Ben talks Vikings & more…

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com this afternoon:

Last week the Steelers faced a Cleveland Browns defense that came out strong, ready to show the improvements they have made.

“That is a really good defense,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “That team is going to surprise a lot of people. I am glad we played them game one.”

This week, Roethlisberger knows it won’t get any easier when they play the Minnesota Vikings, who are coming off a 29-19 win over the New Orleans Saints, keeping them out of the end zone until the final two minutes of the game.

“We know going in how good their defense is,” said Roethlisberger. “If you slow down that offense that they did, it’s pretty impressive.”

Roethlisberger said the Vikings defense has similarities to the Cincinnati Bengals from the past, and that comes as no surprise. Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer served as the Bengals defensive coordinator from 2008-13, and Zimmer’s defenses were tough in Cincinnati, and that hasn’t changed in Minnesota. Last year the Vikings had the third-ranked defense in the NFL, and they are looking equally impressive.

“They have a lot of similarities (to the Bengals),” said Roethlisberger. “They do the same sort of fronts and coverages. That’s what we talked about this morning. When you think of these guys, think of Cincinnati.

“They have some personnel guys they move around. They don’t do as much double barrel. It’s early in the year so we are not exactly sure what we are going to see.”

While Roethlisberger isn’t sure what he is going to see from the Vikings, what he hopes to see in the Steelers’ home opener at Heinz Field is the type of crowd he has seen take over games and have an impact on the outcome.

“I expect it, and hope it will be loud, crazy,” said Roethlisberger. “We need to bring back that home field, Heinz Field kind of mystic. It was always that way when I first got here, the first few years. I am not saying we lost it.

“Teams need to fear coming into Heinz Field, one because of the fans and the craziness, and two because of our play.”


You can read more & check out the video of his interview here.

“We won the football game, right? This isn’t the BCS, it’s not college, style points don’t matter. We went into that game and we were supposed to win it right on paper, and we won it. If we don’t win it, then everybody is going to be talking about ‘why didn’t they win the game?’ Well we won the game, that should be all that matters.” — Ben.

Here’s a recap from 93.7 The Fan this morning:

In the Steelers 21-18 opening week victory over the Browns, Big Ben and Brown connected on 11 passes to lead the way for the Steelers as they held on to beat their AFC North rival, and Ben shared with us why he wasn’t at all shocked by what Brown did in their opener.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Ben told us about Browns 182-yard day. “I don’t think anybody works as hard as [Antonio] does and I don’t think two people work as well as him and I do…What we’ve done together these last few years playing together, the chemistry that we have, the understanding that we have, the looks, just everything we do to me is on a different level and he’s a different level receiver.”

One player Ben did come away from the game impressed by was tight end Jesse James, who he says was motivated by the trade for Vance McDonald.

“I think Jesse has benefited the most of anybody from the Vance trade,” Ben told us. “He kind of took it personal.” James recorded 6 catches for 41 yards, but more importantly two touchdowns.

Ben pointed out one play in particular where Antonio Brown was streaking down the field after catching a pass and James was doing everything he could to get out ahead of Brown and make just one more block to spring him free and paid James one of the biggest compliments a Steelers tight end could receive.

“That’s a Heath Miller play, if you will. Heath Miller would have done something like that. It’s good to see Jesse do that and I’m really happy for him. He’s not playing JV, I promise you that.

Aside from Brown and James, there were lots of struggles on the offensive side of the ball as it looked like they were shaking off the rust, but Ben isn’t […]

Back in March, Ben gave testimony to more than 7,000 in attendance at the Ignite Men’s Impact Weekend:


“I’m at the event Ben was great with humility and grace. He has really grown on the Lord and his heart is tender. Thanks Ben!” — Robert Ellenberger.


“Great Job at Ignite Men’s Impact last night. Great to hear Big Ben open up about his faith and family!” — Chris Hrabosky.

Charlie Elkins‏ @chuck_elkins
@_BigBen7 your presence tonight was amazing! I prayed for you brother! I wish you the best in your journey!

“Ben ended the evening by asking for our prayers, noting that he is far from perfect, and daily seeks the Lord for help. You got it, Ben.” — Nick Bonnett. (Photo)


“I’m at the event Ben was great with humility and grace. He has really grown on the Lord and his heart is tender. Thanks Ben.” — Robert Ellenberger.


Travis Spencer @87Gronk
Thank you @_BigBen7 for telling your story.

“I had the blessing of hearing you in Lynchburg tonight. It’s great to see you share your joys and struggles with others. We all face them and you certainly have our prayers as you strive to be a Godly husband and father. When my son, Ben, was little he asked for a 7 jersey and kid sized football helmet. He wore them with pride. Ben is 16 now and tonight we sat together and got to see you describe the way The Lord has brought your faith to a higher level. Thanks for courageously sharing. You’ll never know how you blessed others. Have fun hunting in NZ.” — Tim Alcore.

If you wanted to attend but couldn’t…

Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk website has made it possible to hear Ben’s testimony.

You can listen to Part I here, and Part II here.

“Big Ben now has more wins in Cleveland than every Browns QB since 1999”

From Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports:

Just to be clear: Big Ben plays for the Steelers

On Sunday afternoon, rookie second-round pick DeShone Kizer became the Browns’ 27th starting quarterback since returning to Cleveland in 1999. The team had previously — and unsuccessfully — used first-rounders on the likes of Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel.

But in 2004, the Browns could’ve ended the run of futility and saved themselves and their embittered fan base 14 more seasons of misery. All they had to do was draft Ohio native Ben Roethlisberger with the sixth-overall pick. Instead, then-coach (and former University of Miami coach) Butch Davis went with tight end Kellen Winslow, who two games into his rookie season broke his leg in a motorcycle accident. And three years after that, was out of Cleveland altogether.

Roethlisberger, meanwhile, has two Super Bowl rings and remains one of the league’s best passers.

We mention this because Roethlisberger and the Steelers eked out a 21-18 Week 1 win at FirstEnergy Stadium, which now means Roethlisberger — who, we reiterate, plays for the Steelers — now has more wins in Cleveland than any Browns quarterback since the team returned to the NFL in 1999.

Roethlisberger is now 22-2 against the Browns all time, and 11-2 when playing in Cleveland. Derek Anderson, who played for the Browns from 2005-09 and was the last quarterback to lead the team to a winning record (10-6 in 2007) trails Big Ben with 10 wins in Cleveland.

And it sounds like Big Ben’s motivation, in part, comes from the fact that the Browns passed on him more than 13 years ago. This tweet, prior to the Steelers-Browns matchup last November, remains evergreen.

“Two quarterbacks had already been picked (Philip Rivers and Eli Manning), so as a competitor, I felt underestimated,” Big Ben told ESPN.com at the time. “When Cleveland passed on me, technically my hometown team, that was it. I couldn’t wait to have a team and play the Browns at some point. Funny how it works out I’d go to Pittsburgh and play them twice a year.”

Roethlisberger finished 24 of 36 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Browns on Sunday.


You can read more here.



Ben, […]