…at Steelers training camp!


Some big laughs, a few fist bumps, some high fives, and then it’s time to get serious!

But not too serious, as this youngster found out! Beware the BIG GUY chest bump!



You can see more photos from camp here!

And if you have any to share with us, we’ll post them here! Just email them to us at bigben7website@gmail.com.


*Thank you to fan Denise Marie for that first photo!

“I’ve always said it’s up to the good Lord and Mr. Rooney when I’m done.” — Ben.

From Will Graves at the AP:

There are days when Ben Roethlisberger can feel every single hit he’s absorbed during a decade as one of the NFL’s most fearless quarterbacks.

And there are days when the Pittsburgh Steelers star sees the young faces surrounding him in the huddle and it seems like he can play forever.

Yet at age 32 with small flecks of gray in his stubble, Roethlisberger knows he’s in the second half of a career that already includes two Super Bowl rings. While he understands the NFL is a business, Roethlisberger has no plans to entertain the idea of taking his business somewhere other than Pittsburgh.

Not now. Not next summer. Not ever if Roethlisberger has his way. And as far as he knows, his boss — Steelers president Art Rooney II — feels the same. Until that changes for either side, concern over his status is nothing more than misguided speculation.

“I have faith that the Steelers will do what we need to do when it’s time and that’s putting people on the field through free agency, trades, draft everything to make us the best team we can possibly be,” Roethlisberger said.

If he sounds like a grown-up, maybe that’s because he is.

The hard-partying 20-something is now a married father of two who takes his son to Pittsburgh Pirates games and is already thinking about where 1-year-old Ben Jr. and infant daughter Baylee, born in March, will one day attend school.

His priorities have changed. His drive has not.

Coming off consecutive 8-8 seasons that at times left him equal parts frustrated and mystified, he is focused but upbeat.

During a meeting Friday night shortly after the Steelers reported for training camp at Saint Vincent College, Roethlisberger made it a point to let his teammates know he hardly views himself as a one-man show.

“I said ‘Listen, there’s going to be a lot of talk about this being Coach Haley’s offense or my offense. This is our offense,'” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not just one person. The ownership is equal for everybody.”

It’s why he spent the offseason working on improving his arm strength even though he is already one of the strongest quarterbacks in the league. Wide receiver Lance Moore […]

It didn’t take long for Brett to respond when he saw the jersey his friend was wearing:

“Now a husband and father of two children, Roethlisberger is 32 and entering his 11th season. This is the fourth quarter of a career that could place him in elite company.” — Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

More from Mr. Rossi’s column this weekend as the Steelers enter training camp:

Roethlisberger arrived at camp in the best shape of his career. He’s not the first to do so, but Roethlisberger looks like he has overhauled everything, especially eating and workout habits.

When was the last time Roethlisberger didn’t accept the burden of typically insane expectations for the Steelers? When was the last time he tossed a teammate or assistant coach under the bus? When was the last time somebody said something bad about his actions on or off the field?

When was the last time he wasn’t what Pittsburghers expect of a Steeler?

Unless we’ve been watching an amazingly scripted stage play the past three years, Roethlisberger has grown into a humble, hard-working leader of this proud franchise.

Roethlisberger is going to retire as a Steeler. He may retire as the Steeler of his generation or a Steeler for any generation.

The quarterback with 29 winning drives in the fourth quarter has the ball. We’re watching a career-defining comeback.


You can read the rest here.



And Alan Robinson, also from the Tribune-Review, has the “Tweets of the Day”:

Alan Robinson ‏@arobinson_Trib
One reason @_BigBen7 prefers to remain #Steelers player rest of his career is he wants to raise kids in Pittsburgh.


Alan Robinson ‏@arobinson_Trib
@_BigBen7 absolutely convinced he’ll win another Super Bowl or Super Bowls. Can tell he won’t be satisfied unless he does. #Steelers

“Thanks Ben for making my son’s training camp visit so memorable! Ben threw his wristband to him today and he has not taken it off yet. My son Keiran is a quarterback and of course wears #7. He can’t wait to take the wristband to practice to show his teammates. Thanks again Ben!” – Jennifer Lippman

The Steelers 2014 training camp begins this Friday, July 25th when the players report, and Steelers.com has all the info you need when you report!

What’s the camp schedule look like?

What’s the weather report for Latrobe?

How do you get there?

Where can you stay if you plan on spending more than the day?

What kind of fan activities are scheduled for Steeler Nation?

What’s the layout of the St. Vincent College and how do you get to the field?

What about parking? Food? and where do you go for medical assistance if needed?


You can find all of that out right here!

“We went to St. Vincent three days – Friday for the night practice, where Kathleen got lots of autographs; On Monday I got Ben’s autograph on my son’s jersey. I told him it was my son’s favorite jersey and that he had passed away December 30th and had been featured on his site. He looked at me and said, ‘I am sorry. (Pause) I am really very sorry!’. It was very nice for him to acknowledge it all in the pandemonium that was surrounding him at the time.

My son, Connor had always wanted Ben’s autograph but never got it. I teared up after and felt like I accomplished something for him. That jersey will be framed with a plaque honoring my son in our basement, which is heavily laden with Steeler memorabilia. Thank you, Mr. Roethlisberger for your sympathy. Thank you also for all the time you spent, in spite of being banged up, signing autographs. You made one little girl’s, and a couple of her buddies’ day.” – Patrick Williams, photo above with Kathleen.

And:

Where do you send your favorite photos and fan stories from training camp?

Right here of course!

Just email them to us at bigben7website@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to share them with the rest of Steeler Nation!

Have fun and be safe!

“Wanted to thank Big […]

After checking out all the Steeler Nation on Vacation photos, Ben wanted to join in on the vacation photo action as well!

Ben took his lovely wife on a tropical vacation for a little sun and fun before the start of Steelers training camp!


Ben and Ashley are all smiles after arriving in the Bahamas..and no wonder! Ben snapped the second photo of this beautiful spot on the beach that they’d be enjoying before the sun went down!


Hope everyone is having a safe and happy summer, no matter where you’re spending it!


You can see all the photos in Ben’s family album here, and from his personal album here.