Thanks to @Steelers players @ZBNFL, @ohthatsNajee22, @_BigBen7, recently-retired Vance McDonald, and everyone who came out over the weekend to make Convoy of Hope's first ever @NFL #DraftDay Community Event a success! Learn more about the event at https://t.co/ioy2P8TNIO. pic.twitter.com/zd88i9WhtY

— Convoy of Hope (@ConvoyofHope) May 5, 2021

“I’ve met a lot of different nonprofit organizations — a lot of different community workers — and Convoy of Hope really sticks out the most,” Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive tackle Zach Banner said.

Banner chose to spend his Saturday serving others at Convoy of Hope’s first-ever Draft Day Community Event, which took place at Heinz Field. This event was in partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bass Pro Shops, and Sackcloth & Ashes. First-round draft pick Najee Harris and recently-retired tight-end Vance McDonald also participated alongside Convoy of Hope. Ben Roethlisberger and his wife, Ashley, who donated 1,000 hygiene kits for event distribution joined Harris and McDonald to help make this event a success.


You can read more about the event and the wonderful things that Convoy of Hope does right here.

Incoming shot on the course by our friend Brian Cooper!!!

When former Cincinnati Bengal Tank Johnson shows up to play golf, you remind him of the nightmares he had chasing the big homie @_BigBen7 around the field with no success. @steelers @SteelersPRBurt pic.twitter.com/BxGgLfb76i

— Brian (@CoopsGolf) May 3, 2021

Thanks to Tank for being such a good sport!

From Colin Likas, The News-Gazette:

Kendrick Green was napping Sunday morning when a call came across his phone. From a Pittsburgh-area number.

Not a surprise, considering the now-former Illinois guard was drafted 87th overall Friday by the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Who was delivering that phone call, however, still gave Green a bit of a jolt.

“I answer the phone and he’s like, ‘Hey, it’s Ben Roethlisberger,’ and I’m just talking it up to him,” Green said of the Steelers’ 17-year starting quarterback. “I told him, ‘As long as I can remember, you’ve been the quarterback for the Steelers.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, way to make me feel old.'”

Green’s next goal is to earn a regular job protecting Roethlisberger.

“I plan on trying to take the job right away,” Green said. “I’m going to go in and compete. They’ve got some older guys that have been in the league for a little bit there at that position. Kind of surreal, to be honest, but I’m ready to do it.”

Which position is Green vying for, exactly?

“We’re going to start working on center,” Green said. “They liked the tape I put on at center when I did have to fill in for Doug (Kramer). But overall, I think what it was is just the fact that, regardless of what position I was playing, I’m trying to go out there playing hard, trying to finish guys and put people on their back.”

“It was pretty nerve-racking, to be honest, but obviously it ended up working out well,” Green said. “I just want to prove to the Pittsburgh Steelers that they made the right choice.”


You can read more here.

You can check out a recap of all the Steelers draft picks here.

From Mr. Colbert’s press conference today:

“For him being willing to adjust his pay…is very much appreciated. I think it started a very positive off-season for us.”

Kevin Colbert said Ben Roethlisberger adjusting his salary and working with the team made it possible for other veterans to stay, and many others followed suit like Tyson Alualu, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Vince Williams to name a few.

— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) April 26, 2021

April 24, 2004 – With the 11th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…

“I was in New York. I had my mom and dad with me, my sister was there and my agent. My college coach at the time and his wife were there. Everyone kind of had their speculations of ‘what number’ and what team. The teams we thought were going to take me didn’t, but it ended up working out perfectly for me.” — Ben, from the video, “Recalling Draft Day”.

Ben arrives at Madison Square Garden that Saturday morning with plenty of supporters in his corner – his family, his agents Leigh Steinberg and Ryan Tollner, and his college coach, Terry Hoeppner and his wife Jane.


At 11:20AM: Ben and four others – Eli Manning, Roy Williams, Robert Gallery, and Kellen Winslow Jr. – are introduced to the crowd.

Green Room waiting –

• 12:25PM: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the San Diego Chargers have selected Eli Manning with the No. 1 pick. Eli emerges from stage right and is greeted by unwelcoming chants by the Chargers fans in attendance.

• 12:58PM: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the New York Giants have selected NC State quarterback Philip Rivers with the No. 4 pick. Soon thereafter the trade with the Chargers is announced – Eli Manning is headed to New York, Philip Rivers to San Diego. Both fan bases seem pleased with the outcome….as Ben waits for his turn.

• 1:57PM: Pittsburgh is on the clock. “We see Ben Roethlisberger on the phone,” ESPN announces for the television audience. Sure enough, it’s Steelers coach Bill Cowher calling to tell Ben the Steelers are going to select him with the No. 11 pick.

• 2:00PM: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that Ben is indeed headed for Pittsburgh. Ben arrives on stage and dons a Steelers ballcap and holds up a Steelers jersey.

• 2:01PM: The Steelers fans in the crowd begin to chant, “Ben, Ben, Ben….”

• 2:02PM: Just off stage, Ben does a press conference for television reporters and then disappears from the public room to do a few interviews with the Pittsburgh media.

• 2:43PM: Ben emerges from the players’ party room where a press conference with print media is set up. An ESPN media […]

“I think he deserves to stay as long as he wants. I think stability is huge and underrated in this game. He will go down as one of the greats.”

More from Gerry Dulac on Coach Tomlin’s contract extension here.