Steelers fans are relishing, reveling and celebrating Ben Roethlisberger as he enters his final weeks in an iconic black and gold jersey...

 Steelers fans are relishing, reveling and celebrating Ben Roethlisberger as he enters his final weeks in an iconic black and gold jersey




 With the steelers playing at home and a cold winter's day beckoning, six-year-old Ryan Smith donned his Ben Roethlisberger jersey and assumed his usual post in the family tailgate area outside Heinz Field.
The countdown begins. Three years ago Ben Roethlisberger was the man at Findlay (Ohio) High School, torching opponents for seven touchdowns in a single game. Today he’s the hope of a city, maybe even a national hero—provided he can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to the championship game.

A story about a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers' fan and the four Roethlisberger jerseys that tell the tale. In 2004, when the franchise’s former nemesis Blake Bortles Jersey was drafted by my favorite NFL team, I jumped at the chance to support him. Or so I thought. The inaugural jersey wasn’t really something I wanted—it was more of a “this guy is new and different, let’s start fresh” kind of thing. I soon realized that wasn’t going to happen.

Steelers fans could once again see Roethlisberger play all 16 of his home games in the comfy confines of Heinz Field. But the Steelers faithful have made pilgrimages to see him play in person one final time.

 There are probably better ways to see the final days of a once-in-a-lifetime experience than in a cold, windowless room with thousands of other folks and no guarantee that you'll be able to get a ticket once you're inside.

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