Neither Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger nor Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton is expected to play in Thursday’s NFL exhibition finale at Bank of America Stadium.
But the two big-bodied passers have been linked since last December, when Panthers coach Ron Rivera first hinted that he wanted offensive coordinator Mike Shula to make changes to his scheme in the same manner the Steelers had in 2012.
The goal with both reboots was quarterback preservation.
Roethlisberger, who was then 30, was taking a beating in the pocket, having been sacked at least 40 times in five of the previous six seasons.