Only an idiot would suggest there's a quarterback controversy swirling around the Steelers.

And only an idiot would suggest there won't be a quarterback controversy after Ben Roethlisberger's first bad game.

Roethlisberger is clearly the Steelers' starter. The fact he had a subpar season in 2006 doesn't change that. He could be the starter for the next decade, if not longer. But that doesn't mean a bad game or two won't have fans howling for his benching.

Considering the recent history of the Steelers, the fans would have a point if they raised a fuss. In fact, they have two.

They well remember how coach Bill Cowher stubbornly stuck with Roethlisberger last season through injury, illness and bad performance. It could have cost the Steelers a playoff berth.

They know how well Roethlisberger's backup can perform.

It's the backup who will force any quarterback issues this season. It won't be because of what he says, but because of what he has done.

Typically, the player most loved by the fans on any pro football team is the backup quarterback. That's even more true with the Steelers, whose No. 2 quarterback is Charlie Batch, the ultra-classy hometown guy.

Batch brilliantly stated his case last night in a 13-9 exhibition game loss to the Green Bay Packers at Heinz Field.

After Roethlisberger was ho-hum for two series, Batch came in and was superb in directing the Steelers to a touchdown and a field goal in three possessions. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The performance reinforced the belief that Batch is a highly competent quarterback who is capable of winning games and one a coach should not hesitate to call on if the starter is faltering.

On his second series, late in the first quarter on a third-and-17 from the Packers' 41, Batch threw a dazzling strike that Walter Young snared in stride about 20 yards downfield and raced it into the end zone.

On the Steelers' next possession, Batch threw deep and put the ball in the hands of Santonio Holmes on a play that was good for 49 yards to the Green Bay 12. When the drive stalled, Jeff Reed kicked a 27-yard field goal.

"Hats off to the offensive line doing a good job of protecting and also the receivers doing a good job of getting open," said Batch in a typically modest statement.

Roethlisberger, who was excellent in one series in the exhibition opener against New Orleans, was considerably less in two possessions against the Packers. On his first possession, after two runs by Najeh Davenport netted 5 yards, Roethlisberger, back to pass, was stripped of the ball by Green Bay defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who recovered the fumble.

Roethlisberger completed two passes, good for 14 yards, on the next possession, but on a third-and-1, Davenport was stopped for no gain and the Steelers punted.

That brought on Batch, who did what it seems like he always does.

Batch has performed extremely well in both exhibition games, but it's what he has done in his few chances as a starter in the regular season that has established his worth. He hasn't lost as a starter for the Steelers.

He won two games in 2005, helping the Steelers to victories against Green Bay and Cleveland. The Green Bay start was his first since 2001, when he was the regular quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of rust. Batch completed 9 of 16 for 53 yards in a 20-10 win against the Packers. He got the start the next week against the Browns and was considerably better, completing 13 of 19 for 150 yards and compiling a passer rating of 92.0 in a 34-21 win.

When Roethlisberger was recovering from an appendectomy, Batch replaced him in last season's opener against Miami. He was superb, completing 15 of 25 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception and had a passer rating of 126.5.

He was even better in the sixth game of the season when he replaced Roethlisberger, who left the game with a head injury. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't throw an interception and had a passer rating of 145.

He was not asked to throw another meaningful pass the remainder of the season, not even the next week when Roethlisberger performed terribly against Oakland.

No one has a take on how coach Mike Tomlin will handle his quarterbacks. Obviously, a quarterback of Roethlisberger's pedigree deserves a long rope, although maybe not as long as the one Cowher gave him last season. What Tomlin is discovering is that, in Batch, he has a backup he needn't hesitate to use.