FORT WORTH, Texas — Quarterbacks are judged by Super Bowl wins, yet Ben Roethlisberger is rarely mentioned among the NFL’s elite, despite playing for his third title in a six-year span.

Other quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers are much more celebrated. Don’t believe that? Consider how much was made of Manning and Rivers playing with diminished receiving corps (even though Manning had Reggie Wayne for the entire year), while nobody took notice of just how decimated the Steelers’ offensive line has been until Maurkice Pouncey went down with an injury.

Steelers WR Hines Ward had an explanation why Roethlisberger mostly has been ignored.

“It’s the style of play,” Ward said. “Just listening to the media, it’s kind of ‘backyard’ play. I thought what determined a great quarterback is all wins and losses and what you’ve done in the postseason and what you’ve done in the Super Bowl.

“Do you put Ben in the top echelon? It will always be a great debate about that. …

“There are a lot of guys that have a worse postseason record than he does and they’re on that list above him. The guy has won two Super Bowls and is playing in his third. I don’t know what more you want out of your starting quarterback.”

And to be honest, if the Steelers win the Super Bowl, the conversation shouldn’t be if Roethlisberger should be mentioned among the elite quarterbacks. Rather, is he the NFL’s top signal-caller?

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