Roethlisberger on Brady's suspension: 'If he's not out there, it's not the same'

The opening game of the 2015 NFL season was billed as a marquee matchup between two elite quarterbacks, with Tom Brady's New England Patriots hosting Ben Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers.

But Brady was suspended four games after the release of the Wells Report, rendering some of the allure moot.

Roethlisberger paid homage to the reigning Super Bowl MVP, hoping that he'll be available for opening night, ostensibly upon winning an appeal.

"He's a guy, I've said for a long time, he's the best in the business, and he proved it again last year winning his fourth (Super Bowl)," Roethlisberger said to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "If he's not out there, it's not the same. I have a lot of respect for him on the football field and some of the unbelievable things that he's done. I guess we'll wait and see what's finally going to happen."

It should be noted that Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell will also miss the season opener due to a three-game suspension stemming from a DUI arrest and marijuana charges in August 2014.

Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats proved Roethlisberger's point with his unfamiliarity with Brady's backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, who was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

"If it's a new quarterback, who is it, what's his name, Gappo?" Moats said. "Either way, you definitely want to confuse them. That's the goal for any quarterback you play against."

The Patriots and Steelers have combined for six of the last 14 Super Bowl victories, all of which came with Brady and Roethlisberger at the helm. It's good to see a mutual respect exists between both quarterbacks while they're embroiled in an escalating rivalry.