We have four new pages of fans Capturing the Action at training camp….







































The quarterbacks had a little competition going – who could get the football into the trashcan (obviously not one of Coach Tomlin’s planned practice activities). Not only did Byron Leftwich’s last throw not make the trashcan, the football hit the photographer, Wendy Bennett, in the leg! Being a good sport, she just laughed, got them to laugh, and snapped this photo!


You can see all the latest action photos here.


There are also a few new photos added here, including two from Jeffrey Metz (see Friday’s news post below) that you’ll want to see!


And you have to read about this adorable Lil’ Fan!



*Thank you to everyone who sent in photos this week!!

“The only stats that matter to me are wins and losses and that usually correlates into Super Bowls. I don’t know how much longer I have left, but I’d like to think that I’m entering into the prime of my career, and that’s obviously why I was a little frustrated early on with the new offense because you feel like you’re just getting ready to go and then they change it on you. But I just feel like we took a quick step back but now we’re moving full steam ahead and I’m just really excited. I hope my best football is yet to come, and I hope that leads to more Super Bowls.” — Ben, today as a guest of the Vinnie & Cook Show on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.

From KDKA – Channel 2 on the topics discussed:

Ben sheds some light on how the offense is coming together under new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and shares his excitement about the young offensive line. Ben says it feels weird that he is the elder statesman of the offense, but says he enjoys watching the young guys grow and mature.


Listen to it here.

“I just want to be like my dad, so I’ve had 30 years of being around, to me, the best role model there is when it comes to being a father. I don’t know if a 20-minute sit-down really can do anymore for me than what 30 years of experience has brought to me.”  — Ben on being a father, from his interview with Sally Wiggin that aired this evening.

From WTAE TV – Channel 4:

It’s been a milestone year for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

He got married last July, celebrated his 30th birthday in March, graduated college in May and announced in June of this year that he and his wife, Ashley, are expecting their first child — a baby boy — later this year.

Channel 4 Action News anchor Sally Wiggin sat down with the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, where he’s preparing for the upcoming season, as well as being a first-time dad.

“Brett Keisel and I sat up here the other night for probably about an hour and just sat outside talking about kids and what it was like, so it’s neat to get experience, to talk to people who have experience like that,” said Roethlisberger.

With concussions looming over the NFL, Roethlisberger said he’ll allow his son to play football, but there will be some restrictions.

“If he wants to, yes. I’m going to support my son in whatever he wants to do. If he wants to play football, I’m all for it. The only thing I will say is I won’t let him play contact football until the fifth grade — that’s when I started playing. Nowadays I think they go full contact way too early. If he wants to play flag football or anything like that early, fine.”


You can read more from the 6:00 PM broadcast of his interview here.

You can watch more of his interview with Sally Wiggin during the 11:00 PM news broadcast.

Video of his full interview will be posted if and when it becomes available!

Starts with a special fan story….


First and foremost I feel honored to share this story with Steeler Nation on Ben’s website.

This is a story about a young man and his courage. Jeffrey Metz was born in San Diego, CA with cerebral palsy. My name is Mickey Metz, Jeffrey’s uncle. I’m originally from the north side of Pittsburgh, but have been living in Orlando, FL since 1985.

We have family in Mt. Pleasant, PA so I decided to invite Jeffrey to go on a road trip to Steelers training camp with me, my son, and my brother. His parents were reluctant to allow him to fly by himself to Orlando because of his physical disability, but Jeffrey won out and flew from Bakersfield, CA to our home in Orlando to start the road trip to Pennsylvania. He flew 3,000 miles and rode for 1,200 miles.

Friday, July 27, 2012, the first day of camp open for the public was the day that changed Jeffrey’s life forever.

We arrived at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA at noon. Upon arriving I sought out several staff members to see if there was any assistance (a wheelchair) for Jeffrey to get to the playing fields and unfortunately they couldn’t provide any. We weren’t sure how to get Jeffrey down the hillside from the handicap parking lot but Jeffrey knew the only chance he had to meet his favorite player, Ben Roethlisberger, was to climb down all the steps to the playing field. So even with a major fear of steps, he made it to the bottom – one slow step at a time, with crutches, to watch the players on the field.

After practice, Jeffrey climbed down the few remaining steps to the field level in hopes that Ben would notice him wearing his #7 jersey. However, Ben walked the opposite way from us to the other side of the grandstand to sign autographs. Still determined, Jeffrey climbed back up the stairs, walked to the other side and then back down the steps to the side where Ben was. Unfortunately, by this time Ben was already a distance away from where Jeffery was. Jeffrey was not giving up! He walked along the hillside […]

Would you like to share them with us?






































“Mr. Ben, will you sign my puppy?”


That little guy is JoJo Gratson! His parents said the moment he saw Ben, he ran to him….and right past Security! Before they could turn him around, Ben saw the boy and walked right over to him. When Jojo handed him the dog Ben asked, “What do you want me to do with this?” Jojo just smiled and handed him the sharpie! Then Ben “started all kinds of conversations with him” while he signed that dog.

Jane Gratson said Ben also told JoJo he had a Steelers dog just like that one!


You can check out more Fan Photos/Stories here, as well as ‘Action’ photos taken by fans here.

‘Lil’ Fans’ like JoJo have their own album here, and there’s also a ‘Lil’ Teammates’ album here!


You can send your photos to us at BigBen7website@gmail.com!



*Thank you to Rob & Jane Gratson, and to Tammy Palmer (who made the Steelers dog!).