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Tune your TV to CBS before the game at 4PM ET / 1PM PT to catch Big Ben, Drew Brees, Kyle Busch, EJ Manuel, Chase Utley, Tyrann Mathieu, Michelle Wie, Shawn White, and more sports stars with their Most Valuable Pets! Hosted by Boomer Esiason.

“We greatly appreciate the grants Mr. Roethlisberger has provided to us. They benefit not only our K9’s and their partners, but they also benefit our communities because the dogs are more readily available to help with calls for service,” — Sheriff Berry.

Meet Opie, a handsome and curious German shepherd from the Czech Republic, who will soon become one of the newest patrol and drug detection K9 members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Opie was acquired earlier this year after Ben and his foundation tossed a grant to the CCSO worth $8,000, as part of his longtime commitment to enhancing K9 units for police and fire departments throughout the country.



Opie joined the CCSO when he was 16-months old and has been with his human partner, PFC Steven Davis – a 12-year-veteran – ever since. They are currently in K9 patrol training for 16 weeks and will continue with narcotics detection school for another 10 weeks. Upon graduation, they will become a vital part of patrol operations. “Opie will be able to help officers track missing or wanted persons, search for evidence, and conduct other essential patrol duties,” said Sheriff Troy D. Berry.

As far as Opie’s personality, his handler says Opie is focused while training, loves rewards for doing a good job, and is completely lovable when he’s not working. “Opie is really good at obedience, mostly because he loves to play fetch after we’re done training.

When I bring him home after work, he loves to play with my children and our other dogs,” said PFC Davis. “In fact, Opie and my daughter have a special bond she formed on her own. She likes to greet Opie with a very high-pitched, sweet voice whenever she says hello to him, and Opie tilts his head whenever he hears her voice as if he’s paying full attention. She doesn’t use that voice with our other dogs.”

With the grant, the agency was also able to purchase other necessities for all of the K9’s to include heated water buckets; large, durable Kong toys used as rewards for the K9’s; and two transport kennels.

Mr. William Cotton, Lead K9 Trainer for the CCSO, said the K9 Unit currently […]

From Ben’s Q&A with the media this afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger didn’t practice on Wednesday as the Steelers began their preparation for the Baltimore Ravens, but fear not, it wasn’t injury related and he will be good to go on Sunday when the two teams meet on Christmas at Heinz Field.

Sunday’s game will have a lot on the line, as a win would clinch the AFC North for the Steelers.

“You would like it not to have to come down to it, but if it is, who better than to play the Ravens at home on Christmas?” said Roethlisberger. “I’m assuming this is what the NFL wanted.”

The Ravens won the first meeting between the two teams, 21-14, on Nov. 6 in a game where they shut down the Steelers’ running game, allowing just 36 yards. Getting the running game going this time against the Ravens is something that will be a key.

“It helps. I mean, to be balanced, to be able to run, and they’re the No. 1 or No. 2 ranked defense against the run, it’s an awesome challenge for our guys,” said Roethlisberger. “I know linemen are going to take that challenge and Le’Veon (Bell) as well. It takes everybody. The wide receivers, they have to be better at blocking. Tight ends, everyone has to rise up to the challenge in order for us to run the ball effectively.”


More from Ben:

On if this feels like a classic Ravens-Steelers game and the talk of people saying the rivalry has fallen off a little bit:

“I don’t know who started that talk. I don’t think this thing, this rivalry, has lost any of its luster. It sounds crazy, but it’s a fun rivalry, because it is physical, and it always means something. I have a lot of respect for a lot of those guys, and I think the feeling is pretty mutual. Then, you add in Christmas and all these things. This is what everyone wants and expects.”


On why the Ravens have had success against the Steelers lately:

“Whether we haven’t played well enough, they’ve played good, missed plays here and there, communication, it seems like there’s always a little bit of everything that leads them to beat us.” […]

Five Steelers are Pro Bowl bound – including #7.



From Teresa Varley this evening at Steelers.com:

Christmas came early for a handful of Steelers’ players when they were selected to the 2017 Pro Bowl. Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, David DeCastro and Maurkice Pouncey all will play for the AFC squad in the annual game. This is the 16th straight season the Steelers are sending multiple players to the Pro Bowl, and the 25th time in the last 28 seasons.

Like fine wine, Ben Roethlisberger keeps getting better with age. Roethlisberger, who is in his 13th season, has been selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time.

Roethlisberger has completed 304 passes for 3,540 yards, and with two games remaining could eclipse the 4,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. Roethlisberger, who missed the New England game with a knee injury, has thrown 26 touchdown passes, and has been sacked only 17 times.

Roethlisberger leads a Steelers’ offense that is ranked third overall in the AFC, second in passing, and seventh overall in the NFL, fifth in passing in the entire league.

“Ben has amazing talent, strong arm, strong guy, big in big games, clutch throws, makes something happen,” said Steelers’ Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. “I have always admired him. I have the greatest respect for the job he has done and how he handles himself as a professional.”

Roethlisberger is tied for second in the AFC in pass completions of 25 yards or more (31) and is third in the conference in passing touchdowns (26). Roethlisberger keeps climbing the charts, currently 10th in NFL history with 298 touchdown passes, and passing yards at 46,535.


The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida and televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

The game will return to the traditional AFC vs. NFC contest, with 44 players from each conference selected via voting from players, coaches, and fans.

As an added feature this year there will be a Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, led by Pro Bowl Legends Captains, which includes Steelers’ Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. The skills competition will include dodgeball, power relay challenge, precision passing, and best hands, which will feature a quarterback and receiver duo from each […]