“We’re going to go out there and give it a go today and see where it goes from there. We have to take it one day at a time. That’s why I’m not getting my hopes up about Sunday. I’m going to get my hopes up for today and go out and see how it goes today.” — Ben, on practicing.

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com this afternoon:

Roethlisberger said he wants, likely more than anyone, to be back out on the field. He doesn’t have any concerns about playing after missing the last four games with a sprained MCL, including not worrying about wearing a brace. He said he can’t be concerned, it’s not the way to approach the game.

“I can’t afford to have one,” said Roethlisberger of being concerned about the brace. “I’m not going to think about it. I have been wearing (the brace) to work out, to do some things in, just to try and get used to it. I have never wore one before. It’s definitely something new. I am not going to think about it.”

Roethlisberger returned to practice in a limited fashion last week with the hopes of being ready for the Steelers game against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. While he said there is no pain now, he wasn’t able to go against the Chiefs because of the knee.

“I think it was more just a pain, an inflammation setback,” said Roethlisberger. “I don’t think it was a negative injury, or more of an injury type of setback. It was just putting an extra heavy load on it and paying for it that night. Just with achiness, inflammation, things like that.

“It was more disappointment, I think. Once I got the reassurance from the doctors that I didn’t do anything to hurt the MCL, the bone bruise, it was just simple overuse. The inflammation, the swelling, that’s naturally going to happen. Once I got through the initial shock of worrying that something happened, then I was fine with it.”

While Roethlisberger is more anxious than anyone to return to game again, he knows he can only play if the knee is ready to go and there won’t be any restrictions on his mobility.

“I think if there is a restriction I shouldn’t be out there. […]

“Huge game, huge. This is one of the best teams in the NFL right now, plus they’re in our division plus it’s in our house. This is a game that we kind of need to see what we’re made of, offensively, defensively, special teams…It’s because it’s a team that’s playing with a lot of confidence, a lot of belief in each other, and they are one of the elites in this league, so this will be a good test for us.” — Ben, on just how big a game this weekend’s matchup with the Bengals is.

Ben joined the Cook & Poni Show this morning for his weekly Q&A:

The Steelers are coming off a 23-13 loss at Kansas City in which 3rd string Quarterback Landry Jones made his NFL debut but this week all eyes are on Ben who may make his return from a knee injury that has sidelined him for the past 4 games.

When asked if he’ll play Sunday, Ben said “I’m not sure yet. I’m gonna give it everything I have on Wednesday in practice, and then it’s going to be coach’s decision. So we’ll go into practice with the mentality that I’m going to go and be ready to go, but my body is going to tell me probably better than anything.”

Roethlisberger was then pushed further and asked if he thinks he’ll play.

“I’d like to,” Ben said. “But I always want to play. Like I said, it’s going to be coach’s decision.”

There was talk that Ben would play last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he revealed he suffered somewhat of a setback during the week that held him out.

“I felt good in practice, but then Thursday night it just didn’t feel real good, it kind of ached on me a little bit, didn’t sleep a lot,” Roethlisberger said. “It was a little discouraging, but I guess that’s part of the rehab process.”

With it looking more and more like Ben will play this week against the Bengals, he was asked what he has been doing to get ready to play Sunday.

“Monday we have a team run, so we went out and ran, just kind of a jog. And then some rehab stuff on it, lifting and […]

…and share it with us, like these fans have done!

Do you have a Big Ben or one of his teammates going out for Halloween or attending a costume party this year?


From Left to Right:

– Keri Blackburn’s son went to school as “sideline Big Ben” (via Twitter).

– 3-year old Logan was looking as adorable as can be as #43!!

– 4-year old Quincy Jr. loves the Steelers. He spots the team’s logo everywhere so of course he wanted to wear that logo proudly on his chest for Halloween!

– Zac Godfrey was just about to put his game face on before heading out to score some Halloween candy.


Are YOU going to work or a party (or even trick or treating) as Big Ben or one of his teammates?


Left: Deanna Srebrenick went to work as a “Bee of Steel”, or was it a Killer Bee?

Top Right: Andy Benton had a gig in Maryland on Halloween, so he dressed as a “Troy Polamalu – zombie drummer”.

Bottom Right: Brenton Evans was “Da Beard in Da South” (Virginia to be exact) last Halloween.



Perhaps you have a furry friend going out in the Black & Gold on Halloween night?


From Left to Right:

– Emma just wants to forgo the whole Trick or Treating part and go directly to the Tasting & Eating part!

– Chuck and Norris just wanted to know if “Treats” included cats?

– Kismet went the “formal costume route” by wearing a gold tie with the uni in hopes of getting a big haul to hide in the backyard!

– Our second Emma decided to just wait at the door to see if any Trick or Treaters would be dressed as a cat!



Or maybe you’re just staying home to answer the front door surrounded by unique Steelers decorations?


Top Left: Cindy BeBord’s Big Ben scarecrow caught a little something in his pitchfork – A Raven!!!

Top Right: Amanda Marie painted her pumpkin free hand, and claimed she wasn’t an artist. We respectfully disagree with her! It’s a work of art!

Bottom Left: Nina Spasojevic welcomed candy hunters to her front porch with two carved […]

Today, Ben announced the fourth 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 Shawnee Police Department just southwest of Kansas City where the Steelers will play the Chiefs on Sunday, October 25th.

“The addition of a new canine to our unit will greatly expand the capabilities of these officers and the services they provide our citizens. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation in helping keep Shawnee a safe community. Being a native of Pittsburgh and a huge Steelers fan to this day, makes this grant award that much sweeter. With much gratitude to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, a very fortunate pup is soon going to join an award winning program here in Shawnee!” — Shawnee Chief of Police Rob Moser.

With this grant, the Shawnee Police Department will expand from two to three K-9s in their unit adding a dual purpose explosive team.


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. Ben invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.

This marks the ninth season that Ben’s Foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units. The mission of the 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 also supports 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.


Shawnee K-9 Officer Shaun Arnold said, “It’s an honor accept this generous donation from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. I’m proud to call the City of Shawnee my home, and wake up every day with pride that I get to serve the citizens of the greater Kansas […]

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com:

Ben Roethlisberger isn’t worried about the pain, he has played with pain before. The key factor for him, and what could be a decision-maker as to whether or not he plays this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, is the stability of his knee.

“I can deal with pain,” said Roethlisberger. “Adrenaline helps with that a lot. The stability, we have a great training staff and doctors. We have about six different knee braces to try. John Norwig is going to tape it too. Today is going to be a trial and error type of thing. I have no idea what it is like to run, move, and get hit in the leg. I am not really sure yet.

“The pain will be there for a while. I can deal with pain.”

Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL against the St. Louis Rams on Sept. 27 and has missed the last three games. He said when the injury first happened, before he knew the severity of it, getting back this quick was hard to imagine.

“I knew the pain that I felt and I saw the look in the doctor’s eyes, so it was scary,” said Roethlisberger. “Once we got back, got the results the MRIs and talking to doc, it was encouraging.”

So encouraging that he worked in a limited role in practice last week, but he wants to take it to the next level this week. He said he isn’t certain how many reps he will get in practice, or what the final decision will be as to him playing this week as only time will tell if he will return to game action or not.

“That is not my call,” said Roethlisberger. “That is coach’s call. I am going to go out and practice and give it everything I have and let him make the decision.

“I am excited to get out there and do a little bit more than I have been doing last week.”


On what’s been the most physically challenging part of his rehab:

“Nothing too much. We haven’t done things that we know will hurt it. There is no point in testing those things. Right now it’s just about getting it strong.”


On how Landry Jones did filling in his first game and how he […]