“I look at the Rooneys like they’re family. They’re like grandfathers and fathers to me. I can speak on my behalf, my agent, my family. We have never asked. We’re not going to ask. This is home and this is family. The people of Pittsburgh and the fans, that’s family. That’s why I’m so adamant and upset that this got brought to my attention at the end of the game.” — Ben, on his show today.

Ben was on the air in his regular time slot this morning at 11:00 AM as part of 93.7 The Fan’s Vinnie & Cook Show:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is frustrated, but not for the reasons that may have been detailed in an NFL Network report.

“I’m tired of it. It upsets me,” Roethlisberger says of the NFL Network’s report that he is upset about the team’s direction and will demand a trade at season’s end.

“I have no idea where it came from, and I wish I could find out where it came from because it’s so stinking upsetting. It just fires me up. Where do people make this stuff up from? It’s unbelievable.”

As for Ben’s emotions at this point in the season, he admits he’s frustrated.

“Of course I’m frustrated. We all should be frustrated. The fans are frustrated. You’re frustrated because of your record, not because of any individual or any coach. I’m frustrated at myself because I’m not playing well,” Roethlisberger said.

Ben also looks inside his relationship with Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, bristles at suggestions that the team is rebuilding, and looks ahead to next week’s matchup against Detroit.


You can hear the podcast here (bottom of the page).


As always, thank you to 93.7 The Fan, Vinnie Richichi, Ron Cook and #1 Cochran!



Tonight:

On NFL Network at 10:30 PM – ”NFL Films Presents” – Portraits of Pride – We examine the fascinating football journey and inspiring life of long-time Steelers backup quarterback, Charlie Batch.

Can’t tune in tonight? You can set your DVR for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 3pm (ET) or Friday at 4:30pm (ET).

Fighting for the Red, White & Blue…rooting for the Black & Gold!



“This was taken in Kuwait in December 2011. Most of the season I watched the games at 2am (streaming on a computer) waving my towel around a bunch of Kuwaiti air traffic controllers. They just didn’t get it! lol. Thanks again Ben for supporting us! Proud to serve my STEELER NATION!” — SSGT Holly Stene, United States Air Force, hometown: Johnstown, PA.




“I’m with the 119th Engineer Company of the West Virginia Army National Guard and this was taken during my tour in Afghanistan.” — SGT Jacob Robinson, WV National Guard.




“I was a Platoon Leader, stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan from 2012-2013. My Platoon mostly did walking patrols throughout the city, and I made sure my Terrible Towel was tucked in my cargo pocket on every one. By the end of my tour, both my Soldiers and my Afghan counterparts were accustomed to when I pulled a security halt to get a photo of my Terrible Towel in different parts of the city. My Towel has accumulated quite a bit of the Afghanistan desert sand, but it now proudly hangs in my living room and will go with me the next time I get to go home to Pittsburgh and see the Steelers play!” — 1LT Megan Conroy, 2nd Platoon “Wolfpack” / 563rd MP CO (Fort Drum, NY).



You can see more of our military Steelers fans – serving in Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, and closer to home from Quantico Marine Base in Virginia to Fort Benning, Georgia – all right here.


Thank you to every one of you that submitted photos to us over the past year so that we could honor you, our true heroes!



Members of Steeler Nation UK salute our American Troops from WWII in a special way:


Andrew Duncan poses with the Terrible Towel during a break from a WWII reenactment he participated in this past October. His group is called, Normandy 44, and they honor the memories of the men who fought and died fighting for their country.

“I’ve been reenacting WW2 troops in the […]

“I’m unhappy with the offense when we don’t produce and that’s as much on me as anybody. As far as me wanting to go somewhere else or anything like that, I mean that is completely unacceptable, I don’t know where that came from. It’s one of the most BS stories I’ve ever heard of! I’ve always said I want to be a Steeler for life! I love it here, I’m happy here. I don’t want to go anywhere. No one in my family, in our camp, agents, no one has ever said anything about that, so wherever this was made up from, it’s totally false.

“It’s ridiculous! I don’t want to go anywhere, I love it here! This is family! This is where I want to be, and where I’ve always wanted to be. I don’t want to play for anyone else..I’m a Pittsburgher. This is home. I’m so proud to raise my kids here. I want to finish my career here, however long that is. I don’t want to play for anybody else. This is it for me!” — Ben, to the media in reference to the rumor he wants to be traded because he is unhappy playing for the Steelers.



You can watch video of Ben’s post-game interview here.



Take a few moments to read:

Dejan Kovacevic – Ben will never quit on Steelers

Ron Cook – Steelers, Big Ben will stick together



And:

Congratulations to Ben on his 100th win (Steelers 23, Bills 10) as the Steelers starting quarterback as well as becoming the fifth-fastest quarterback in the Super Bowl era to reach 90 regular season wins!

The mindset is to get to 1-0. That’s the mindset I’m taking, the approach for me. You go out win one game, that’s all that matters, this game, this week. Give it everything you got, like it’s the last game, the most important game of the year.” — Ben, on his mentality going forward.

Ben was a call-in guest on the DVE Morning Show and was asked about holding the ball too long (thanks Randy!), about his concerns over concussions and head trauma, playing the Bills this weekend, working on offensive consistency, injuries, needing a short term memory when it comes to losses, compartmentalizing the season, and that 2004 Steelers team!


You can listen to this entertaining interview here.

Followers of the site may remember the story of Tyler Hallsey that we did in early September!

In February of this year, young Tyler was diagnosed with Pontine Glioma – a tumor surrounding the brain stem. On August 25th, he had the opportunity to attend a Steelers pre-season game with his family, courtesy of former Steeler and current ESPN analyst Merril Hoge. It was a great night for Tyler, who also had the opportunity to meet and pose with Big Ben, Brett Keisel and Troy Polamalu.


From Tyler’s father about his son’s meeting with Ben:

“Since that day in February we have been Team Whatever It Takes.

I think Tyler’s approach to fighting his brain tumor and Ben’s approach on the field are the same. You do whatever it takes. You do what others may not want to do or aren’t willing to do, in order to get the results you want. Sometimes that path is hard or perilous, but you do what has to be done. It’s inspiring to witness, especially when it comes from your son.

It would be impossible for me to properly express the amount of gratitude I have in my heart for Ben, and his willingness to take the time to meet Tyler. He loved every minute of it. Tyler is known for his constant smile, but this smile was even big for him! He was beyond happy.

A little while after we met Ben and had photos taken with him, we were in the tunnel waiting to see Troy Polamalu. As the team came out for final warm ups, Ben saw Tyler again and said, “Hey! It’s my man Tyler!”. He remembered his name and that made the day even more special. Tyler was in heaven. I know it was a brief moment for Ben, but those brief moments will bring a lifetime of joy to Tyler and my entire family.

I hope Ben knows how much that means to me as a father. This has been a terribly trying mountain to climb…it’s tough, but moments like these keep you going. They give you a much-needed second wind. As a father, I try to do everything in my power to ease Tyler’s burden, I would take it all if I could. As much as I […]

Ben talked about his comfort level with the no huddle, his no quit mentality, Sunday’s game against the Bills, and more.


Some highlights:

The offense seems to do better when you are in no-huddle. Is there talk about going more no-huddle?

We will see how the game plays out. If it calls for it, we will do the best we can at it. If it calls for us to stay in big packages, and run it and do things like that, then we will do that.


How often have you gone no-huddle in the last few years when you are tied or ahead in the game?

You’ll have to look back on it. We feel comfortable doing it. We put a lot of colabertation during the week in it, coach, myself and the players. We do a lot of talking and communicating, so it’s kind of a group effort.


Are you still lobbying for it?

I just want to win, however that is. If it’s running the ball, throwing the ball, no-huddle or huddling every time, whatever it is, I just want to win games.


What can this team accomplish during the second half of the season?

A lot, if you ask me. Like you said, there’s a second half of the season still to come. You aren’t going to see any quit. We will just have to see where it goes, one game at a time.


Is it a one win at a time mindset?

Yeah. For me, we are 0-0 and trying to get our first win. That will have to be the approach the rest of the way out. You are right. Winning does help a lot of things. So, we will do our best to get that.


On the interception that was intended for Antonio Brown, is that all on him or on everybody?

That’s last game. We are going to move on from it. It’s just something that we will get better and improve on. We all made mistakes. We just have to try not to do that.


You said you’re not going to let anyone quit and players need to follow that lead:

They better. I said I am not going to let anyone – and I haven’t seen anybody do that. I haven’t seen anybody, or the signs or anything. I am just speaking on my […]