Katie Stern @ktystern
Lucas, age 4, at @steelers training camp today passing out Terrible Towels to other kids as Random Acts of Kindness in memory of his brother, Toby❤️ Can he get a shout out? @TeamJuJu @JamesConner_ @_BigBen7 #thelittlefoxfoundation


Now when Teresa Varley & Missi Matthews heard that young Lucas was at camp today giving out Terrible Towels to other kids in his brother’s memory, they wanted to return the favor and let him meet Ben, James Conner & JuJu.

Teresa shared these wonderful photos with us:







From Lucas’ parents this evening:

Ben met our son, Lucas, at training camp. Lucas was passing out Terrible Towels as Random Acts of Kindness in honor of his brother, Toby, who died from SIDS in August, 2016.

Ben met and talked with Luke on the field after practice, and spoke with my husband about our non-profit, The Little Fox – Toby’s Foundation, and our annual Random Acts of Kindness Campaign we do in August in Toby’s memory.

Thank you to Ben for making Luke’s day! It was a moment we will never forget. We know that Toby was smiling down from heaven watching his big brother.

www.thelittlefoxfoundation.org — The Stern Family.

You can watch their meeting here, via Twitter:

That helmet looks great on you, Lucas! https://t.co/xjADQV7LAc pic.twitter.com/a1rpuygGc1

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 7, 2019

From the Steelers Family Fest last night:

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

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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

“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

From Mariah:

“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.

*Thank you Mariah and Michelle!