�� "77"����
"B.A."�
Hard
Hat Award (AFC Divisional Playoffs, @ Indy)
Stiller QB Benji Roethlisberger is the winner of the weekly Hard
Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the
iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast
furnace of a still mill.
In just his 2nd NFL season, Ben was as cool as a cucumber to
start off the game, nailing 6 of 7 passes in marching the Stillers down for an early
score.� (His 1st pass was perfectly
thrown, but dropped by El.)� �This was diametrically opposed to the other
QB, Big Peyton Womaning, who played like a cowardly puss-in-boots from the very
first snap he took in the game.� Ben
finished the game 14 of 24 for 197 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT, which was entirely
the fault of LT M. Smith, not Benji.� But
sharp passing and offensive leadership aside, Ben nailed down this award with a
game-saving, season-saving tackle on the fumble return by Indy CB Nick
Harper.� Big Jerome Bettis (cough,
cough) had just coughed up the pigskin, and Harper got a charity hop and was
off to the races, with open acreage, for a game-winning TD.� Only 1 man stood in his way -- Ben Roth.� And unlike feeble, timid saps like Carson
LipBalmer and Peyton Womaning, Benji got himself dirty, so to speak, and made
the season-saving tackle.� This was as
gritty and gutty a play as you'll see a QB make all season, and it literally saved
the Stillers from another Cowhard-led playoff loss.�
Kudos to Roethlisberger for winning the weekly Hard
Hat Award.� Wear the Hard Hat
proudly, Benji!�
Past 2005 Hard Hat Winners:
Week 1, vs. Tenn: Willie Parker
Week 2, @ Hou: Troy Polamalu
Week 3, vs. NE: Clark Haggans
Week 4, @ SD: Troy Polamalu
Week 5, vs. Jax: Heath Miller and Ike Taylor
Week 6, @ Cinci: Hines Ward and Ike Taylor
Week 7, vs. Balt.: Andre Frazier
Week 8, @ GB: Duce Staley
Week 9, vs. Clev: Hines Ward and Charlie Batch
Week 10, @ Balt:�
Aaron Smith
Week 11, @ Indy:� No
one
Week 12, vs. Cinci: Ben Roethlisberger
Week 13, vs. Chicago: Jerome Bettis and Alan Faneca
Week 14, @ Minn: The entire defense
Week 15, @ Clev: Brett Keisel and Jamie Harrison
Week 16, vs.
AFC Wild Card, @ Cinci: Tyrone Carter
(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Steve Courson this
season by placing "77" in the Hard Hat Award article each week.� Courson, as most of you certainly recall,
was the ultimate Hard Hat kind of player.� Tough, dependable, and versatile.�� Stillers.com will also pay tribute to Army
Sergeant First Class Brent Adams, a longtime Stillers fan and Pittsburgh native
who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country while serving on point for the
nation in Iraq.� SFC Adams died on duty
in Iraq on Dec. 1st, 2005, and his obituary can be read at this link.� Brent represents the values of the Hard Hat,
and as such, Stillers.com will place a "B.A." in the Hard Hat
article the rest of the season in tribute to this great American.)����