Roethlisberger started because of an injury to Maddox

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Rookie steps in for injured Maddox

Sep 27, 2004

ESPN.com news services

[www.espn.com]

PITTSBURGH -- For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the future is now.

Starting quarterback Tommy Maddox will miss at least six weeks with ligament damage in his right elbow, forcing first-round pick Ben Roethlisberger into the lineup at least temporarily.

"I've got to be the leader now," Roethlisberger said.

Maddox was injured in the third quarter of Sunday's 30-13 loss after getting hit by cornerback Gary Baxter.

Co-captain Alan Faneca sounded less than thrilled when he discussed the prospect of a rookie leading the charge against the Dolphins.

"Exciting?" Faneca replied to a question with disbelief in his voice, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. "No, it's not exciting. Do you want to go work with some little young kid who's just out of college?

"Everybody's got to do a little more," the All-Pro offensive guard told the newspaper. "Everybody's got to help out, got to do a little more, do a little extra, take that extra step, put the extra work in this week and rally around him and help out.

"It's a learning process for him. He's a No. 1 pick, he's fresh out of college and that's the big thing. He's throwing in a new offense. ... He has to learn that, too, so there's a lot to soak in. It's like every play you get better, you see things, you start to realize things, how a play works, how defenses react to it. It's just a process."

Maddox was expected to start all season so the Steelers could slowly bring along Roethlisberger, the No. 11 overall draft pick and only Steelers quarterback drafted in the first round since 1981.

Maddox's injury changes all that. Starting Sunday at Miami means Roethlisberger will face one of the NFL's better defenses; also, any veteran quarterback brought in this week likely wouldn't have enough time to learn the Steelers' system.