It is no secret that the NFL has transitioned into a more pass-happy league than it was over the last several decades. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is one of the beneficiaries of this new dynamic.

Throwing for 4,000 yards in a season has become child's play for the NFL's elite quarterbacks. However, according to Joe Rutter of Trib Live, Roethlisberger feels throwing for 5,000 yards is a worthy accomplishment:

“It’s still a pretty big deal,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday morning. “I know I’ve never gotten there and a lot of other guys haven’t. It’s still probably a pretty big number, but it seems like there might be a few guys on pace this year.”

There is certainly plenty of truth to Roethlisberger's comments. Of all the great seasons had by quarterbacks in NFL history, 5,000 passing yards has only been achieved nine times. If there is a reason that a 5,000-yard campaign has somewhat lost its intrigue it is because of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Five of those seasons can be attributed to the talents of Brees. As a result, it seems to have become more feasible than ever.

However, it is clearly easier said than done. This could be why Roethlisberger is still excited at the prospect of being added to such a prestigious list. He is one of five quarterbacks on pace to reach the mark in the 2018 NFL season. This group will continue to thin out as the year goes on. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if the veteran is still in position to do so by season's end.

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