The Pittsburgh Steelers announced this afternoon that team captains for the 2012 season have been named – Ben for the offense, and Brett Keisel for the defense!

Ben shared the duties of captain with Hines Ward in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

“It means a lot to be a captain of this team,” Ben said of the honor in 2011. “With all of the past captains and great players that have played here on this team.”

The Steelers did not select a special teams captain this season.



You can see a list of former captains from Steelers.com.

And while you’re on the team’s website, you can watch video of Ben’s interview with the media! You can read a transcription of it here.



Also Today:

“At age 30, Steelers QB in his prime”

From Alan Robinson, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Ben Roethlisberger looks to be in the prime of his career, throwing the ball with as much zip and accuracy as he ever has during his nine-season career, according to Steelers wide receivers. Mike Wallace didn’t need much time to notice.

“I haven’t been with Ben in a while, and his arm is stronger than when we left last year,” said Wallace, who practiced Monday for the first time since ending his offseason holdout. “He was throwing it pretty far.”

Roethlisberger passed for 4,077 yards last season — second in his career to his 4,328 yards in 2009 — and he might have the best and deepest cast of receivers he has had yet in Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery. While he didn’t predict one Monday, he expects a big season.

“I hope so. I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination I’m on the down slope and the end of my career,” Roethlisberger said. “ I hope not, geez. The game keeps slowing down, and you keep figuring things out. I’m just blessed to have a great group of young guys around me that can make plays, so I don’t have to do as much as I used to.”


You can read more here.