Ben and Willie Colon enjoy the sights and sounds of the New York Yankees Home Opener today:




























Here they are posing with Yankees skipper Joe Girardi on the field during batting practice.


Ben also sent photos of his view of batting practice…from the field, and of the player introductions.



From Jon Lane, YES Network:

A towering 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 241 pounds, Ben Roethlisberger stood behind first base watching the Yankees take batting practice hours before the men in pinstripes played their first home game of 2012. The Steelers quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion had a purpose behind his visit to the Bronx, and it wasn’t just to soak in the morning sun, Yankee tradition or enjoy a hot dog and tasty beverage.

Roethlisberger’s father Ken is a native New Yorker and a Yankees fan, which essentially gave Big Ben little choice over baseball loyalty. Over time Roethlisberger became friends with Derek Jeter and took advantage of fortuitous timing to attend Friday’s game as a birthday offering to his teammate, offensive tackle Willie Colon.

Growing up in Lima, Ohio, Roethlisberger admired Don Mattingly and Jeter, each for their attributes as a players and individuals.

“How do you not watch that guy? He’s such a good player, a good person and a good role model for a lot of people,” Roethlisberger told YESNetwork.com regarding the Yankees captain. “He’s a guy who’s done it for a long time. I think a lot of people, athletes and people in general should model their lives after a guy like that.”


You can read more here.



And a little football talk…

From Art Stapleton, North Jersey Record:

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers will be coming to MetLife Stadium to take on Eli Manning and the Giants at some point in the upcoming regular season. So what better time to ask Big Ben about Eli and Big Blue that during his Friday pit stop in the Bronx, where he spent the day with Steelers teammate Willie Colon watching the Yankees usher in their home season against the Angels.

“Absolutely I was happy for Eli. That solidifies our draft class a little more,” Roethlisberger told me. “It was awesome to watch him go out […]

“I just want to say how impressed I was with all the interaction that Ben had with the kids – the way he went out of his way to make it special for them. In addition to signing all the autographs and passing to all the kids – he was in their games, interacting, and just enjoying playing with them. It was obvious that he truly does this for the kids and that he enjoys it.” – Janet Parker

Join Ben this summer for some football instruction and fun at his Football Camp for kids, sponsored by ProCamps Worldwide!

The Camp is open to boys and girls, ages 7-14.

Campers will participate in daily games, stations, and skill contests. Each camper will be placed on a team according to his or her age.

Each day, the campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of football. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction from the top football coaches in the Pittsburgh area.

Ben will give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

Dates: June 18 -19, 2012

Times: 09:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Place: Seneca Valley High School, Harmony, Pennsylvania

Cost: $199.


Each camper will receive –

• Camp T-Shirt
• Autographed Camp team photo with Ben
• 7 Hours of expert instruction
• Opportunity to win contests and prizes

“Thanks Big Ben for showing the kids at your camp such a great time. My son had a great time and was lucky enough to get to play ball with you. A memory he wont ever forget. 500 passes? I still can’t believe you threw a pass to EVERY child. Amazing!” – Lori Martin

A fun and educational experience is guaranteed!


You can sign your youngster up for the camp here.

You can see more photos here.

You can watch videos from the camp here.

You can read more testimonials from parents and grandparents here.



Shout Out…

To big Steelers fan Robert Christy!

From Amy Mullen:

My brother, age […]

Ben is not only the most popular guy in the airport this off-season, he’s the most popular guy in the grocery store as well!

“My birthday is tomorrow and I feel like I already got my wish!” – Julie Jones, a PA native, met Ben while grocery shopping on Saturday.

“No make-up on and I meet the coolest quarterback ever,” said Julie. “Hope I have the chance to meet him one day with my family.”

What did they talk about?

“I told him how I ‘bleed black & gold’, and how I grew up going to the training camps with my dad, Marty. My dad still goes! Ben got a kick out of that. And I just thanked him for doing such a good job for the team.

“Honestly, he never hurried me, he even met my husband. Just a really cool guy. He was very personable, friendly, and made us feel like we weren’t bothering him at all. I was so nervous! My dad is so jealous!”


You can see more fan photos (and stories) here!

You can also check out action photos on the field and at training camp taken by fans here.

“Golf is such a mental challenge, and as frustrating as it can be sometimes, it can definitely make you stronger. Playing some great courses in a setting like Ireland and Scotland will be pretty awesome, but it is also a great way to keep your mind sharp. You really have to think your way around and get the grips with the course and the difficulties it offers you. I am a pretty cerebral guy, so it is perfect to have that kind of activity in the offseason that keeps your brain ticking.” — Ben.

From Martin Rogers, Yahoo Sports:

Ben Roethlisberger will prepare himself for the new NFL season by embarking upon an extraordinary golfing marathon he believes will sharpen his focus in advance of the 2012 campaign.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is heading to Ireland and Scotland in June, where he will play some of the finest and most difficult courses in the world.

But Roethlisberger insists the trip is not simply about recharging his batteries over the summer; it is designed to provide him with a mental challenge that will serve him well once football rolls around again.

“It is going to be pretty hardcore,” Roethlisberger told Yahoo! Sports. “I will be playing something like 12 courses in 10 days and they are some of the very best ones that you can find. I’m going to the K Club, St Andrews, and a bunch of others.”

The K Club, just outside the Irish capital of Dublin, hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, and St Andrews is renowned worldwide as the spiritual home of golf.

Last season ended in disappointment for Roethlisberger and the Steelers as they suffered an overtime defeat to the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild-card game.

“Any time your season ends like that you have just got to get over it. Come back stronger the next year and make sure you get better.”


You can read the rest here.

Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger top the quarterback rankings at the moment.


From Fantasy Football Analyst Jason Smith, NFL.com:

Let’s go 1-32 and see where everyone sits. The criteria for the rankings don’t factor in age. This is not “Who do you start a team with?” It’s simply a measurement of where each QB stands right now, entering the 2012 season.

1. Eli Manning, New York Giants
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: I’m still taking him over the next two guys because I believe he’ll win a playoff game in minus-45 degree weather before the other two will. And he’s got two rings.
4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
6. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
7. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
8. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
10. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles


You can read Mr. Smith’s column here.

…today to help Nike and the NFL with the unveiling of their new uniforms!

“It is not the old mesh, it breathes really well.” — Ben, on the lightness of the new material.

While he was there he obliged the media in attendance with interviews – questions ranging from his thoughts on the upcoming season, on the retirement of Hines Ward, on his new OC, on horse-collar tackles, and on the new uniforms, of course.

From the blog Steelers Gab:

Ben Roethlisberger has always been the center of attention in the Steel City, and Tuesday in New York City he along with 31 other NFL players were on hand to debut their teams new Nike NFL uniforms.

While the Steelers uni didn’t change much, Ben said that he liked the fact it’s a little lighter than that of the old Reebok unis.

“It’s a lot lighter and more comfortable in games, so late in games your going to feel like your not wearing anything,” Roethlisberger said.

You can read more here.



From Clifton Brown, Sporting News:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he looks forward to working with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Reports of a chilly start between them are “overblown,” he says.

“People have made such a huge deal of (Todd) and I not communicating. He’s got to move, he’s got five or six kids. It was just a simple comment — I haven’t talked to him yet — and it was blown way out of proportion. There is no ill feeling, or hard feelings or anything between us.”

Roethlisberger said he was fine with tacklers still being allowed to horse-collar quarterbacks in the pocket. NFL owners voted against disallowing horse-collar tackles in the pocket at the league meetings last month.

“People try any way they can to get me down, and that’s been a popular way sometimes,” Roethlisberger said. “But as long as I don’t get hurt I’m OK with it.”


You can read more here.

You can read another interview with Ben from the New York Post here.

More of Ben’s comments can also be read at ESPN.com.

You can watch a video of the uniform unveiling with interview clips of Ben at NFL.com.



And back in […]