…times 3!

Kevin J Cousino, of KJC Custom Sports Figures made this awesome 3-figure “Big Ben – Threw the Years” display for the man himself:

“I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio born and have been following Ben since his senior year in high school. I was approached about creating something special for him and this is how it started!

Findlay High School provided some awesome reference pictures for the one figure, and I researched his Miami uniform online…and well, the Steelers uniform I could do in my sleep, lol. As a fan of the team since I was five years old (1975) it was an honor to create something specially for him. I hope he likes it!” — Kevin.

Here’s a close-up of Kevin’s “Big Ben – Threw the Years” display:



You can see more of his amazing creations here.

You can also check out the individual pieces in Ben’s gallery.

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

Ben Roethlisberger sometimes goes overlooked in the discussion of the league’s best quarterbacks.

He shouldn’t, multiple NFL head coaches say.

From the NFL owners meetings last week, Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer all said Roethlisberger belongs among the top guys.

Lewis and Arians, in particular, pointed out the Pittsburgh Steelers’ long-standing defensive reputation hurts Roethlisberger’s cause.

“Right in the top three,” said Arians, Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator from 2007-11, about Roethlisberger’s ranking. “I don’t know who the other two are … I feel like he is [No. 1]. He’s won two Super Bowls. He’s done all the things the other guys have done. He doesn’t get the credit for it.”

A partially subjective quarterback conversation almost always includes Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, sometimes includes the younger group such as Russell Wilson, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck, and typically places Roethlisberger somewhere in that mix, depending on the year.

For much of his career, Roethlisberger was known more for winning than for passing stats. The past two years, however, he’s averaged nearly 318 passing yards per game. At age 34, Roethlisberger gives the Steelers a good three to four more prime years for the franchise to build around.

Considering those passing stats, Arians joked that the Steelers offensive staff opened things up “without getting fired,” a nod to Arians’ clumsy “retirement” announcement in early 2012.

Zimmer said he judges quarterbacks by whether they give their teams a chance to win every week. Only a “handful” of guys do that, he said.

“Roethlisberger, Brady, Rodgers, those guys, when they have the ball in their hands at the end of the game, it’s scary for a defense,” Zimmer said. “[Roethlisberger] is a great competitor, throws the ball extremely well. He’s very much like really all the great quarterbacks. Over the years, we gave him some of the best hits he’s ever had and he gets up and shakes them off.”

Zimmer recalls a moment from his tenure as Bengals defensive coordinator when he called a blitz and two defenders went completely unblocked. Roethlisberger pump-faked, got past both of them and threw a touchdown, Zimmer said.

“He should be [among the best], for what he’s […]

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

As the Pittsburgh Steelers formulate their draft plans, they have the backdrop of a top-shelf quarterback seemingly not slowing any time soon.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said this offseason that Ben Roethlisberger probably has several more prime years. The franchise intends to exploit that window.

“Ben’s a franchise quarterback,” Colbert said while reflecting on Roethlisberger and his growth since the 2004 draft. “There are a few that have two [or more Super Bowls since 2004], but he’s one of those few. We’re very fortunate. We still have, you know, we think three to four more good years in his prime. We’re excited to see what he can do in that time period and what we can do to help him be successful.”

Colbert isn’t capping Roethlisberger’s career, but he’s pointing out how the team plans to maximize the talent around Roethlisberger during what would be classified as his best remaining years.

Roethlisberger turned 34 in March and will be 37 entering the 2019 season.

Successful quarterbacks playing into their middle to late 30s isn’t a new thing. The New Orleans Saints are reworking a deal for the 37-year-old Drew Brees, who’s no longer in his prime but still very effective. Tom Brady, who will be 39 in August, threw for 4,770 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the New England Patriots last season.

Roethlisberger has said in the past he’ll continue playing until his body tells him to shut it down. In 2015, Roethlisberger averaged nearly 330 passing yards per game in 12 regular-season games.

Roethlisberger’s contract extension runs to 2019. By then, the Steelers will know how many prime years he has left.


You can read more here.

…on a beautiful Easter Sunday!

Oh my goodness! Look what the Easter Bunny brought us! We came downstairs this morning and there were big baskets with our names on ’em. We got cute Easter cards, books, play packs, and a little bit of candy. I got a stuffed Snoopy in my basket, and Baylee got Woodstock in hers, how funny is that? He knew how much we love Snoopy & Woodstock! — Benjamin, Jr.

Gosh, what a fun morning! One minute I’m getting ready for church, and the next my brother is yelling that the Easter Bunny came last night!! I was so excited I only got my Easter hat on before I ran downstairs, heehee. Woodstock is definitely my most favorite Easter gift! Daddy, hurry and take my picture – I have to finish gettin’ ready! — Baylee.

Happy Easter Everyone!! — Ben, Ashley, Benjamin Jr. & Baylee.

is just three months away!

Stop by the ProCamps website this weekend and sign your child up with our special promotional code, BigBen7.

The Camp, sponsored by SunnyD, is open to boys and girls, grades 1 through 8, and Ben will be joined by a selection of the top prep and college coaches from the area.

Each day, campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of football.

Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction.

Group rates are available for your team, school, or group of friends! For more information, please contact Alex at aland@procamps.com.

Ben will give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond, as well as be on the field EVERYWHERE helping coaches, helping your child, and throwing those passes. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

Dates: June 18th – June 19th, 2016

Times: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM on June 18th.

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM on June 19th.

Place: Bethel Park High School, 309 Church Road, Bethel Park, PA.

Cost: $199. Use the code BigBen7 for $20 off the registration fee.


Still not sure? Let the parents & grandparents who attended last year’s camp with their youngsters tell you about the experience in emails, Facebook messages, tweets & photos:



“What a thrill for those kids! Something that they will never forget, thanks Ben!” — Lynne Covelli.

“You are the best on the field and off when it comes to showing how to do great things for fans and community. Thank you for being you.” — Susan Burkhamer.

Zachery Mezger ‏@coachzman
me giving Ben a pep talk having fun @ProCamps @_BigBen7 love this guy he’s so cool to me #bigbenmybud


“This brought tears to my eyes. You likely aren’t even fully aware of the amazing impact you’re having on this young man’s life! Thank you!” — Allison Busalacchi.

“It is so uplifting when athletes realize “But for the grace of God . . . . ” Ben showing compassion to Zachery, as well as others, is evidence that he is a class act – – – all the way!” — Roberta Villanueva.

“You […]

…and we’re going back one more time to March 25, 2004 – Ben’s NFL Pro Day Workout.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to play in the NFL. Everything I get to do, meet all these coaches, see Al Davis, visit with Warren Moon, it’s a dream coming true. It’s hard to believe. I have to pinch myself and make sure it’s true.” — Ben, on both the experience and the opportunity to play in the NFL, March of 2004.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte:

QB Ben packs ’em in for pro workout –

Scouts or assistant coaches from nearly all 32 NFL teams made their way to Oxford. Two head coaches, Green Bay’s Mike Sherman and the Giants’ Tom Coughlin – along with Giants’ general manager Ernie Accorsi and three of the club’s scouts – were there, too.

Charting each of the players’ moves with stopwatches and clipboards, scouts watched them lift weights, jump, sprint and run agility drills before congregating in Yager Stadium for the main event: Ben throws.

And Roethlisberger, a sure-fire top-five pick rated along with Mississippi’s Eli Manning as one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, did not disappoint.

He threw long and short, soft and hard, down the middle and toward the sideline – showing off his impressive arm and timing on the deep out pattern.

Roethlisberger ran 4.76 seconds in the 40-yard dash. And he clocked an 11.8 – considered fast for a quarterback – on a three-cone agility drill.

“He’s probably going to be gone before we pick, but I always want to cover our bases in case something happens – he falls or we move up,” Sherman said. “I thought he had an excellent workout. He did everything here he does on tape. You have to watch the game tape to really appreciate what kind of quarterback he is and what kind of leadership skills he has.”


You can read the rest of Mr. Curnutte’s 2004 article here.

“Whatever team gets him is going to be enlisting an athlete who can throw and move. His strength is throwing on the run. They talk in Oxford about the time last season when the quarterback scrambled to his left, shucked off a tackler, and scrambled in […]