Big Ben’s interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio
NFL Training Camp Tour: Roethlisberger to Steelers TEs: ‘Don’t try and be Heath Miller’
Ben Roethlisberger still can’t quite wrap his mind around the fact that he and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers are at training camp and Heath Miller is nowhere to be found.
For almost all of Roethlisberger’s years as an NFL quarterback, he knew he could rely on his talented tight end to find those seams in the secondary, to make the clutch catches, to keep the chains moving.
Now, with Miller having retired, Roethlisberger needs to look elsewhere for dependability and production from the tight end spot.
“That’s the biggest thing for me, being here 13 years and 12 of them with Heath Miller, a guy that I love to death,” Roethlisberger told Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan at the Steelers’ camp in Latrobe, Pa. “To not see him out here and still tough. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. So to not have him out here but to have other tight ends that are stepping up, doing some different things — Jesse James, X-man (Xavier Grimble), DJ (David Johnson) — stretching the field a little bit.
“It’s different, but it’s good. I told them the other night, ‘Listen, don’t try and be Heath Miller, because you’re not going to be Heath. Don’t try and fill those shoes. Be the best Jesse and best X, best you can be.’”
You can listen to his interview here.
And if you missed the Steelers’ Friday Night Lights, you can watch a video montage here.
It’s a Fan Friday
Chris_Colella @ChRisCoLellA
Below: 10 years ago Big Ben was fairly new to PGH when my wife Amber and I ran into him at a Dairy Queen in Ross Township. We were already in line and were pregnant with our first son Josef. Ben was right behind us so we asked for a picture and an autograph on the receipt for our ice cream made out to Josef. Ten years later…here we are again, with our third and almost the same pose (but no ice cream this time)! Always Big ben fans! Big shout out to coach Giemont for making this possible! — Joseph […]
On a Throwback Thursday
Lookin’ back at that time we took over Dad’s website while he was away at Steelers training camp:
August 16, 2015 – Benjamin & Baylee wanted to share photos from their recent trip to Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA…
*Chances are pretty good that we’ll be taking over again soon, this time with help from our new baby brother, Bodie!
Monday, Fun Day…
Fan Day!
Remember this little guy from the weekend? He was hoping to meet Big Ben. Well…
“Sean is a seven-year-old boy, born and raised outside of Baltimore, MD. He’s being raised right, however – he’s a big Steeler’s fan! Sean was born with a condition called Dandy-Walker Malformation and Hydrocephalus. He’s had a bit of a rough year, with three neurosurgeries and seven hospitalizations.
Despite all this, he’s just a typical kid who likes to play with his friends and loves football, especially Big Ben.
When we told him we were going to training camp this year, he said all he wanted was to meet Big Ben. Through the kindness of some fans and the Steelers organization, this was able to happen! From the fan who bought Sean a helmet, to the one who asked the Steelers staff to help Sean get autographs, Steelers Nation was at its best!
And the Steelers themselves – well, words cannot express how grateful we are for the experience they gave him. Sean was taken down to the field to meet Big Ben after practice. He was in awe. He told Ben, “I’m your biggest fan!” Ben asked him how old he was, and when he said “Seven”, Ben told him that was a great number! He took time out for photos and autographs, and just some really special time with Sean. Sean met a lot of Steelers yesterday and had a once in a lifetime experience. He says meeting Big Ben was his favorite part. Thank you to the Steelers organization, Steelers’ fans, and especially Big Ben for making this happen!” — Jaclyn Madden
Two great pictures shared by photographer Gary Wilkinson:
“Been a Steelers fan since I was…”
“My dad and I have always shared a love for Steelers football. Monday, we had the opportunity to meet Ben after training camp. As a leader for the Steelers on […]
Ben’s 1st weekend of training camp
…was FANtastic!!
“Big Ben made my girls’ day yesterday! He gave them his cleats he wore to practice and signed them! They are completely thrilled and can’t stop talking about it. Thanks Ben for giving them a memory that will last a lifetime!” — Christy Hopkins
Big Ben showing the love for #SteelersNation before practice.
“I’ll tell you this much about him. He honored his teammate for most of the practice by wearing 83. Then he went out of his way to sign my football when he saw me waiting at the end of the fence away from all the crowd because I couldn’t make it up over the steep hill they were all standing at because I wear a prosthetic leg. Ben has a big heart and I can’t wait for the season to begin!!! He made me feel special even if it was a small gesture it meant the world to me! The first photo was him telling his driver to stop when he saw me. Awesome and stand up guy!!!!” — EV Goughnour
Day 1. Training Camp. #Steelers
This is Richard Jones, MM2 petty officer second class. He played catch with Ben Roethlisberger and kept the ball.
Basketball meets football. @AlexTheGreat22 @_BigBen7 @UKCoachCalipari @DevinBook #Steelers
And Monday is shaping up to be just as awesome!!
Jackie Madden @JackieMadden15
Day 1 – Training Camp Notes & Quotes
….and Tweets:
Heeath. No it's @_BigBen7 #Steelers pic.twitter.com/nvlnxGbjAF
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) July 29, 2016
Excerpts from Ben’s Q&A at Steelers.com:
Q: You’ve said you’ll play until the Good Lord or Mr. Rooney tell you that you no longer can. Can you envision a scenario in which another factor forces you to decide when it’s time to retire?
A: “I hope not. I love being out here. I love playing the game with the guys. I feel great, and as long as I can stay healthy and feel that I’m playing at a high level; I don’t want to force myself to play if I’m not playing at a high level and playing the way I feel I’m capable of playing. Hopefully I have a bunch of years left.”
Q: Is there a particular physical trait that you’ll use as a barometer as to what level of play you are or are not capable of attaining?
A: “I feel like that would be the Good Lord telling me I couldn’t do something. Honestly, I’m sure there will be something when the time comes. But I feel like I can throw the ball as far or farther than I could before. I feel like I have enough zip on balls. I feel like I can still move. Obviously, I’m not going to be able to run like I did when I was a rookie but I feel like I can still move enough to get out of trouble and make things happen.
“I’m sure there might be something like that but I feel like it’s far enough away that I can’t think of anything.”
Q: So you’re anticipating playing another four or five years, playing on for multiple seasons?
A: “I know it’s going to end at some point. But you know that light at the end of the tunnel? I know I can see it but it’s not real close in my mind.
“In this game, you’re one play away so who knows what can happen? I don’t want to look for the end because then I’m cheating the here and now and this season. So I’m going to focus on this season. I know my goal is to keep playing but if this is my last season then I’m going to give it everything I have.”
Q: What […]