this week (February 18th-24th) that a top prospect emerged in the 2004 NFL Combine –

“It’s remarkable how far he has come in such a short time. Until his senior year in high school, he was a receiver. Yet, he was talented enough to take the Mid-American Conference by storm. That might not seem like a ringing endorsement on the surface, but remember that the last two MAC quarterbacks to do that were Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich, both of whom appear to have bright NFL futures. Roethlisberger, who declared himself eligible for the NFL draft after his junior year, has a good pro arm, is more athletic than Eli Manning and Philip Rivers and sees the field well. Scouts generally believe he has the highest upside of this year’s QB crop, but also represents the greatest risk because of his limited experience.” — The late Joe Stein, NFL Draft expert for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

From Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports, February 19, 2004:

The inquiry at the top of everyone’s list?

“Ben, where do you think you’ll be drafted?”

It’s a question he can’t answer. He knows where he wants to be drafted.

The 6-5, 245-pounder possesses the qualities teams want in a quarterback: size, arm strength, accuracy, some mobility, smarts.

Roethlisberger and Manning are at the six-day NFL combine in Indianapolis, where prospects show off their physical and mental skills.

It also gives teams a chance to interview and get to know the players.

It might determine where Roethlisberger and Manning go in the draft.

San Diego, Oakland and Arizona pick 1-2-3 in the draft. All could use a quarterback. The Chargers aren’t sold on Drew Brees. Rich Gannon is at the end of the road. Arizona released Jeff Blake, and no one is sure Josh McCown is the answer.

“This is all really hard to believe,” Roethlisberger said. “April 24 will be a dream come true.”


The article is still available online and can be read here.

“People can look at Ben and say, ‘OK, wait a minute. He was a junior, and he was ready. But two things: He was a redshirt junior, so he had been in school for four years, and second, he wasn’t ready to do what he did. […]

Ben will be playing in the Honda Classic Gold Pro-Am in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida next week and YOU can be his caddy!


The non-profit organization, Caddy for a Cure, is accepting bids for the opportunity to be Big Ben’s caddy during the Honda Classic Gold Pro-Am to be played on February 26th.

Fans of both golf and the Steelers have the opportunity to bid on the right to caddy for Ben for the entire round, walking inside the ropes, and conferring with him on course strategy, club selection…and of course, football!

From their website:

“Caddy For A Cure is one of the most unique nonprofit charities that donates to other charities in efforts to accomplish things like finding a cure for childhood cancer. It provides the ultimate in golf experiences, the opportunity to caddy for a PGA TOUR or LPGA Professional during the practice or Pro-Am round of an official PGA TOUR or LPGA event. Be inside the ropes with the best players in the world, experiencing first hand their practice regimens. Experience club selection and shot execution to perfection. Experience what it feels like to walk one of the most recognizable courses in golf during an official event! Whether you are with your favorite PGA TOUR, LPGA TOUR, European Tour, Ryder Cup star, Presidents Cup star, or up and coming professional golfer, you will have a day you will never forget.”


Ready to bid? You better hurry, there’s just ONE DAY left!

Click here for more info, and here to place your bid!


*Photo is from Ben’s own tournament last year. You can see the album here!



And from The Honda Classic website:

Baseball legend Roger Clemens, Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, three-time Grammy award winning artist Branford Marsalis and longtime country music star Toby Keith will join 2011 British Open champion Darren Clarke in the featured celebrity group of The Honda Classic Gold Pro-Am presented by Tire Kingdom, Wednesday February 26 at the 2014 Honda Classic.

The foursome will tee off at 12 p.m. on the first tee of the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa.

Tickets for Wednesday’s Pro Am are $30 in advance ($40 at the gate) and can be purchased in advance at thehondaclassic.com or by calling 1-866-8HONDA8 (866-846-6328). Kids under […]

A Steelers and WWE fan shares his story of meeting his favorite Steeler at one of his favorite events!

Hello, my name is Mason Werner, 21-years old of Wheeling, WV. I am currently a college student studying education and I’m a football coach. As I move on in my life I hope one day to just maybe be on the staff of The Pittsburgh Steelers.

I recently met Big Ben at the 2014 WWE Royal Rumble. Growing up my two favorite things to follow ever since I could remember were The Pittsburgh Steelers and The WWE. I would have never imagined that when I attended The Royal Rumble event I would sit by my favorite Pittsburgh Steeler of all time!



As the event kicked off, I had ringside seats and was having a blast. Little did I know what the night had in store. As I was getting ready for the match, I turned my head and BOOM, here comes Big Ben. Ben was sitting down right beside us. I was in shock. It just so happened that the people around us had a Big Ben cardboard head which I borrowed and started a “Ben” chant in hopes of getting his attention.

As soon as Ben sat down and heard the chant, he looked over with a big laugh and gave us all a “thumbs up”! After the match I went over to talk to Ben. I had shook Ben’s hand a few times at training camp, but it was always a goal of mine to get a picture with my favorite Steeler. As I approached Ben I said “Ben I hope you liked the chant and cardboard cutout, you’re the man!” Ben replies: “You guy’s are awesome, thanks for the support.” I told him, “No thank you! You’re an all-time great.” Ben went on to say “Thank you”, and shook my hand. Ben then took the time to take a picture with me.

I have to admit I felt like a little kid again. I can now add the picture that I always wanted to my collection including Franco Harris, Mike Tomlin, Dick Lebeau, and even the photo of me and my best friend Tom (also a huge Ben fan) and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, as he sat […]

Today, Ben announced the final grants of the 2013-14 season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund. The Foundation will be distributing nine grants totaling $77,000 to police departments in the Pittsburgh, PA area where the Steelers play their home games.

“I would like to extend my extreme gratitude to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for its generosity and support. The foundation’s assistance will provide an integral role in the development of our newly started canine program. The North Fayette Township Police Department canine program relies greatly on contributions like this in order to maintain the high standards required to make the program successful. We are confident that our canine program will serve our community well.” — Mark O’Donnell, Chief of Police, North Fayette Township.

The K-9 departments receiving funding from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation this year are City of Washington Police, Edinboro Borough Police, Eureka Fire Rescue EMS, Forest Hills Police, Jefferson County Drug Task Force, Martins Ferry Police, New Sewickley Township Police, North Fayette Township Police and the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Funds will be used to start new K-9 units as well as maintain existing ones who will purchase additional K-9s, K-9 safety vests, training equipment, food and other necessary expenses such as vet bills and K-9 specific patrol vehicles.

“It will be a big help for our department. It’s not cheap to start a canine program.” — Ron Leindecker, Chief of Police, New Sewickley.

This announcement completes the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation’s seventh grant cycle, during which it distributed $157,600 in grants to K-9 units around the country. In addition to the Pittsburgh grants announced, the Foundation distributed grants to police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers in the 2013-14 season. Ben’s foundation invited police and fire departments in the eight cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.

“On behalf of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, I would like to thank the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for selecting our department as a grant recipient. We are very grateful and honored to be chosen as one of the departments able to benefit from such a great foundation. The support given by the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is critical to maintaining our K-9 to proudly serve the […]

Ben was a surprise call-in guest this morning on 93.7 The Fan:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined “The Cook and Poni Show” on Wednesday morning to discuss how he and his foundation have stepped up to assist the Pittsburgh Police Department to purchase another K-9 officer following the death of Rocco, a German Sheppard, who died late last month after being stabbed by a suspect.
The Rothlisberger Foundation was started by Ben in 2006 to help police departments acquire and train police dogs. The foundation will purchase a new dog for Philip Lerzo, Rocco’s handler and partner.

“Were not trying to replace Rocco because he is irreplaceable, but we are looking as a foundation to do what we can to help out the police department,” Roethisberger said. “Pittsburgh is my home. This is another way to say I don’t want to leave.”

Roethlisberger also talked with the guys about how Michael Sam has come out and said he is gay. If drafted, would be the first openly gay player in the NFL. He says he is echoing the statements he has heard from most of the players since we first learned of this story.

“I have no problem with any player that can help us win,” Roethlisberger said. “If he can help our team. That’s great.”

He also shared his thoughts with the guys on Ryan Clark’s comments, Bettis not getting into the Hall of Fame and the Super Bowl:

Listen to the podcast here (bottom of the page).



Also Today:

From NFL.com on Steelers GM Kevin Colbert’s chat with the media –

Finally, for any Steelers fans still worrying about Ben Roethlisberger’s future:

“Hopefully he stays healthy and we get the maximum number of years out of him. We have to make the most of those years we have left with our franchise quarterback,” Colbert said.


You can read the full article here.

Yesterday, Ben announced that his foundation (BRF) at The Giving Back Fund will be making a contribution to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in honor of K-9 Rocco who was stabbed and killed in the lined of duty last month.

Ben said, “The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation started when a police K-9 was shot and killed where I grew up in Findlay, OH. My family and I were moved by what that dog meant to the police force and learned that similar K-9’s all over the country are helping to keep our communities safe. This last week, a K-9 officer named Rocco was killed in my current hometown of Pittsburgh.

“After talking with Officer Phil Lerza and getting his blessing, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation would like to announce that we are going to get Officer Lerza a new dog. Rocco can never be replaced, but we only hope to help with the healing process and to provide Officer Lerza with another loyal partner.”

Regina McDonald, Acting Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, said, “We appreciate Ben Roethlisberger’s generosity and support. The Bureau will be looking, in the near future, to schedule a K-9 training class, evaluate potential K-9 handlers and purchase dogs. Officer Phil Lerza will be given first consideration for a new dog. His dog will be the one donated by the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.”

This announcement precedes this week’s expected announcement of nine K-9 grants to the Pittsburgh area as part of the 2013 BRF Grant Cycle. During the 2013-14 NFL season, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has been 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 invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.


You can learn more about Ben’s foundation here.