Mark Madden’s column on the Steelers problems (“Loyalty to Mike Tomlin leaves Steelers going nowhere,” Jan. 13, TribLIVE) was only partially correct. As usual his critical team analysis left out a major issue, “Hall of Fame” (as Madden always likes to preface) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. For the last eight years, his erratic play has contributed to many losses. Tomlin didn’t throw those four picks against Cleveland; the hall of famer did. For eight years now, anyone really watching Roethlisberger has seen the bad or inaccurate passes, the wrong reads, the crazy interceptions and plays left on the field.
Has Roethlisberger been a good quarterback over this time? Yes. But when you watch the best quarterbacks over the last eight years, the difference is apparent, and Roethlisberger just hasn’t been good enough — something Madden has never seemed to realize or understand in any of his Steelers columns.
The Steelers are enamored of Mason Rudolph. It’s time to play him so they can find out if he is what they think he is; it’s possible he won’t be. But to bring Roethlisberger back another year just pushes this discovery process back another year for no reason, because the Steelers won’t be winning any Super Bowls with Roethlisberger. That has been apparent for many years.
Madden was partially correct: It is time for the Steelers to move on. He just is blind to one of the biggest moves the Steelers need to implement.
Randy Oliver
Dawson