“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 […]

From his interview at Steelers.com:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t seen any action in the preseason yet, but he wouldn’t object to getting some playing time before the regular season rolls around.

“I’d like to get out there and play a little bit,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s fun to go against different uniforms. I remember the couple days of practice against the Lions. You get a little bit of butterflies in the belly seeing another uniform across from you.”

Roethlisberger added that he thinks he would still be prepared for the regular season opener against the Washington Redskins if Coach Mike Tomlin sat him the final two preseason games, but he would still welcome playing.

“I feel like I could go into the first regular season game and do it, but I’d like to be out there just because it’s a different speed,” said Roethlisberger. “You want to get out there. I know my line doesn’t want it, but I wouldn’t even mind getting hit once. Maybe after the ball is gone just a little tap from a defensive guy.”

One advantage of seeing playing time would get some chemistry with some of the younger wide receivers, including Eli Rogers who is battling for a spot.

“Hopefully it’s good for all of us,” said Roethlisberger. “For me to understand them and for them to understand me. How I work. Some the new guys who haven’t been on the field with me or haven’t been around to know how I communicate, how I play. Even for the linemen just to get back out there with everybody.”

Roethlisberger also weighed in on running back Le’Veon Bell, who will be suspended for the first three games of the regular season, as well as other topics of which more will still come –

On not having Bell the first three games:

“Good news is we’ve done it before. We’ve had DeAngelo (Williams) out there and we know what we get from him. Happy he is here and excited we’ve got a player like him to be out there for the first couple of games Le’Veon won’t be out there.”


On his reaction to Bell’s suspension:

“We are obviously disappointed to lose one of the best players in the game. It’s not easy. I know he is as disappointed as anybody. I have faith in […]

…starts with Congratulations to Brian Cooper, winner of the 2016 Arizona Open yesterday in Scottsdale, Arizona:

“Love showing my love for the Steelers. Especially while winning the 2016 Arizona Open.” — Brian.

Wait! You’re thinking that “Coop” looks familiar? He should! He’s been featured on Ben’s website more than a few times – He was one of our “Twitter Dads” on August 24th, 2014; He was our “Marksman” at Ben’s Charity Golf Tournament on June 23rd, 2014: And he was in attendance at Ben’s Foundation event on June 21st, 2015.


A couple of ‘Thank You’s’ to Big Ben:

Gino Piazza has been having a really rough time of it lately with chemo, and was super excited when a BIG shoe from Big Ben arrived…

“Guess who’s day was made? Tears galore!!! Thank you!!!❤️❤️ He wanted to measure his shoe size too. Lol! He has a ways to go!! Huge shoes! My dad said ‘Big shoes, Big heart!’ ❤. — Gino’s mom, Michelle.

You’re never too old…

“My Dad couldn’t smile any bigger than he is here, after Ben sent him the pair of game worn shoes from the Steeler’s victory over the Bengals in the 2015 Wild Card game. As a life long Steeler fan and an individual that, when finances were extremely tight in 1974, emptied the family savings to buy equipment and start a community Pee Wee football program, in Camden, Ohio, he still enjoys catching every Steeler game. Bob Rush worked at Miami University during Ben’s career and retired a few years ago. His only tough decision right now is deciding if he should display these size 14’s in the family curio or wear them as house shoes!” — Vince Rush.

Of course start’em young is the best way –

“Train them in the way they should go.. Passing down the knowledge of a Dynasty!” — Amanda Battle.

“The kid is me and on the right is my dad, Keith. This was taken on October 26, 2014 at the Steelers vs Colts, and I would […]

and help support the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!

SCP Auctions presents two different pairs of Ben’s game-used, dual-signed Nike’s for your consideration –

One pair of Nike turf shoes is from the Steelers 27-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons on December 14, 2014 – a game in which Ben threw for 360 yards.

The second pair are Nike cleats worn for the Steelers vs the Minnesota Vikings game in London on September 29, 2013 when Ben threw for 383 yards.


A portion of the proceeds benefit Ben’s foundation. You can check out both pair of shoes and place your bid here.

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

If the Antonio Brown camp experience is about flash and adoration, Ben Roethlisberger opts for speed and ice.

Roethlisberger just wrapped his 13th training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Saint Vincent College, and a couple of things stood out, aside from his obvious ability at quarterback.

He has gotten more rest days.

And he has a sweet, three-wheeled hunting ride for zipping around campus.

The Steelers implemented what seemed like a three-day cycle of rest for Roethlisberger: full participation, partial participation, off day. One Steelers staffer jokingly referred to it as the Hines Ward treatment, a nod to an accomplished, older player who doesn’t need the reps that young players do.

After most practices or throwing sessions, Roethlisberger, 34, ices his throwing elbow or his left knee, or both. This is precautionary. Roethlisberger has said he has felt no negative effects from the sprained medial collateral ligament he suffered last season, and the elbow ice is for maintenance.

Roethlisberger also gets rest from preseason games. He won’t play Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles after sitting the opener against the Detroit Lions. The Steelers can call it the Ben Bubble, a way to protect their prized asset.

The way the Steelers see it, giving more reps to Landry Jones and Dustin Vaughan doesn’t hurt Roethlisberger.

“I know what Ben is capable of,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “He showed up in tremendous condition. He’s performed well. He’s obviously a veteran. What’s required for him to be ready to play might be different than others.”

Now, onto the ride. Roethlisberger drives what’s called a “Quiet Kat,” described by the company as an “advanced electric vehicle for today’s progressive outdoorsman who wants to get out and go further.”

It’s mountain biking meets all-terrain vehicle, basically.

As Roethlisberger whizzed by one day on campus, he called it his “training camp vehicle,” a way to get to and from meetings or lunch. This bad boy goes up to 32 miles an hour without making a sound.

Roethlisberger drove his Quiet Kat in the outfield while trying to catch pop flies during the Steelers’ annual home run derby on campus.

Now that camp is wrapping up, Roethlisberger will drive something else soon enough — downfield in live action.


You can read more from Mr. Fowler here.


*Interested in your own Quiet Kat? You […]