Moderatoren » In many ways, this tie felt like a heartbreaking loss.

The NFL continues to try and squeeze out every last drop of Steelers coverage during the slow months of the calendar." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBehind the Steel Curtaina Pittsburgh Steelers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSteelersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsFiled under:Latest NewsFellow member of the 2004 draft class Womens Terrell Edmunds Jersey , Max Starks takes up for Ben Roethlisberger and the SteelersNew,12commentsThe NFL continues to try and squeeze out every last drop of Steelers coverage during the slow months of the calendar.EDTShareTweetShareShareFellow member of the 2004 draft class, Max Starks takes up for Ben Roethlisberger and the SteelersPhoto by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesSome say playing sports is like a fraternity. A bond develops between people who have a common goal must work together to achieve said goal. If we are sticking with the fraternity comparison, I would guess if you were in the NFL and were drafted in the same year together, it would be like your pledge class.For Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, he is the last man standing among his 2004 draft class, but that doesn’t mean the NFL won’t try and get every last ounce out of the ‘Ben Roethlisberger is a bad leader’ story by bringing back old teammates and asking them about Roethlisberger.This is exactly what happened when the NFL Network had former offensive tackle, and 3rd round draft pick in the 2004 draft, Max Starks on to talk about Roethlisberger. They asked Starks about his leadership, where he sees the Steelers moving forward among other topics.Starks said he and Roethlisberger “grew up together”, referring to them coming into the league at the same time Womens James Conner Jersey , and how they had “fun”. But when asked about Roethlisberger’s leadership style, he phrased his thoughts differently than many other former teammates who have offered their opinions.“Some people are vocal leaders, some are physical leaders,” Starks said. “I’ve always know him to be a physical leader. When he gets on the field, he’s giving you every ounce that he has.”Anyone who has watched Roethlisberger play knows this is what he brings to the team every time he steps on the gridiron. As for whether Roethlisberger will have success in 2019, Starks doesn’t predict a steep drop off in production from Roethlisberger or the Steelers’ offense.Will Roethlisberger be able to continue to play at a high level, even in year 16 of his NFL career? Starks feels he is like a fine wine, getting better with age.“He’s only getting better with age. He’s like fine wine, at this point,” Starks said. “He’s had career-best numbers … This is what you want to see from a franchise quarterback going into his 16th year.”This is the offseason, and television stations like the NFL Network have to find something to talk about between minicamps and training camps. Unfortunately T. J. Watt Jersey White , that means a lot of nonsense which is often attempted to be construed as news. I will say it was refreshing to hear a former teammate come out and stand up for Roethlisberger. When it comes to relationships on a football team, the one between a quarterback and his offensive linemen should be near the top in regards to closeness. Given how Starks protected Roethlisberger’s blindside for 8 years, and Roethlisberger helped provide him with two Super Bowl rings, it should come as a shock to no one Starks doesn’t have much to say about Roethlisberger in a negative fashion.Unlike 2017, Chris Boswell can’t rescue Steelers from a sloppy mess in tie with Browns As I stood there in my uncle’s living room, watching Chris Boswell prepare for a 42-yard field goal attempt in the waning moments of overtime in the Steelers’ 2018 regular-season opener against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, I was confident I would soon wipe my brow in relief and thank the football heavens for yet another victory that could have very easily gone the other way. After all, that was how so many of Pittsburgh’s games ended in 2017, on the way to a 13-3 record and a second-straight AFC North Division title. The Steelers and their opponents would often battle tooth-and-nail for the better part of 60 sloppy minutes, a year ago, before Boswell ended things with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds — including three booted on the final play of regulation.Unfortunately Terrell Edmunds Jersey White , Boswell’s attempt sailed wide left and, moments later, the Steelers neededT.J. Watt to block a field goal just to preserve a very disappointing 21-21 tie.And that’s when reality sunk in: the 2018 Steelers aren’t likely going to be able to get away with as much as they did in 2017. Why? That’s sports — sooner or later, the law of averages are going to catch up with you. You can’t commit 116 yards in penalties and expect to win many games. You certainly can’t turn the football over a whopping six times — including five by the franchise quarterback—and expect to win any games, let alone walk off of the field with a tie.But despite the less-than-ideal play — a performance that may have been excused away by the day-long downpour — I was still expecting the Steelers to pull things out.Even after running back James Conner tarnished his otherwise great day by losing a fumble that the Browns quickly converted into a touchdown to pull to within seven points with 7:32 remaining, you just had a feeling Pittsburgh would win. Even after quarterback Tyrod Taylor found Browns’ embattled receiver, Josh Gordon, in the end zone for a touchdown that tied the score at 21 with 1:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, I felt extremely confident someone would come along and save the Steelers’ bacon, yet again. And when Cam Sutton picked off a Taylor pass deep in Steelers’ territory with 16 seconds left in regulation, you Womens JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey , every other Steelers fan, as well as all of those downtrodden faithful in Browns Nation, likely thought the inevitable outcome was going to be the Black-and-gold heading back to Pittsburgh as winners — albeit sloppy winners — once more. Late in overtime, as Antonio Brown and Jesse James made key catches and key gains to set up Boswell’s attempt, you had the feeling that this Week-1 slop-fest wouldn’t be entirely acceptable to the coaches, players and fans, but at least the Steelers would still earn a victory while working out the bugs — and to reiterate, it did rain during the entire game. Many people spent the offseason warning Steelers fans that their favorite football team couldn’t make a habit out of stacking wins in close contests, that a Super Bowl-contender is often more business-like than child-like.But — darn it — the Steelers might often be a team in turmoil, but they’re also a team of character that just finds a way to win. Sadly, after one week of the 2018 regular season Womens T. J. Watt Jersey , you can’t say that anymore. But, then, when you’re up by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter against a team that hasn’t won a game since 2016, anything but victory is going to feel like defeat. No, the Steelers aren’t losers after one week of regular-season action, but they’re certainly not winners either. What Pittsburgh appears to be, however, is a version similar to the 2017 squad. Unfortunately, that may not be enough to cut it in 2018.