From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

The final leg of the Steelers offseason is underway with the team’s mandatory minicamp beginning on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

It’s the final warmup before the team has a five week break before reporting to training camp at Saint Vincent College, something that is already on the mind of Ben Roethlisberger.

“We’re just going to keep the train rolling,” said Roethlisberger. “Latrobe will be here before we know. It’s a more normal schedule now. It does feel a little more like the regular season.”

Minicamp is basically an extension of OTAs, the main difference being the daily schedule as Roethlisberger mentioned. What it does provide is more opportunities for the offense to work together, and Roethlisberger to get comfortable with the receivers he will be throwing to. One of those he is quickly building a rapport with is Donte Moncrief, who signed with the team as a free agent this offseason and is a player Roethlisberger pinpointed when asked who has made a mark this offseason.

“I’d probably go with Donte Moncrief just because it’s new,” said Roethlisberger. “I kind of know what to expect from some of the other guys. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when he came in. I didn’t know him and now just getting to see his work ethic, the type of person he is, his desire to be great, his knowledge of the offense already. We’ll do no-huddle stuff and I’ll give him a signal and I’ll be like, ‘You good?’ and he’ll be like, ‘Yeah.’ He is in with coach (Darryl) Drake every single morning, pretty much all day.

“You see a desire and the want to be great. I’ve really enjoyed to opportunity to know him and to work with him so far. This is an awesome opportunity that he’s here and we’re getting to work together. He was with us when we went on our trip. It’s just, it’s been fun to get to know him as a person too.”

Moncrief is part of a group of weapons that Roethlisberger has at his disposal that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer, Diontae Johnson, Vance McDonald and a trio of running backs in James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell.

“It will be fun,” said Roethlisberger. “There are […]

From Eye On Annapolis:

Annapolis Police Department K-9s just received a K-9 vehicle alarm system paid for with a grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund to the Chesapeake K-9 Fund. The Chesapeake K-9 Fund sought the grant to support the Annapolis Police Department’s K-9 Unit. The grant, which totaled $2,719.99, was awarded in November of 2018.

The Chesapeake K-9 Fund is a 501c (3) charity located in Annapolis, MD whose mission is to help offset costs for law enforcement K-9 units in the Chesapeake Bay area.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund supports police and fire departments throughout the U.S. with an emphasis on support for K-9 units and service dogs.

The money was awarded in November of 2018 and was already used to purchase two K-9 bullet and stab protective vests for Annapolis Police K-9s Cal and Roxy. Now a K-9 vehicle alarm system has been purchased using the remaining grant money. The alarm system will be installed in a vehicle used to transport K-9s in the Annapolis Police Department’s K-9 Unit. The alarm system is designed to assure the health and safety of the dog while in the vehicle, especially when the handler is outside the vehicle. The system has sensors to track temperature as well as the vehicle’s battery voltage. When problems are detected, the system activates a siren with a special warning signal, displays a message on an LCD display and sends an alert to the handler on a mobile device.


Steeler Nation, you can help our Nation’s police and fire agencies with police and rescue K9’s, as well as equipment, by donating to Ben’s foundation here!