From the Steelers Nation Unite website today:

Two-time Super Bowl champion and franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took time after Thursday’s practice session to answer questions from Steelers Nation Unite members during a Weekly Huddle fan forum conference call.

A variety of questions and topics arose during the event, with much of the focus on the record-breaking performances by the offense in 2014, and where Roethlisberger sees opportunities to grow even further.

There were also numerous opportunities for Roethlisberger and the fans to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on some of the amazing accomplishments as he heads into his twelfth season as a Steeler.

Speaking about his most memorable moment, it was hard for him to pin down just one.

“It’s hard to not say winning a Super Bowl and throwing that pass to Santonio Holmes in the back of the endzone because we feel it goes down as one of the greatest plays ever. It’s hard to beat that,” Roethlisberger said.

“Winning a Super Bowl in Detroit for Jerome Bettis and being there a couple weekends ago for Jerome at the Hall of Fame – those things are pretty special moments, as well.”

There was also a chance for Roethlisberger to think back to his first season in the black and gold and figure out what still stands out from that special rookie season.

“We got so far and went to the AFC Championship Game, and that was fun. But I think my favorite moment was my first actual start down in Miami during the hurricane and that crazy weather. I think everyone remembers it. Playing on that infield, it was a close game and I just remember how hard it was raining. The night before at the hotel there was no power so we were having our meetings with flashlights. I just think that was a memory I’ll never forget.”

The conversation wasn’t all football, though, as Roethlisberger addressed a fairly common question fans are usually interested in finding out the answer to – what would he be doing if he hadn’t made it in the NFL?

“I went to school for education so probably I’d be a teacher and a coach,” said Roethlisberger. “If I wasn’t doing that, I’d probably want to be like James Bond.”

And even though the preseason is only halfway […]

From Steelers.com this evening:

Re: Long camp and if it was good to work with the younger guys and fine-tune things:

It’s always good to get out here with new guys and work things out. We had to be here for an extra week, but it’s a good time. We get here and we get together.


Re: Aaron Rodgers throwing 19 times his last game and if you want a heavy workload:

I think it will be based on production and depends on how we play. I have no idea how long I am going to play. I will go until Coach Tomlin says I am done. I know that I will hope it’s productive however long that is.


Re: Appreciation for Rodgers:

I think he is one of the best in the game. I don’t think there is any argument about it. The way he goes about his business and the athlete that he is and player that he is, it’s undeniable.


Can the offense get better?

I think we can be better without the numbers being as good. If numbers are good and we are winning, then that’s a great thing. But we can be better. We can eliminate mistakes. We can be crisper. We can be more consistent. If we can do that then usually that should translate into winning football games.


So far how has the offense been this camp?

It’s been a good start to camp. But it’s just that. It’s just a start. We have to get out there and face those real bullets and get out there against other teams and their defenses, and play four quarters. It’s a long season. We will take it one game at a time.


How are Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown?

[They are] pretty darn good. Obviously I was blessed to play with a Hall of Famer [Jerome Bettis] but the way that those two guys go about their business and bust their butt and work, and then it carries over onto the field on Sunday. It’s hard to argue about those two.


Brown seemed frustrated with not getting the ball. Have you heard that from him before?

I hear it from everybody.


You can read more & watch video from his interview here.

Ben stopped by to chat with Cook & Poni yesterday:



You can read excerpts from his sit-down interview or listen to the audio right here.



From Teresa Varley’s 7 on 7: What makes Ben, Ben:

“The way he does things that aren’t on script. That sets him apart from most every other quarterback. He can execute plays as drawn, but if something were to break down or he is out of the pocket, he is one of the best at extending the play and making people pay.” — Heath Miller, from the interviews above.

From the DraftKings Bus Tour:


Jay Glazer caught up with Ben Roethlisberger from the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the DraftKings bus tour rolls on. Ben talks about being able to take hits and keep playing, what it’s like to play with Antonio Brown, and dealing with losing/adding players in a constant cycle. There are lot a factors that come into play when taking the field as an elite NFL quarterback. Roethlisberger provides insight into the life of an NFL player, including why he doesn’t like training camp.

You can watch the video interview here.


From Ben’s interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on his blog entitled, “Ben Roethlisberger knows he has the pieces to succeed“:

“I haven’t changed my game at all. I think when you call plays that are shorter-routed plays — Bruce Arians was known to go down the field and take shots. So you are going to have to hold on to the ball. We call a lot of plays that get the ball out quick to receivers. Todd Haley’s offense is a lot about catching the ball, running and putting up yards after the catch. So I think that’s what it is more than me changing or anyone changing.” — Ben, from the interview above.

From Mark Kaboly’s interview with Todd Haley for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

“He’s the best he’s been to this point since I have been here. You can see that he has reached deep and turned it up another notch even though these are easy days not to be into it, but he has kept his focus, which is a lot of work when you have a lot of young people around you.” — Todd Haley, from the […]

Roethlisberger only played one series, but he did enough to show that the unit, which also features wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell, is more than capable of averaging 30 points a game like it did last season.


You can read more & watch video highlights here.



From the Steelers official website:

QB Ben Roethlisberger:
(On his first drive) “As long as you score, it’s feels pretty good. We had the two-point try and scored points. To me that’s the most important thing. As a leader of this offense, you want those guys to be selfless like ‘even if I don’t catch a ball, it doesn’t matter as long as we win.’ I think we have that in this group. We have to keep getting everybody the ball and if they don’t get it, we won’t win football games.”


You can read more here.

Regular readers will remember the special tribute from Lt. Eric Eslary’s wife Mary Beth, and his K9 partner, Blek that we posted on July 21st…

On Tuesday, the Ligonier Township Police Department retired K9 Blek this week, and he will now spend his days as the family pet of the Eslary family –

“It has been my honor to take charge of Blek and to become his master. I want to thank the Ligonier and Latrobe Officers who have been a rock for me. Special thank you to Bob Derk (Latrobe K-9) I couldn’t of done this without you. Eric adored you and so do I. Blek and I have shared a bond since the day Eric brought him home. Please Continue prayers for us, our journey has just begun.” — ❤ Mary Beth Eslary, posted to the Ligonier Township PD’s K9 Unit Facebook page.

So what does a newly retired police K9 do on his first day OFF the job?


Well, not only does he get a visit from Big Ben, he gets to hang out with him too!


“I’m not sure we can expect Blek to be fully responsive to another K-9 handler, and I think at this point, it was the right thing to do, and obviously, he’s well-loved and well taken care of,” Ligoner Police Chief Michael Matrunics said.

Township supervisors also retired Eric Eslary’s badge number during Tuesday’s town meeting.

Blek is looking forward to serving as the grand marshal of the Fort Ligonier Days Parade scheduled on October 10th.


Thoughts, prayers & best wishes go out to the Eslary family, including Blek.


Photos: Christy Boyd



Also this week…

A Memorial to Rocco is unveiled!

Police officers from around the region were on the North Shore Saturday for the dedication of a new statue honoring slain K-9 officer Rocco.


The statue was created by artist Susan Wagner of Pittsburgh and was unveiled at the corner of North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Way, near Heinz Field.

Rocco’s death has led to the creation of Rocco’s Law, which increased penalties for killing a police K-9 officer.

In February of 2014, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation made a contribution to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in honor of K-9 […]