Ben: “One day at a time”
“Today is Wednesday. I am going to get some treatment, get a workout in, attack practice today and do some seven-on-seven stuff and we will take it one day at a time.”
The latest injury update from him and the Steelers:
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t say if he would be ready to play this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at Heinz Field.
But at the same time, he also didn’t say that he wouldn’t be ready.
“It’s coming. I have been working hard, I am going to get some stuff done now. I am just taking it one day at a time.”
Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t offer any type of injury update during his weekly press conference this week on Roethlisberger, saying he was focused on guys who ‘were on the brink’ of returning to action.
“I am going with the same approach he is,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s just one day at a time. It’s hard to speculate until we do something today. Once we do something today we will know more.”
You can tell Roethlisberger is itching to get back on the field after missing the last two games with a knee sprain. But as much as he wants to return to the action, he doesn’t want to do anything foolish and rush back to fast.
“Just being smart, knowing that once I’m able to protect myself, I’ll be able to get back out there,” said Roethlisberger. “I can walk around just fine and step and throw. It’s being able to avoid a pass rush, make subtle movements in the pocket and out of the pocket.”
Roethlisberger is one of the most competitive guys in the locker room, so for him to just stand and watch even for just a few weeks, hasn’t been easy.
“It’s been tough, because it’s hard to just watch when you want to be out there,” said Roethlisberger. “I’m just trying to be like the guys I had around me when I was playing. Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich, Tommy Maddox, Bruce Gradkowski, just trying to be the best on-the-sideline guy I can be.
“If Mike Vick has a question, or if I see something, I’m going to talk to him. I don’t want to be overbearing. I don’t want to stand there and wait for him as he’s coming off the […]
The Ben Roethlisberger Show
Athough he didn’t get back from San Diego until 5:30 AM this morning, Ben was on time and ready for his show at 11:00 AM this morning on 98.7 The Fan.
Show recap courtesy of KDKA.com:
On the wildcat formation in the final seconds –
“I thought it was a great call. Obviously we’re all excited because it worked, even if it doesn’t, you can’t blame anybody. You give the ball to your workhorse and let him go to town. He’s truly something special and he gets better and better every week. It’s hard to believe and imagine, but it’s true.”
More on the wildcat formation –
“It’s not going to be a staple of our offense but I think it’s a good mix-up. It’s a good change, I think it’s a change of pace, there’s some different options…I’m not exactly sure how many times we ran it yesterday, but obviously we ran it at a very key time in a key moment that we felt we had to have it.”
On Mike Vick’s 72-yard touchdown pass to Markus Wheaton, and Vick’s assertion that the play was drawn up by Ben on the sideline –
“I just knew that Mike really likes, in all our conversations, to get out of the pocket. And so that’s kind of what happened on that play to Markus. We go over and Coach Haley, myself, Randy, Landry, we start talking about what plays can we get him moving and get him out of the pocket and give him an opportunity to turn it if it’s not there and we came up with that play.”
On the 18-seconds missing off the clock –
“I found out later and I think the coaches did too because usually, something like that is caught on the sidelines, word spreads pretty quick and someone makes a statement about it or tries to get someones attention. To my knowledge, I don’t think anybody even knew at the time…I think it just kind of caught all of us by surprise after the game when we heard about it.”
On Steelers fans taking over Qualcomm Stadium last night –
“It was unbelievable. It’s crazy when the home team gets booed at their place because there’s so many Steelers fans, it’s just a great atmosphere.”
On his rehab –
“I think […]
Jogging….just a little jogging!
Chris Adamski @C_AdamskiTrib
Ben Roethlisberger lightly jogs along the sideline; thousands of towel-waving fans cheer loudly!
From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:
Ben Roethlisberger jogged off the practice field Thursday, guard Ramon Foster confirmed, another sign that the Steelers quarterback is progressing well from a sprained left MCL and a bone bruise.
No, he’s not ready to play this week. He was observing practice in casual clothes.
Teammates even teased Roethlisberger about the job, saying “Don’t do that, 7,” Foster recalled.
Early reports called for a late-October or early-November return to action.
But Roethlisberger hasn’t had any setbacks since hurting the knee 11 days ago in St. Louis. And quarterback Michael Vick said it was “absolutely” good to see Roethlisberger tossing the ball around at practice.
Roethlisberger said this week on Pittsburgh 93.7 The Fan that team doctors are pleased with his rehab but he’s not setting a timetable for return. It’s truly week to week, he said.
In 11 quarters this season, Roethlisberger has thrown for 912 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 75.3 percent of his passes.
More from Mr. Fowler here.
And a bit of fun after the jog…
Kevin Seifert @SeifertESPN
Well done, Ben Roethlisberger. Having fun with reports he had a cell phone on sideline during Steelers’ last game.
From Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com once again:
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was in a joking mood Monday night inside Qualcomm Stadium, holding his play sheet to his ear as a nod to reports he had a cell phone on the sideline last week against Baltimore.
The NFL investigated the matter and determined Roethlisberger was holding his wristband play sheet, which is the size of a smartphone. NBC cameras showed footage of Roethlisberger glancing at the play sheet, then stuffing it back into his sweatshirt.
Alex Flanagan @Alex_Flanagan
Just interviewed Mike Vick who said Ben roethlisberger called the TD play.
“That touchdown pass was all Ben. He put the play together…without him we don’t win. He is like a coach, he drew that touchdown pass up on the sideline.” — Mike Vick during his post-game on-field interview.
Oh…did we mention the Steelers won 24-20 on the road against the Chargers on Monday Night Football?
You can read all about it right
Ben Roethlisberger Foundation: New grant announced
Today, Ben announced the third grant of the 2015-16 season from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
The Foundation will be distributing a grant to the El Cajon Police Department just east of San Diego where the Steelers will play the Chargers on October 12th. The El Cajon Police plan to use the grant toward the purchase of a new K-9 for their four-dog unit.
“Thank you for considering the San Diego Police Department. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation made an excellent choice in the El Cajon Police Department. I have gotten to know their command staff quite well and they are a worthy and deserving recipient. As a member of the K9 community, I wanted to say thank you to you and the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for supporting the police K9 community. As you know, these great tools are a vital life saving resource and your support nationally will only improve police responses to critical incidents and subsequently, influence the perception the public has on what we do. In this day and age it is refreshing to see this kind of support. I don’t have to be a recipient to say thank you.” — Lieutenant Duane Voss, San Diego Police Department Canine Unit.
During the 2015-16 NFL season, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers. The Foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider a grant to a non-NFL market city in the United States for each playoff game in which the Steelers compete. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.
This marks the ninth season that The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units. 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. Roethlisberger and the Foundation also support Make-A-Wish.
The Foundation distributed more than $130,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2014-15 NFL season and has distributed in excess of $1.3 million since 2007.
“The El […]
A night at the ballpark
Let’s go BUCS!!! — Ben
The Ben Roethlisberger Show
Just in case you missed it on 93.7 this morning, here’s a recap:
Let’s start with an injury update status from HIM –
“I saw Dr. Bradley and he was really pleased with the way things are coming. We’re just going to keep taking it week by week and try and get back as soon as I can.”
On the pain he’s dealing with –
“There’s still quite a bit of pain from the bone bruise. The MCL isn’t super painful. I feel it when I walk at times but the problem is if I walk without a brace…when you kick your leg forward as if you’re just walking, it feels like you leg is just kind of flopping.”
Does the original 4-6 week time table still apply?
“I think so. What we’re trying not to do is put a time on it and just go week-by-week. Basically say, ‘I’m out this week, we’ll reevaluate it next week and see if and what I can do.’ To me, that’s the better way and maybe the more optimistic way to look at it. Rather than put a number on it, lets just take it one week at a time.”
And those reports this past weekend about him returning for the Chiefs game?
“That does not come from me or our doctors. I just left Dr. Bradley and he said, ‘Where do these reports come from that you’re coming back at a certain week?’ I’m like, ‘ I don’t know doc, I haven’t really heard any of them.’ So I assume that’s exactly what he was talking about. We know that people like to just speculate and say things. So that did not come from me, the Steelers or any of our doctor’s more importantly.”
What is he doing now that he can’t practice or play?
“I’m there doing everything I can. Helping [Vick], trying to answer questions, being a sounding board for him, for Coach Haley for Randy [Fichtner]. I try and be as involved as I can.”
On Mike Vick’s play as quarterback in the Ravens loss?
“I still think he played pretty well…I think what you’ll see more than just him being better prepared is more cohesiveness between him and AB.
“The only tough part that we talked about, and we had […]