Steelers fans sound off on the apparent end of the Big Ben era

Angela Birch of Kiski Township has a message for Ben Roethlisberger.

“You’ll be missed,” said Birch, 48. “I hate to see you go. Enjoy the life with your kids and thank you so much for everything you’ve done.”

Tonight’s game against the Cleveland Browns likely will be the final home game in Roethlisberger’s storied career. On Thursday, Roeth­lisberger acknowledged for the first time publicly that he probably will retire after the season ends.

Birch said she’s a faithful supporter of Big Ben and touted his perseverance as one of his positive traits.

“You have moments when things don’t go right, but that’s life,” she said. “I think for as many years as he’s been in there, he’s done a great job.”

For a fan base that spent two decades yearning for an equal to four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Roethlisberger was well worth the wait.

While he ended up with only half of Bradshaw’s Super Bowl ring haul, Roethlisberger blew past Bradshaw in every meaningful team passing category.

Then again, Roethlisberger surpassed just about anyone who ever played for any team in passing stats. He stands fifth in NFL history in passing yards (63,721), fifth in competed passes (5,386) and eighth in touchdown passes (416).

Only four quarterbacks have won more regular-season games as a starter (163).

Christina Osorio, 40, of Washington Township said she’s happy about Ben’s plans.

“He’s put in a lot of time as the quarterback, and I’m looking forward for him to spend more time with his family. I think he’s an amazing person, and it’s just time,” Osorio said.

Osorio, a frequent training camp attendee, said seeing Roethlisberger up close and in action was special.

“The way he would interact with the fans and kids. I just know he has a lot of passion. I think a tribute to him is well-deserved,” Osorio said.

John Fouse, 69, of Parks Township said he’ll watch Monday’s game but expressed displeasure over Roethlisberger’s past few years as quarterback.

“He should have left four years ago — with Tomlin,” Fouse said. “For the first 14 years, Ben was good, and then he got lazy.”

Ron Kuhn of Greensburg is another Steelers fan who said Ben stayed in football too long.

“I think he should have quit last year. I wish he had moved on,” Kuhn said.

However, as Rick Fabery of Greensburg sees it, Ben is far from washed up.

“I think he can go another year,” Fabery said.

Fabery said it is the Steelers offense that has let Roethlisberger down.

“He can’t pass if he is getting hit all the time,” Fabery said.

No one who is ahead of Roethlisberger in the categories of career yardage, completions and wins did it all for one franchise. Roethlisberger has let it be known that means something to him.

“Eighteen years,” Roethlisberger said this past week. “Almost half my life I’ve given to this city and this team and the fans.”

Raymond Varner, 40, of Washington Township described Roethlisberger’s impending retirement as “the end of an era.”

“The legacy that he established for my generation of Steelers fans — he delivered us two Super Bowl wins,” Varner said. “I hate to see him go. It’s a piece of my childhood that’s gone. It’s tough to see a legend have to hang it up.”

Season ticket holder Scott Fox of Fox Chapel said he will be at Monday night’s game.

Fox compared the excitement to when Mario Lemieux came back from retirement.

“I certainly hope we give Ben a great fan sendoff for his last home game,” Fox said.

But to Terrence Jackson of Greensburg, there is no doubt Monday night’s game against the Browns should be Roethlisberger’s last home game.

“He should not come back. Absolutely,” Jackson said.

But, what are the Steelers to do without that kind of franchise quarterback on the roster?

“If they want to win, they have to spend money” on a quarterback, Jackson said.

In the history of any of Pittsburgh’s three major professional sports teams, only the Pirates’ Willie Stargell played more seasons (21) in his career.

Bradshaw is one of only four NFL quarterbacks who has won more Super Bowls as a starter; he’s one of five who has more playoff victories. Roethlisberger started Steelers’ Super Bowl wins after the 2005 and 2008 seasons. He also lost the Super Bowl at the end of the 2010 season; he has a 13-9 postseason record.

When the then-22-year-old Roethlisberger arrived in Pittsburgh as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2004 draft, the Steelers were coming off a 6-10 season, their third sub-.500 record over the prior six years.

He may leave the franchise as a soon-to-be 40-year-old who never has been part of a Steelers team that had a losing record.

“I am sure you can go back to my very first press conference (and) all I ever said I want to do is win,” Roethlisberger said. “And that’s what is most important to me, and so that is what’s going to be most important.”