Ben Roethlisberger the Mangled Face of the Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger has been criticized as a person and player. I have heard him called a drama queen, a diva, a bad teammate, and the list goes on and on, but honestly has there been a better face for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise since Jack Lambert and his missing teeth?

Roethlisberger is the toughest man to play the quarterback position period. There is no one in the league that takes the beating that Ben does and keeps getting up. Not only does the he keep getting up, but he seems to be at his best when he is banged up.

I would list all the injuries that Roethlisberger has sustained, but the list is so long that I am actually afraid of missing them or taking up so much space that you wouldn't finish reading this. Instead I will highlight a few.

In the best rivalry in the NFL Haloti Nata came right up the middle and found a way to fit his hand inside Roethlisberger's face mask and busted Ben's nose. See photo below.

Roethlisberger suffered this injury on the first drive of the game. Not only did he finish the game, but completed 22-of-38 passes for 253 yards and a game-winning touchdown. It was a classic Roethlisberger and he has done it again and again.

Last night it was another show of absolute gutty toughness by Ben. As he was extending the play like he does so well, Scott Paxson made a legal but gruesome hit to Roethlisberger's lower leg and bent it in a way that made everyone watching everywhere grimace in pain.

After limping off and being carted to the X-ray room, Ben came out of the tunnel for the second half took some practice snaps and gimped out to the huddle. Roethlisberger didn't just play in the second half and completed 8-of-12 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown, and one pick.

This guy has fought through foot injuries, concussions, broken thumb, and a veritable litany of injuries and just keeps picking himself up and playing the game of football.

As a Steelers fan this man personifies my franchise. A player that in spite of all his injuries and issues just keeps performing at the highest level and winning games. Say what you want about him, he doesn't need any MVP awards, he doesn't need Offensive Player of the Year awards, he is a winner and the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers.