Well, we ARE in the “Dog” days of summer after all…
Pouncey: Ben makes football fun
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:
There is no doubt the offensive line loves Ben Roethlisberger, and when he went down on the last day of training camp everyone was holding their breath. But they are breathing a sigh of relief now.
“Ben makes football easy,” said Pouncey. “He is a heck of a quarterback. He is a Hall of Fame first ballot guy. Whenever you have a quarterback like that, football is fun and easy.
“That was really good (that he is okay), especially your franchise QB. To get hit unexpectedly and I think he bounced back pretty quickly, that was good.”
You’ll want to read Ms. Varley’s full story & interviews here.
And you can see all the great Steelers training camp photos here.
Big Ben: “It’s awesome!”
From the Steelers today:
For the better part of the last three weeks Steelers fans have been packing the hillside and bleachers surrounding Chuck Noll Field, bringing with them energy, enthusiasm and tons of love for their team.
And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The players love the support, reacting continuously when the fans cheer, and at the end of the day making sure they take time out to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
It’s a love affair that goes in both directions – the fans loving the team, and the team loving the fans.
As camp winds down, several players shared what the support from the fans means to them.
“It’s awesome. Every day seeing thousands of them out there, it just shows how much our fan base means to us and we mean to them.” – Ben Roethlisberger
“Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and having this fan base is amazing. For us it’s a good way to show love. Every time I go out there and I see the kids, I can relate more to them just because of my age. I am always doing stuff that is trending, playing video games, having fun, doing dances. Things they can relate to. It’s fun to give back.” – JuJu Smith-Schuster
More thoughts from players here.
What did Ben think of this year’s camp? You can watch video of his latest interview here.
If you haven’t been able to make it training camp…
Follow the leader. #PicOfTheWeek
Good times are definitely being had
@_BigBen7 a few I took at camp 📸💛🏈 #SteelersCamp @steelers @SteelersUnite
Thank you to @TeamJuJu @_BigBen7 @Bud_Dupree for autographs at the #SteelersCamp today!
My son and I had a great time at @steelers training camp and Friday Night Lights. ..thanks @_BigBen7 for making his year!
Great day @steelers #trainingcamp! Thanks to all the players who hung out after practice to sign autographs! Especially @TeamJuJu @Rudolph2Mason @rell_island6 @_BigBen7 and @JamesConner_ for the selfie!
Just wanted to thank some of the @steelers players that took the time to give autographs to my daughter and I #SNUproud @_BigBen7 @_audi8 @RyanShazier @Bud_Dupree @MikeHilton_28 @MaurkicePouncey @VMcDonald89 @__bELIeve17 #DavidDeCastro @josh_dobbs1 @bubbahawk10 @CamSutton20
@_BigBen7 Thank you so much! You and your locker neighbors @AB84 and @JamesConner_ made me a very happy Steeler Girl!
I would like to personally thank @TeamJuJu @_BigBen7 and @JJames18_ for making my daughters day by autographing her terrible towel. #SteelersNation
Missed this year’s @steelers training camp but wanted to share my favorite memory! Thanks @_BigBen7. Still have the Jersey and pen framed for safe keeping!
Big thanks to Ben and Vince for taking the time out to come meet my 6/7 year old football team! Class acts! @steelers
Weekend #2 at Steelers Training Camp
Ben Roethlisberger (@_BigBen7) making a lot of fans happy tonight. #Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger just pulled a young fan wearing a No. 7 jersey out of the crowd and played catch with him all the way down the field. Then took pictures with him. Great moments of training camp. #Steelers #dkps
.@steelers @SteelersUnite #footballfamily 🏈🏈🏈
@_BigBen7, Photo of Big Ben getting ready to sign my cast at Friday Night Lights, “priceless”, thank you👍🏈🙏
.@steelers @_BigBen7 @RyanShazier @SteelersUnite – it’s a tradition – at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
“I just wanted to share this picture with yinz. After 12 long long years, my son’s first ever Steelers Jersey, a Ben R., was signed by Ben today at the start of night practice. He passed me up twice, but my son Ben was able to squeeze in and get his attention. Big Ben noticed the baby jersey and gave my Ben a smile, as if to say “I know who you are”. It was a special moment for sure. My son was so happy, he was shaking and practically crying. So amazing!! Big Ben does so much for everyone and he really tried to make sure everyone got an autograph. What an awesome guy and truly one of the greatest Steelers of all time!” — Don Glendenning.