Was his arm as strong as it had been? Who knows? I’m just optimistic that it could be better."
What could that mean? Plenty for the Steelers. In fact, the return of Roethlisberger might be the biggest acquisition for any team in the NFL this season.
Forget Tom Brady going to the Buccaneers, Phillip Rivers to the Colts or DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. This is bigger.
Yet, from the national media, we get "hot takes" like this:
Steelers used to be about Lombardi trophies in February. Now it’s haircuts and hype videos in May. This is what happens when you miss the playoffs in back to back years and Baltimore is loaded and Cleveland oozes talent and has real head coach. ??♂️#ScheinOnSports @MadDogRadio
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) May 19, 2020
"Baltimore is going to win that division. The question is who is the 2nd best team, Pittsburgh or Cleveland? I believe it to be Cleveland. ... Is there a single skill position guy on the Steelers we are certain would start for the Browns?" — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/mjy0zMmgeF
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) May 19, 2020
