Bradlee Van Pelt and Ben Roethlisberger have been friendly acquaintances since 2003 when Roethlisberger and Miami (Ohio) beat Van Pelt and Colorado State in Fort Collins, 41-21.
The two hung out the next February at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Roethlisberger wound up being the third quarterback taken in the April draft, No. 11 overall by Pittsburgh. Van Pelt was the 17th and final quarterback taken in the draft, No. 250 by the Broncos.
Sunday, Roethlisberger will play in his second AFC championship game when the Steelers face Denver at Invesco Field at Mile High. Van Pelt will be the Broncos’ backup quarterback behind Jake Plummer.
“I’m happy for Ben,” Van Pelt said. “He’s in a great situation. But I’m in a great situation for me. Sometimes, I think about it, and I wouldn’t want to be in any other situation than I am right now. This is the best for me. I wouldn’t trade this situation for anything.”
Van Pelt said seeing his contemporary achieve fast success is an inspiration to him.
“Ben got his chance because of an injury and I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to play so early,” Van Pelt said. “But he took advantage of it. That’s the deal, you have to take advantage of your chances.”
Old buddies
Denver cornerback Champ Bailey and Steelers receiver Hines Ward were college teammates at Georgia. The two have faced each other only once in the NFL, in 2000 when Bailey and the Washington Redskins visited Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 24-3.
Bailey said the two are close but that won’t be an issue Sunday.
“We’ll talk and mess around a little bit, but he’s a good guy,” Bailey said. “I respect his game, but he knows when that whistle blows it doesn’t matter. We are going at each others throats.”
Sharpe on Broncos’ side
For the second consecutive week, former Denver star tight end Shannon Sharpe was at Dove Valley on Thursday. He was there as part of his duties for CBS.
Sharpe said he believes in the Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan on Sunday against the Steelers.
Shanahan is 2-0 as a head coach in AFC championship games while Steelers coach Bill Cowher is 1-4, including a loss to Shanahan, Sharpe and the Broncos in the 1997 season.
“I like the Broncos’ chances,” Sharpe said. “As much as I like Bill Cowher, I think I love Mike Shanahan because of what he brings to the big games.”
Footnotes
New Jets coach Eric Mangini is planning to retain offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. If Heimerdinger is let go, he could be a strong candidate to replace Gary Kubiak as Denver’s offensive coordinator.
Kubiak is expected to be named the head coach in Houston shortly after Denver’s season ends. …
The Broncos practiced outside through a light snow Thursday. …
As he did Saturday night, injured Denver offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell is expected to be at the game Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Carswell was lost for the season Oct. 28 when he was in a serious auto accident.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
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