Big Ben met with reporters today before practice. Among the topics he was asked about was the use of the wildcat in last Sunday’s game, the running game, field goals vs touchdowns, traveling to the West Coast, and the play of teammates Derek Moye and Fernando Velasco.


Some of the highlights:

The “Black Hole” is a place that can be dangerous for teams, especially from the East Coast.

It’s a great environment. Crazy fans, a lot of history there.

That’s what makes it neat going there, the fans, the history, the things you see on TV and you hear about from other fans and players.


I hear you don’t like the wildcat.

[Laughs] It’s not that I don’t like it. If it helps us win, I’m all for it. I just told Coach, I get actually physically tired running out to wide receiver all the time [laughs again].


Can they take a free shot at you out there?

They can. I’m a little bigger than those defensive backs. I wouldn’t want them to try it. [Laughs]


Are you watching for that when you’re out there?

No, last week I think it was so confusing – I know a couple times the defensive back over me didn’t know what to do, if he should cover me, if he should run in. So, I’ll be alert for it. If a guy comes up and he looks like he’s about ready to hit me, I’ll protect myself.


When was the last time you caught a pass?

I don’t know. It’s been awhile, but I’m ready.


There was a Forbes poll released (1,100 people 13 yrs and older were surveyed) of the most hated players in the NFL. You were number four. Seven of the 10 were quarterbacks. Is there something to that?

I think a lot of people don’t like us because we’re usually the ones that help beat their team, so it is what it is.


Does that bother you at all? Or don’t you really care?

No, I don’t really care.


How much is the emergence of the running game Sunday going to help this team?

A lot. I’ve always [talked] about being balanced and I think if we can continue to be balanced and really utilize Le’Veon [Bell], Felix [Jones] and Jonathan [Dwyer], it helps keep defenses on their toes with play-action, and […]

Followers of both our Twitter and Facebook pages know this is a regular, weekly feature. But this is one of those Warrior Wednesday photos that needs to be shared with the site’s regular readers, who may just remember the story behind it…and enjoy it all over again!

“We Welcomed Our Hero Home yesterday!!! Thank you again to Big Ben for giving our boys such a wonderful experience at youth football camp this summer while Mark was deployed!! It was a GREAT time for our family!!! Go Steelers!!!” – Déna Ziegler

Remember the Ziegler family?

It all started on June 17th, when CDR Zeigler’s wife, Déna sent an email to the website to thank Ben for making her sons’ first day at his football camp such a thrill.

She mentioned in her email, which was posted to the website, that her husband was currently deployed to Afghanistan and this camp was a gift from him to their boys.

While reading the comments posted to his website that evening, Ben saw Déna’s and the next day called both of her sons out of the large group of campers to throw each of them a pass. As it turned out, one of the boys was celebrating a birthday that same day – Steven, shown at left in a victorious moment with Ben after catching his pass!

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” said older brother Andrew Ziegler. “He’s my hero. I didn’t dream of it happening.”

Neither did their dad! But he was able to see the excitement for himself later that night when his wife posted a video from camp online for him to watch!

“My boys had a great time today at camp! My youngest getting to ask Ben a question and my oldest son Andrew catching a 50 yard bomb over the outside shoulder made for lifelong memories. I wish I was there to see it in person, but through the wonders of YouTube, I was able to watch it from Afghanistan. I hope Paul Chryst and Todd Haley were watching!

Thank you to Ben, Ben’s family, and all those who work so hard to put on the camp. You made two, no 500+, kid’s day! My wife and […]

Ben was in the studio and 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.

“We’re getting better every week,” he says. “And that’s the key. You find a way to win games when you need. Even when you’re not playing your best, you find a way to win. That’s what we didn’t do early on, but we’ve done that the last two weeks. I hope we just keep getting better, truthfully.” — Ben

Some highlights:

Not only has the offense gained traction, it has also shown an ability to adapt to opposing defenses. Ben says it’s no accident.

“We are on the same page, but what’s different this year is the ability and the willingness to be open to change,” he says. “By all of us. To me, that is the biggest difference and the biggest change. It’s the willingness to hear things and to change them. Not to just say, ‘OK, yeah, I hear you’ and not actually change it.”

Overall, Ben is pleased with the results over the past two games.

The Steelers will face the Oakland Raiders this week without running back Isaac Redman, who was released on Monday.

“We hate to lose a brother and a teammate,” Ben says. “The guy’s been around for such a long time. It was a shock to me. He’s a good player, a good teammate, hard worker. If his health is good, I would bet that he’d be back in the league.”


For Ben’s thoughts on the offensive line, the Wildcat package, the red-zone struggles, and the lengths the NFL is going to preventconcussions, check out the entire interview here!


*Thank you to 93.7 and Vinnie & Cook!



Also Today:

Ben was a call-in guest on The Rich Eisen Podcast!


You can download and listen to his interview here (at 37:43 into the podcast).



Also, Happy Birthday to Heath Miller today!!

Dr. Ronald Cypher was in the stands for Ravens vs Steelers yesterday and not only captured the action during the game…


but also the secret handshake between #7 and #99 before the game! Well, so much for keeping it a secret!


You can see more great photos from Dr. Cypher here!

Big win for Big Ben and the Steelers!

“To get the ball tied with time [left] and two timeouts, you just have confidence. I told the guys ‘Let’s go, this is on us to win it’, can’t be any doubt. I want those guys to see the confidence from me. Everyone believed. It’s big when you all believe, and you buy into what we’re doing. I think we did a good job of that.” — Ben

From the AP‘s Will Graves post-game:

Shaun Suisham remains perfect. Now, his imperfect team is showing signs of pulling out of its massive early season hole.

Ben Roethlisberger completed 17 of 23 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. He hit Antonio Brown for a pair of big gains on Pittsburgh’s final drive, putting Suisham well within range to win it. Running back Le’Veon Bell ran for a season-high 93 yards on 19 carries.

The Ravens trailed all day but finally ran the Steelers down when Flacco guided a 16-play, 73-yard drive that ended when the quarterback hit Clark in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 16 with 1:58 to go.

“It’s about time! It’s about time we do a fourth quarter drive!” — Ben

The Steelers nearly went back in front immediately when Emmanuel Sanders picked up the ensuing kickoff in the back of the end zone and raced down the right sideline all the way to the end zone. Officials, however, ruled he stepped out at the Pittsburgh 37.

In the end, it didn’t matter.

Roethlisberger led the Steelers 39 yards in seven plays, finding Brown for gains of 11 and 13 yards. Suisham remained perfect on the season, improving to 14 of 14 on the year when his kick went right down the middle.


You can read more from Mr. Graves here.

You can watch & listen to Ben’s post-game interview here.

And you can also check out a few photos from the game here.

And share it with Ben!


Do you have a Big Ben going out for Halloween or perhaps attending a costume party this year?

Send us their photo, we’d love to post it in Ben’s Steelers Halloween album!

That’s Garrett Cagle and Zac Godfrey at left getting ready to head out for a night of Trick or Treating!

Now what if your Trick or Treater is going as Troy Polamalu or Heath Miller, Brett Keisel or maybe even a little Terrible Towel?

That’s fine too! Oh, and big kids are also welcome!

Snap a photo of ’em, send it via email and we’ll add it to the album too!



Do you decorate your home and yard for Halloween with a little Steelers flair?


Then you’ve come to the right place to show it off!

That’s Amanda Marie Doerr’s beautifully painted pumpkin at left. She shared it with us on the site’s Twitter page this evening.

“I did it free hand,” Amanda Marie said. “And I am definitely not an artist!”. We respectfully disagree with you! It’s a work of art!

Feel free to send photos of your Steelers-themed Halloween decorations, like this Big Ben carved pumpkin!

And don’t forget your four-legged and costumed Trick or Treaters – we have plenty of room for them in the Halloween album too!



The door bell was ringing non-stop at the Roethlisberger house the past two years

…and Ben & Ashley shared their photos with you!

In fact, trick or treaters were showing up at the door as fast as Ben was sending the photos the last two Halloweens!

Ashley handed out the candy and Ben was snapping the photos to share of spooky, funny, scary, and funny kids that showed up at the house of #7 and family.

Benjamin Jr. won’t know what the heck is going on at his house this year! But if he’s as tough as his dad, he won’t be scared at all!


You can see their collection of photos in Ben’s personal album from 2011 here and from 2012 here (bottom of page 3 & top of page 4)!



*If you would like to share photos this […]