From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Friday was a day filled with smiles for Gabe Patton, a 16-year old from Vinton, Virginia who loves the Steelers.

Patton was a guest of the team at practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He will also be at Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field.

“I love the Steelers,” said Patton. “I have never been to an NFL game before. I have been to a few college games. I am really excited. It should be loud and a lot of fun.”

Patton, who is battling cancer, had the opportunity to meet his favorite players, including Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, while getting pictures and autographs.

“It’s crazy being here,” said Patton. “It’s surprising. It’s kind of crazy to see myself doing this. This is a big confidence boost. It gets all of the bad stuff out of my mind. It’s nice to do something fun that I never thought I would do.”


You can read more & see some great photos of Gabe’s day here.

“As men in general, we all need to show emotion. I think there’s a misconception out there that as men, we shouldn’t. I think that’s wrong. I think we should show emotion, whether it’s at a movie, if it’s funny or sad, if you want to be around your wife or girlfriend. Just because you cry doesn’t mean you’re less manly. I think that’s a false narrative. When it comes to football, if something hurts – [Derek Carr] might have been hurting, who knows? I know I’ve cried in the locker room before, for both joy and pain. You lose a football game, if you’re not showing emotion or if he gets up from something like that and he’s laughing, he’s going to get chastised for not showing enough emotion! So I don’t know exactly the story you’re talking about, but for me I don’t think it makes us any less manly to show emotion! — Ben, when asked if it was acceptable for football players to cry (after a story broke about the Raiders’ Derek Carr crying on the football field).”

“I’m excited for him to really get a push, and be even more involved than he has been.” — Ben, on James Conner’s role.

Did you miss Ben’s interview earlier today? No problem, Teresa Varley has the rest of the recap right here:

On the turnovers in the Steelers Week One game against the Browns –

“Any time you turn the ball over you get disappointed. It was one of those games. Whether it was elements, them making plays, us not making plays.

A lot of factors involved. At the end of the day they made the plays and made us turn the ball over.

“They made the plays, we didn’t the first time around. Credit them, they’re a good defense.

We said going into that game they might be the best we play all year, and we’ll still say that.”


On the success of the Browns’ defense contributing to the turnovers –

“It’s a couple of things. It starts with the pass rush. Obviously, Myles [Garrett] is one of the best in the business. He is long, he gets after the quarterback, gets good jumps on the snap. In the secondary they catch the ball. We always joke defenders play defense […]

Recap provided by 93.7 The Fan:

On whether “guys in the locker room talk about trades” reference cornerback Patrick Peterson coming to the Steelers –

“Well, some guys might (laughs). Just like any other NFL news story, you never really jump or dive in too far until you know for sure some positive details.”

On how he thinks Todd Haley will take the news that Browns head coach Hue Jackson says he’ll get more involved in the play-calling going forward –

“Well I can’t imagine that Coach Todd was too happy with all that talk. Obviously, Todd has a pretty good track record…but Coach Jackson is right, it’s his team, he has the right to do what he chooses and how he wants to call plays or who calls the plays. That’s up to them to work it out. I’m sure those two have had a least a talk or two behind closed doors. But if Coach Todd or Coach Jackson wants to let everyone know what was said, I’m sure we’d all love to hear it.”

On Vontaze Burfict receiving another fine for his actions in the Bengals game against the Steelers –

“You know what, honestly Ron, I’ve moved on. You have to. You can’t sit there and dwell on him and it and all those things because it will consume your mind. You have to move on and move forward. I feel like I spoke my mind and most of us spoke our minds after that game when it was fresh and relevant and now we just move on.”

On whether he’s heard from Le’Veon Bell –

“No, I have not. It was such a big deal early because I think we all didn’t know what to expect…we’ve all moved on. Obviously, yesterday at practice there was more media there than ever, it’s all just waiting to get a glimpse to see when he’s gonna show up. For us, we just laugh.”


You can listen to Ben’s full show here.