Happy Father’s Day!!
From guitar lessons to “Ben the Bear” adventures….this Dad makes all things FUN! So thankful to have a Dad who loves us as much as you do. BIG kisses for Dad. We love you!!! XOXOXOXOXO — Benjamin, Baylee & Bodie.
Ben is taking them on an adventure. He makes up these pretend stories and they go on adventures around the house where they have to sneak through forests and cross crocodile infested rivers…in this photo, Benjamin is cautiously heading down the stairs to check and see if the coast is clear! It’s a very intense and scary moment in this particular adventure! lol! — Ashley.
Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. And a very Special HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to our Pops and Pappy! We love you so much!!!! — Benjamin, Baylee & Bodie.
‘Having fun starts with Ben’
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:
As they walked off the field on Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, players were all smiles as they were headed into a five-week break until they report to Saint Vincent College for training camp. There were hugs and handshakes, high-fives and true brotherhood. There were laughs and a lot of energy and positivity as players were saying some goodbyes for the short break.
Minicamp was officially in the books and it was time for a little R&R as well as preparation for what is to come in camp.
It was nothing unusual, nothing outrageously different from the past. Yet, there was something different. And it’s because the past month, the OTAs that were voluntary that drew almost perfect attendance and the minicamp that did get a full turnout, were fun for the players.
Yes, fun was the word.
“The biggest thing is the fun we are bringing back to it,” said Vance McDonald. “It’s so hard to describe. It starts with Ben (Roethlisberger) and trickles down. I think our approach this year is we are keeping the level of intensity and drive that it takes to be able to build that foundation, the one it takes to win a championship. But we are having fun too. It’s good. I think guys are playing a lot looser and free.
“You have to play in that fine line of that and being super loose. It’s been fun. Our approach this offseason, we weren’t winning or losing games right now, but we were putting in the work to win and having fun doing it. It’s key for sure.”
The fun has been on the field, on days when they were out there sweating, and on days when veterans got a break and helped the younger guys, coaching them up some and giving them encouragement.
“I think it was important guys wanted to get back to football,” said Roethlisberger, who admitted the time leading into OTAs and minicamp was tough on his family with all of the outside talk and criticism unfairly aimed at him. “We had been away from it for a while. You hear the outside world trying to tear us apart and it brings us back together.
“Once we were back here at the facility, everyone was excited to get going. We got […]
Hey kids!!!
“I wish all the hosts would do that! Regardless, we love Patriots player camp each year!” — Patriots fan Samantha Downs, on Ben throwing a pass to each youngster.
“I thought the camp was fantastic and my son Nate had a blast. Things we’re extremely well organizing and all of the coaches did an amazing job. It was fun to see how engaged the coaches were with the kids and made each of them feel like a Super Bowl MVP every time they caught a pass or made a play. I was especially excited to see Ben participating with the kids all day long in every aspect of the camp…from warm-ups to drill to the games. Not to mention that my son can now say that he caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger. Thanks for a great camp.” — Brian Skripac.
“508 passes, can’t believe Ben threw to everyone. He was always my family’s favorite player, so this week has been awesome.” — Ryan Myers.
“Thanks for the great camp! My son loved it. Ben spent a lot of time with the kids. Awesome!!!!” — Diane Emory.
“They had so much fun!! Can’t stop talking […]
Mini Camp: Ben likes what he sees
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:
The final leg of the Steelers offseason is underway with the team’s mandatory minicamp beginning on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
It’s the final warmup before the team has a five week break before reporting to training camp at Saint Vincent College, something that is already on the mind of Ben Roethlisberger.
“We’re just going to keep the train rolling,” said Roethlisberger. “Latrobe will be here before we know. It’s a more normal schedule now. It does feel a little more like the regular season.”
Minicamp is basically an extension of OTAs, the main difference being the daily schedule as Roethlisberger mentioned. What it does provide is more opportunities for the offense to work together, and Roethlisberger to get comfortable with the receivers he will be throwing to. One of those he is quickly building a rapport with is Donte Moncrief, who signed with the team as a free agent this offseason and is a player Roethlisberger pinpointed when asked who has made a mark this offseason.
“I’d probably go with Donte Moncrief just because it’s new,” said Roethlisberger. “I kind of know what to expect from some of the other guys. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when he came in. I didn’t know him and now just getting to see his work ethic, the type of person he is, his desire to be great, his knowledge of the offense already. We’ll do no-huddle stuff and I’ll give him a signal and I’ll be like, ‘You good?’ and he’ll be like, ‘Yeah.’ He is in with coach (Darryl) Drake every single morning, pretty much all day.
“You see a desire and the want to be great. I’ve really enjoyed to opportunity to know him and to work with him so far. This is an awesome opportunity that he’s here and we’re getting to work together. He was with us when we went on our trip. It’s just, it’s been fun to get to know him as a person too.”
Moncrief is part of a group of weapons that Roethlisberger has at his disposal that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer, Diontae Johnson, Vance McDonald and a trio of running backs in James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell.
“It will be fun,” said Roethlisberger. “There are […]
Look out! We have a graduate here!
Congratulations to our kindergarten graduate! We are so proud of you & we love you!!! — Dad, Mommy, Bay & Bodie.