Duck, Duck, Ben!
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ducks under a blocking pad that sails over his head during quarterback drills at evening practice at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh. @PittsburghPG @PGSportsNow @PGVisuals pic.twitter.com/Vo8tSvJ3RJ
— Peter Diana (@peterdianapghpg) August 5, 2019
#MoreThanFootball indeed!
‘I feel like I love football again’
From Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports:
Ben Roethlisberger is in the midst of his 16th training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
And there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.
While some players over a dozen years his junior are struggling to get through camp, Big Ben is running around with the joy and energy of a rookie. Roethlisberger’s newfound passion for the game was on full display during a recent practice when, on a designed quarterback sneak from his own 1-yard-line, he elected to sprint 99 yards to the opposite end zone. On his way there, he decided to play some pitch and catch with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who gleefully obliged his quarterback across the goal line.
If his recent actions aren’t convincing enough, Roethlisberger, during an interview with Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, confessed that he has gone through a rejuvenation period after navigating through the storm of what was the 2018 offseason.
“I feel like I love football again,” said Roethlisberger, who signed a two-year contract extension earlier this offseason that will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2021 season. “I told my wife when I was home the other day, she was asking how it was going. I said I feel like I love football again. She got a big smile on her face and said it made her happy to hear that.”
You can read more from Bryan here.
Photo: Peter Diana
Prisuta on Big Ben: ‘Leading the charge’
“He’s on fire. He’s the best, the best there is. I believe when he says that he’s going to be the best he’s ever been this year, I believe it to be true. — Vance McDonald on #7.
From Mike Prisuta’s article at Steelers.com:
It was another scorcher this afternoon at Saint Vincent College – the heat index reached 98 degrees – but no one, apparently, is as hot as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“This is only the second camp that I’ve been to here with him and just his whole approach and demeanor is completely different this year,”tight end Vance McDonald assessed
It’s Roethlisberger’s deeds as well as his words that have resonated, McDonald maintained.
“It wasn’t just that first day that he addressed the offense, it’s everything about how he’s going through his day,” McDonald said. “I think it’s different.
“I can’t speak for the guy, I just think he’s ready and willing to do everything it takes to win another championship.”
McDonald also addressed how the Steelers can best follow Roethlisberger’s lead toward that end.
“It’s not dropping a tennis ball and staying on his good side in practice,” McDonald explained. “And then going from there, it’s just being ready and being open. That’s the one thing that he wants more than anything, just open dialogue and communication, not even necessarily with him but with all guys. It’s not even worth waking up and going though the day mad or angry about a situation or about a guy. And so you just get all that into open air and just let it go.
“I like what we’re doing as an offense, as a group this year coming into this. It’s impossible to explain. It feels very open and free and fun, that’s where I leave it. I can’t say anything else about it, it’s just fun.”
You can read more from Mr. Prisuta here.
Photo: Karl Roser / Steelers
A BIG THANK YOU for Big Ben
“This little girl was ecstatic!! I was beside her mom when she came running up and she literally was crying…she was smoooshed from the fans behind her and Ben felt bad for her…one happy little girl!! Ben made alot of fans day by signing for as long as he did…. a day I will cherish forever and ever. Never thought I would get to see him up close!!! OUR STEELERS are a true CLASS ACT!! LOVE THEM ALL!” — Steelers fan Michelle Conley-Bruner.
The first weekend of Steelers training camp in the books….
Today was my wife’s first day ever at training camp and Ben signed a custom painted football for her. She had a blast and I believe that Jackie will now become a camp regular!! — George Vandergriff.
@TeamJuJu @_BigBen7 Thank you for the awesome day at camp! You both made my sons’ day. Good luck this season!!
@_BigBen7 and @TeamJuJu definitely made my girl’s day by hanging around to do a lot of signing after @steelers camp. Much appreciated!
Great first day @steelers training camp @SteelersUnite @_BigBen7
@TeamJuJu @_BigBen7 Thank you both Juju and Ben for being so great with my kids today. They went to bed with giant smiles on their faces tonight. Thank you guys so much for making it a special day for my kids and for many others.
Thanks @_BigBen7 and @TeamJuJu for signing my sons football and terrible towel yesterday #HereWeGo #steelerstrainingcamp @steelers
Mark Carchedi @MarkCarchedi
@_BigBen7 Thanks Ben for giving so much time after practice today and signing autographs and pictures. You made mine and my daughter and son’s day complete. Get #7 Super Bowl!!!🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
@SteelersUnite @TeamJuJu @_BigBen7 @steelers Might not be at training camp but representing from Michigan.
In honor of Steelers training camp, I would like to remember that day I met my favorite QB
@_BigBen7: http://bigben7.com/a-special-fan-friday/ #SteelersCamp #Steelers