From the article & interview by J. Brady McCollough for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Today is his annual football camp for kids. It’s a great day for him because he doesn’t have to be guarded. The eyes of children don’t come with the filter of the past.

The image they see is of the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Big Ben, No. 7, coming down to their level and doing drills, throwing them passes and yelling encouragement.

“Three…two…one…BEN!” they chant after the completion of each teaching session.

They see their hero as a father of three whose wife, Ashley, walks around the field at Bethel Park High School with their newborn, Bodie, strapped onto her shoulders. They see Ben’s father, Ken, going through drills with Ben, and his stepmother, Brenda, keeping watch on Ben’s two older children, Benjamin and Baylee. They see a family, maybe one that’s not so different from their own, enjoying Father’s Day weekend.

“Three…two…one…BEN!” they chant again.

The kids see blond-haired Baylee running into her father’s arms to sit in his lap as he takes a break from camp. They hear him doing his goofy, high-pitched baby talk.

“What’s on your shirt?!” he says to the 2-year-old. “Did you spill juice on your shirt?!” “Yeah.” Baylee admits, smiling at him. “Can I have a kiss?” he asks.

What do the campers’ parents see? Well, he can’t control that.

There is no way to know exactly who Ben is today, which is why he is careful about seeming like he’s trying to push a narrative. He would rather not try at all to win back the public than be viewed as a phony — a decision he made six years ago that still impacts him.

What is for sure is that his circumstances have changed: He’s a 34-year-old man who is building a home for his family, up near Sewickley. He loves being outside, whether it’s mowing the grass at home by himself or hunting, fishing or golfing with his dad and his tight circle of buddies. He goes to church regularly on Sunday mornings, even on some game days with later kickoffs.

Ben isn’t going to reveal much about his faith, because what good could come from him talking publicly about his relationship with Jesus Christ? His pastor, Jamie Kendrew of Christ Church at Grove Farm in […]

Because it’s Pre-Season so why not?!


The first series:

Now that's a @steelers drive. Nice to see you again @_BigBen7

— Michael Coates (@Coates_Burghfan) August 27, 2016

@_BigBen7 makes it look so easy #SteelersNation

— Kyle Helffrich (@KyleHelffrich) August 27, 2016

I don't care what anyone says… Ben Roethlisberger is the king of extending plays.

— Zach Metkler GZSR (@GZSports_ZM) August 27, 2016

And the 1st @_BigBen7 TD goes to @JJames18_

— Tiffany (@tiffann7777) August 27, 2016

Ben Roethlisberger makes debut by moving Steelers 74 yards on 15 plays, the last 14 all no huddle. TD pass to TE Jesse James, his 3rd catch

— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) August 27, 2016

HEY @_BigBen7 IVE MISSED YOU SO MUCH #ThatsMyQuarterBack

— Mel (@SportsMel) August 27, 2016

The second series:

I don't care if you bring a safety over top, you are not stopping Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown. Sit back and watch greatness

— Nik- (@NikkF07) August 27, 2016

.@_BigBen7 to @AntonioBrown84 never gets old! #PITvsNO

— Trish (@Trish9997) August 27, 2016

Ben 12-17-148 yds, 2 TDs after two series. 57 TD to Brown down left side, 14-0. So much for offensive blahs

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) August 27, 2016

I see you @AntonioBrown84 and @_BigBen7 That's what you call mid season form there.. @steelers

— Treginald Wilson (@YotaTheGreat) August 27, 2016

@steelers I know It's only preseason but @_BigBen7 Is on fire, 2 positions, 2 TD's, I can't wait till It matters vs @Redskins! #SNUproud

— Ja〽️ey Buster (@BusterJamey) August 27, 2016

And just like that, Ben was done for the night!!


You can check out the post-game update here.

Have a great weekend, Steeler Nation!

God bless our Hero Dogs & their equally heroic human partners!


The mission of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben’s foundation distributed more than $170,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2015 NFL season, including $93,250.00 just in the Pittsburgh community alone.

“We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.” — Ben.

You can support future K-9 grants by purchasing candy on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.SarrisCandiesFundraising.com), using a special purchase code (77-7777). Sarris will donate 25 percent of the purchase price to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.

You can also donate directly to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation here.

…and we’re going back (but not too far back) to June 18th, 2015 when Benjamin Jr., even at the tender age of 2-years old, knew that the month of August is considered the “Dog” days of summer:



And a hardy round of applause by Baylee confirms that she knew it as well!!

August is almost gone – which means FOOTBALL SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!!! Now that’s something to SING about!

And these fine fighting men are here to tell you that Fort Benning, Georgia is Steelers Country!

From left to right: PFC Ashley, PFC Harris, PFC Grant, and PFC Page. They are “Black & Gold through and through. Ooh-rah!!

Gentlemen, thank you for your service to our country! God bless & keep you safe!

“Ben Roethlisberger is the only player of his era to dominate as both a sandlot-style playmaker and a cerebral field general.” — Andy Benoit.

More from Mr. Benoit’s Big Ben spotlight at MMBQ.com:

Ben Roethlisberger is the most underrated quarterback in the NFL. More precisely, he’s the most misappreciated quarterback. Almost everyone agrees that Roethlisberger is a superstar, but few seem to realize what makes him such a rare talent.

For the longest time, Roethlisberger’s greatness stemmed solely from the fact that he was the most physically gifted passer in the game. People marveled at the way he would shed would-be sackers and extend plays.

Football insiders really marveled at how, after shedding those tacklers and extending the play, he would still make such accurate downfield throws (usually doing so while off-balance).

Roethlisberger’s arm is as strong anyone’s. His precision accuracy is better than almost everyone’s. The fact that he can exhibit all this when things break down is breathtaking.

For a long time, Roethlisberger himself was often the reason things broke down in the first place. “Early on it was, Okay who’s my No. 1 receiver, who’s my No. 2 and that’s about all you had room for,” Roethlisberger told me when I visited the Steelers’ training camp this month. “It was: take the snap, if it’s there, get rid of it. If it’s not, make a play.”

Despite a long history of injuries, Roethlisberger hasn’t lost his playmaking magic at 34. But his game no longer relies on it. And that’s why he’s a markedly better QB now than he was in his 20’s.

“As I’ve evolved I’ve been able to recognize and read defenses, change a play if necessary,” Roethlisberger says. “I’ve gotten comfortable enough in this offense that it even gets down to, Okay, I’m looking at this safety. What’s he doing? What are his eyes telling me? I think that’s just the comfort level with our offense that I can afford to do that.”

Reading not just a safety’s positioning, but something as detailed as his eyes, is one element of 500-level quarterbacking. Another is manipulating a safety with your own eyes—or with your body language as a passer. Roethlisberger has become very adroit here, controlling defenders with his vision, with little rolls of the shoulder, subtle tilts of […]