“They were one of the teams that were really interested. That was one of the places that I really wanted to go, to be honest with you. I love Big Ben. He knows how to get the ball down field.” — Martavis Bryant, from his post-draft interview.

From David Hood, TigerNet.com, Clemson Sports Source:

The Pittsburgh Steelers got the receiver they wanted, and Martavis Bryant got the team he wanted to play for.

The Steelers, in search of a downfield threat that they hope will take pressure off the running game and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, selected Bryant in the fourth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft with the 118th pick.

Bryant, 6-4, 200 pounds, caught 42 passes for 828 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, averaging 19.7 yards per reception. Two of his three catches in the Orange Bowl victory over Ohio State went for touchdowns.

The Steelers love what they see in Bryant.

“We are delighted to get him,” said Pittsburgh wide receivers coach Richard Mann. We think he has great length. He will be a great weapon in the red zone for us…I’m surprised he lasted that long. He is what we have been hunting for. He and I just talked, and he is delighted to come.”

Bryant said he was out driving when he received the news.

“They called me. I was actually driving in my car when they called,” he said. “I talked to everyone in the organization. My family just started screaming. My mom is very happy and very proud of me. I just want her to be proud of me. It’s a great accomplishment, but we’re not done yet. I’ve still got a lot of work that needs to be done.”

A short time later, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the time to call his newest receiver.

“It feels good knowing that I have somebody that can get the ball down field to me still,” Bryant said. “He (Roethlisberger) called me earlier and talked to me. He just told me that he was happy to have me out there. He wanted to know when I was coming out there and I told him Monday. He said that he can’t wait to get to work with me. I can’t wait to get to work.”


You can read the full interview here.


Congratulations to […]

“Browns flirted with Big Ben, ultimately passed on QB”


From Zac Johnson today at Fox Sports Ohio:

Ten years ago, hardly anyone knew that the Browns almost drafted Ben Roethlisberger – and that the team’s flirtation included a private workout on the Miami (Ohio) campus with Roethlisberger in the days leading up to the 2004 NFL Draft.

In the days leading up to that draft — no one seems to remember if it was five or 10 days before, but it was in that range — the Browns loaded up then-owner Randy Lerner’s private plane for a late look at quarterbacks. This was in April, 2004, eight months before Butch Davis would step down as Browns head coach and a month after the team had signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia.

By 2004, Pete Garcia’s title with the Browns was vice president, player personnel and football development.

The Browns didn’t have a general manager by title — Davis held the last call on football decisions, which in that draft ended up being a trade up of one spot to select tight end Kellen Winslow, who’d been recruited by Davis and Garcia at the University of Miami.

“We loved Ben,” Garcia said. “I had been to see him play a couple times during the (prior) season. We thought long and hard about picking him.

“He was right up there with (Winslow and) anyone else we considered. We graded him as a difference maker. In the end, we went with a difference maker at a different position that we knew a little bit better than we knew Ben.”

Also on the flight were offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and quarterbacks coach Steve Hagen, both of whom had been on Davis’s staff but moved to new roles for 2004, and then-Browns receivers Andre King and Frisman Jackson, who’d been called by Garcia the previous day to participate in the Roethlisberger workout.

Said King: “…We were at the airport at 8 a.m., up in the air probably 45 minutes and then we were on the field.

(Roethlisberger) was a big, strong guy. We met him, we stretched, and we just started running routes.”

By all accounts, Roethlisberger impressed.

“Five minutes in,” Jackson said, “it was obvious Ben could throw the hell out of the football.”

It’s impossible to say what would have been different had […]

“I could get five, six or seven more years out of these arms and legs. This is home for me and where I want to finish. I bleed Black and Gold.” — Ben, from his radio interview.

Ben was a call-in guest today on The Cook and Poni Show:

On the NFL Draft this week –

“You know what, I can’t wait for this to be finally over with! I mean, this has been dragged out! I’ve seen ‘Mock Draft 13.5’…it’s just going on and on and on! I’ll be excited so we can finally get this thing over with and to finally figure out who our new teammates are going to be and move on!

“Whatever the high powers decide can help this team is what I am going for. Anything to help the team, 8-8 is not good enough. We have to get back to winning Super Bowls.”


On Central Florida’s Blake Bortles –

“I talked to Blake, and I know Blake has that fiery chip. I think he’s going to be the best one of the group because I see something in him, his competiveness, his leadership. And I think he’s got a lot of upside.

“If you’re a guy that comes out of a smaller school I think you should have a chip on your shoulder. It helps motivate you.”


On Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel –

“We’ve seen some of the scrambling, jumping, throwing, flipping type things he can do and it makes your jaw drop because it’s special stuff. Does that translate to the NFL? I don’t know?

“He has so much upside, but we will have to see. He’ll come into this league and he’ll probably be a star early because he’ll use his athleticism, but it’s not about the first year. It’s about the second, third and fourth years.

“I was in the weight room the other day with Joey Porter asking me what I thought about Manziel. I looked at Joey and said, `Joey, do you think if you got a good hit on him, that he would be OK? And he said, `No, not at all.’ And that’s my question?

“You have guys like Joey Porter, who’s a big guy, guys that are fast like Troy, Ike Taylor coming off the edge, Lawrence Timmons – you’d better be real athletic, […]

Brian Beall wanted to thank Ben for his participation at a charity golf tournament this past weekend, and wanted to do so through Ben’s website.

Brian, consider it done:


Ben came to Findlay, Ohio this past week to visit and play in a charity golf event for the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County.

He played for my business, Blanchard Valley Veterinary Clinic, as a substitute golfer for Dr. Tony Fuller, D.V.M.

This is a great event for a good cause!


The weather was challenging, but with Ben’s help we were able to win First Place! This is a picture of our team. I am the farthest away, then Jason Lane with the blue cap, Mike Dowling without a hat, and then Ben, of course.

For him to come back to Findlay is great any time, but taking time to support the local pet population and Humane Society specifically was especially generous. In fact, they were so excited they did not believe he was actually there when we checked in. The woman who checked us in almost fainted, lol.

Thank you Ben!! — Brian


You can follow and “like” the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County on Facebook here.

You can follow and “like” the Blanchard Valley Veterinary Clinic on Facebook here.

Regular or waffle cone?



Dietsch Brothers @dietschbrothers
Big Ben stopped by to dip some ice cream last night. Thanks to @_BigBen7 for helping to create some fun memories for us!



And after taking a turn behind the ice cream counter:



Ben put down the scoop and joined his friends to pose with Payton, who works at Dietsch Brothers.

“Thank you for stopping in and taking a picture with me, Ben Roethlisberger, the tip was greatly appreciated too :)” — Payton

Dietsch Brothers is a landmark in Findlay, Ohio!

They sell ice cream & chocolates and if you can’t stop by, they have an online store as well!

You can follow them on Facebook too!

Ever had chocolates from Dietsch Brothers? If not, you’re missing out! Best ever!!


*And a BIG THANK YOU to Dietsch Brothers for donating a GIANT basketful of chocolates & other treats to Ben’s fundraising event, as one of the items up for auction!

but fast-forward to June and picture yourself here:

Enjoying live music, delicious food, an auction with incredible items, and the chance to meet Big Ben…all for a great cause!

You can start by purchasing your tickets NOW for the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser on June 22nd, at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale, PA.

Proceeds from this awesome event will benefit K-9 Police and Fire Units throughout the country, and Make-A-Wish®.

You’ll spend the evening with Ben, his family and his teammates while sampling amazing strolling dinner fare, a live and silent auction, and listening and dancing to the music of NightSong!

Date: Sunday, June 22nd, 2014

Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Place: Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, PA

Ticket price: $200/per person

Attire: Casual and Comfortable

*Must be 21 years of age or older to attend!


Tickets will go fast, so purchase yours now! Don’t miss out!


You can see more great photos from last year’s event here.

“My husband and I had a great time at the fundraising event last night with Ben and all the other players. Ben was humble and polite when I came in contact with him. I want to thank him for his hospitality. It has become an infamous story today about my husband starting a conversation because I was a little awestruck. Ben literally said, “Oh, I’m Ben by the way…” while we were talking to him and shook both our hands. That was sincere. My husband and I are both children services social workers so we work a lot with the police departments in the counties we work in. It was definitely a good cause .” — Mikki Deal-Hendon (photo above).

And the next day? Picture yourself here:

Join Ben on the course and in the clubhouse at the beautiful Treesdale Golf and Country Club in Gibsonia, PA on June 23rd for the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Invitational!

The tournament last year was not only a lot of fun, but a huge success – raising over 100,000 for both of Ben’s Foundation causes: the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia as well as K-9 Police and Fire Units across the country.

118 golfers, including teammate and friend Brett Keisel, Mr. Art […]