Painful memory QB Roethlisberger hopes first pro hit doesn't ring a bell

LATROBE, Pa. -- Before his first college game, in Michigan, BenRoethlisberger made a statement he repeated Thursday, two days beforehis first pro game -- which also will be played in Michigan.

He likes to get that first hit out of the way.

"I know I said that in college," said the Pittsburgh Steelersrookie quarterback. "Well, the first hit broke my nose, so thatwasn't such a good thing to say."

Roethlisberger missed a play in his college debut againstMichigan, came back and didn't come out again for the next threeyears at Miami of Ohio. It led to his selection in the first round ofthe draft by the Steelers in April.

His next step is to take the field Saturday against the Lions atFord Field in Detroit in the Steelers' preseason opener.

Roethlisberger will play more than he expected earlier in the weekbecause of an injury to Charlie Batch.

Batch, a backup quarterback, underwent an MRI exam that revealed"a loose body in his knee," according to coach Bill Cowher. Batch isexpected to miss two to three weeks.

Cowher said Tommy Maddox would start and play the first quarter,with "Ben and Brian [St. Pierre of Boston College] playing the rest,and probably in that order," Cowher said.

So Roethlisberger will play in Detroit, near Ann Arbor, where hemade his college football debut and learned early just how rough thegame could be.

"First series, first game," he said of his broken nose. "Hehappened to hit me, my helmet came down and next thing you know bloodwas running down my face, so I missed a play."

Family and friends from Findlay, Ohio, will make the trek forRoethlisberger's preseason debut at the pro level. They'll watch arookie quarterback who is just beginning to learn the playbook.

"He's not going to get overwhelmed by it," said Cowher. "Ifthere's one thing I like about him, it's the way he approaches thegame. He runs around in practice and improvises and makes plays. Ithink the biggest thing for him is that Kenny [Whisenhunt] is notstanding next to him in the huddle."

Roethlisberger doesn't believe that will be a problem.

"He won't be able to stand next to me, but he'll be in my ear," hesaid of offensive coordinator Whisenhunt. "It's a new offense,something I have to learn. I've been doing a lot of it, and I thinkI've been coming a long way and making a lot of progress with it."

Roethlisberger's greatest asset in camp has been the way hecombines his mobility with his strong arm. He has been able to throwon the run with accuracy, just as he had in college.

Executing the called play, however, will be another story.

"I'm just going to go play football," he said. "That's what got mehere is playing football. That's what I do best, so that's what I'mgoing to have to do -- try not to think too much and just go out andplay."

Cowher said most of the starters will play about a quarter, butthose in the secondary can expect to play longer. The only otherstarter Cowher ruled out is free safety Chris Hope, who injured hisshoulder tackling Jerome Bettis more than a week ago. Hope haspracticed sparingly since but is expected back next week.

AP