From his interview with Mike Prisuta at Steelers.com:

At 36 and entering his 15th NFL season, Ben Roethlisberger is unquestionably getting older.

But the Steelers’ quarterback also maintains he’s getting better.

“I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time health-wise,” he said. “And going back and looking at last year’s tape and really studying and evaluating and talking with (offensive coordinator) Randy (Fichtner) and some other people that I value their opinion on, I might have had one of my best seasons (in 2017). Statistically, it was a pretty good season. But in terms of arm strength, making decisions, all those things, I still feel like I’m playing at a high level and I still feel like I’m going up. I don’t feel like I’m coming down yet.

“As you get older people start talking about what’s the first thing to go? Your legs, your mobility, right? I still feel my arm’s as strong as it’s ever been. I’m out there playing with the receivers, playing catch, and they’re telling me the ball’s getting there faster than it ever has. So I think my arm has actually gotten stronger.

“But if you look in that Jacksonville (playoff) game down the stretch, there were a couple scramble plays, down the field, where I’m running and making some plays. I think those, to me, were kind of like, ‘OK, maybe I still have it a little bit.”

Roethlisberger also emphasized his desire to win and continue to compete is what it’s always been.

“Once you get here (to training camp) it really charges the battery up,” he said. “As long as physically I can do it, that’s the most important thing. If (center Maurkice) Pouncey is still here, if I have that (offensive) line in front of me, that’s a big deal because that helps with me being physically healthy.

“But you know, I was doing the math, I’ve spent over a year of my life here. Which is crazy to think of, over a year of my life is spent here at Saint Vincent College. And when I come here you still get excited. You still wanna go and you wanna win. Yeah, I’m still driven. I still wanna be great.”

Roethlisberger addressed a number of other topics late this morning in a one-on-one interview with […]

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this afternoon:

These are good days to be Ben Roethlisberger.

He has virtually everyone back from one of the most productive and talented offenses in the NFL. He has the new offensive coordinator he wanted. He says he’s as healthy as he’s been in his 15 seasons with the Steelers, his weight an eight-year low.

He guided the Steelers to the third most victories in franchise history. And he’s coming off one of the best playoff performances ever by a quarterback, certainly the most productive in Steelers history.

Yet, something is missing, and Roethlisberger will tell you what that is: a Super Bowl victory. There has not been one for the Steelers going on a decade, not an appearance in one going on eight years.

He set franchise playoff records with 469 passing yards against Jacksonville (second most in NFL postseason history), with five touchdown passes, and with 37 completions in 58 attempts.

But it wasn’t enough as his team lost 45-42 at home after a bye week and one step short of a second consecutive AFC title game in New England.

Before he walked onto the field for his first training camp practice of his 15th season, Roethlisberger reflected on that loss, the defense that did not get it done that day, his next contract, the departure of Todd Haley and what the absence of Le’Veon Bell might mean for him and the Steelers:

• On the playoff loss.

“For someone like me who has played this long, it doesn’t matter how well you play, it’s the win and loss. I’ve long said I could have the best game of my life and lose and it doesn’t mean anything. Winning and losing is all that matters to me.”


• On his next contract.

Typically, the Steelers have negotiated an extension when he had two years left. He has told them he’d like to play another three to five years. But with two years left on his deal, there is no indication they will negotiate an extension this year.

“It hasn’t even been a thought. If they’ve talked to … my representatives, I don’t know about it. I’ve got this year and next year. So I’m not worried about it. I’ve played long enough that I don’t need to sit here and worry about the next […]