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IRVING, Texas — You have every right to view this Super Bowl quarterback matchup between Big Bad Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers as a morality play if you like. We are merely finishing the first chapter of Big Bad Ben’s story of redemption. Super Bowl XLV shines an unflattering spotlight on a sordid past in which the face of the proud Steelers franchise was akin to a mug shot.
Maybe one day, the fullness of time will allow us to hail the Steelers quarterback as one of our inspirational Comeback Kids. Maybe he and Tiger Woods will one day emerge triumphantly from the rough of life.
For now, America’s Quarterback has to be the Aaron Rodgers.
On Super Sunday, the quarterback to root for is Aaron Rodgers.
“Maybe ignorance is bliss for us … obviously the Steelers have been there before, they won it twice … but I like our chances,” the Packers quarterback said last night.
Rodgers wasn’t the one who had to explain his alleged despicable behavior with a young woman to Roger Goodell, to Dan Rooney, to the good people of Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger was. Rodgers wasn’t the one suspended for four games. Roethlisberger was. Rodgers isn’t the one still trying to repair his reputation and image, and the silly Photogate flap changes nothing. Roethlisberger is.
Rodgers, a big 49ers fan growing up in Chico, Calif., was asked how he viewed the obligation of the franchise quarterback, and his answer was straight out of the NFL Commissioner’s handbook.
“I don’t know what the obligations are, but I know that I take it very seriously the way I represent not only myself, my family, but the Green Bay Packers,” Rodgers said. “It’s a privilege to play in this league, and even a bigger privilege to play for the Green Bay Packers. You’re revered in Green Bay for not only the way you play, but I think the way you carry yourself. Bart Starr is a prime example of that. He’s a great guy who I’ve gotten to know, and obviously somebody I’d love to model my career after.”
Rodgers is the one who wasn’t recruited out of high school. Rodgers is the one who handled being held hostage in the green room during the 2005 NFL Draft with class and grace. Rodgers is the one who deferred to Brett Favre even when it had become apparent to Green Bay insiders that Favre stood in his way. Rodgers is the one who never once blinked when Favre unretired and threatened to fight for the job he felt was entitled to him.
Rodgers is the one who has taken the Packers back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 13 years. “I just think I tried to stay true to my character throughout that time, and I’m just fortunate enough to be a part of an organization that backed me and believed in me and gave me an opportunity,” Rodgers said.
We are a country of second chances. So far Big Ben is making the most of his second chance. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t need any second chance. He’s made the most of his first chance.
After all Rodgers has overcome, no one around the Packers believes this game, the biggest game of all, will be too big for him. Big Ben is supposed to have an advantage because he has been on this stage twice, won two Super Bowls, and was much better in the second one. Peyton Manning, who had won Super Bowl XLI, was supposed to have the advantage last year over Drew Brees, and we all saw how that worked out.
Rodgers endured three years behind Favre. All Favre did was help make Vince Lombardi’s favorite old place Titletown, USA again. It is why Rodgers reached out for advice to Steve Young, who spent four years behind Joe Montana before throwing six touchdown passes against the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX to throw the monkey off his back with a vengeance.
The quarterback graveyard is littered with poor souls who were not up to the task: Scott Hunter, who followed Starr; Cliff Stoudt, who followed Terry Bradshaw; Marty Domres, who followed John Unitas; Brian Griese, who followed John Elway; Jay Fiedler, who followed Dan Marino; Dave Brown, who followed Phil Simms: and Richard Todd, who followed Joe Namath.
A young man asked Rodgers for a quick shoutout for the troops, and Rodgers said: “Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. I just want to say from the grandson of a World War II fighter pilot, I appreciate what you guys do, and I have the utmost amount of respect for you men and women allowing us to live the life that we are able to live.”
America’s Quarterback.
steve.serby@nypost.com