“We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.” — Ben, on the mission of his foundation.

Today, Ben announced the fifth grant of the 2011 season from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The foundation will be distributing a grant to the Norwood Police Department just outside of Cincinnati, OH where the Steelers will play the Bengals this Sunday, November 13th.

The department is seeking financial assistance to purchase training and safety equipment for a canine and training for the handler.

Norwood Police Chief Keith Belleman said, “The Norwood Police Department is proud and grateful to receive the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation grant. This grant will allow the Norwood Police Department to re-institute its K-9 program. If not for the generosity of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, this would not have been possible. Mr. Roethlisberger has repeatedly shown his commitment to law enforcement and we couldn’t be more appreciative.”

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is distributing grants to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers in the 2011 season. Last summer, Ben invited police and fire departments in the local areas of those nine cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.


For more information:

Check out Ben’s Foundation page here and the Giving Back Fund’s website here.



Also Today:

ESPN‘s Jamison Hensley has compiled his Mid-Season All-Division Team for the AFC North today and has Ben as his pick for quarterback:

“Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers. He’s on pace for 4,679 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. Roethlisberger isn’t just the best quarterback of the division. He’s the best quarterback in the AFC right now.”

Mike Wallace, Brett Keisel, LaMarr Woodley, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and Antonio Brown also made his team!


You can check out the rest of his picks here.



And:

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Safety Ryan Clark was fined $40,000 by the NFL for his hit on Ravens tight end Ed Dickson in Sunday night’s loss to Baltimore. This is Clark’s second fine in two weeks after being hit with a $15,000 fine for a late hit against the Patriots, which he understood because it was out of bounds.

This time, though, he feels he did nothing wrong.

Clark’s teammates, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, agreed that the hit was legal.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Roethlisberger. “You never want to see one of your guys get hit, especially for that much money. I went back and watched it. If you slow it down and watch it, it’s about as picture-perfect of a tackle you can make. His head was down right across the chest and the back of his helmet maybe grazed the bottom of the receiver’s face mask. Someone needs to stand up and do something like De Smith. He is our player guy, stand up and do something for our players.”

Wide receiver Hines Ward was hit in the game by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, a play that wasn’t penalized and knocked Ward out of the game with a stinger. Roethlisberger was asked if the Steelers receivers get the same treatment as their opponents, although it was later learned Lewis was fined $20,000.

“Who hit Hines?” Roethlisberger sarcastically asked. “I don’t know if there was a fine. Was there a fine anywhere else? Who knows? You have to be careful how much you comment on that stuff.”


You can read more here.

A sample of post-game thoughts from around the web –


From Mike Bires, Beaver County Times:

Unlike six other times this year when the Steelers fought off injuries and won, that wasn’t the case Sunday night.

Roethlisberger, who was 7-1 against the Ravens at Heinz Field, appeared to have rallied the Steelers when he threw a 25-yard TD pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace with 4:59 left to play. That gave the Steelers a 20-16 lead, a lead the defense failed to protect.

On this night, the Steelers (6-3) just couldn’t win as they’ve done so often when hit by injuries.

The Steelers did get back linebacker James Harrison, who was playing for the first time since fracturing his right eye orbital in an Oct. 2 loss in Houston. Against the Ravens, Harrison recorded three sacks, including one in the fourth quarter that appeared to turn the game around.

Six plays later. Roethlisberger threw to Wallace for the go-ahead score.

But this game wasn’t over.

Later in the fourth quarter, with just 2:24 on the clock, Flacco drove the Ravens 92 yards for the victory.


You can read more here.

“Every loss stinks to me.” — Ben, when asked if this loss was  more “gut-wrenching” than others.

From Ethan Rothstein, SBNation.com:

Ben Roethlisberger looked like he had the Pittsburgh Steelers on their way to a win on Sunday Night against the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately Joe Flacco led a late comeback, leaving Roethlisberger’s statistics relevant in the winning department only for his fantasy owners.

Roethlisberger completed 20 of his 37 passing attempts for 365 yards and a touchdown while adding an additional 61 yards by way of three scrambles out of the pocket.

Ben Roethlisberger, statistically speaking, has been having the best season of his career so far in 2011. He’d been averaging a shade under 300 yards per game, along with 18 touchdowns, heading into Sunday night’s affair.

In Week 9, Roethlisberger faced the only team that’s been able to shut him down, the Baltimore Ravens and their 3rd-ranked pass defense. They certainly didn’t shut him down, but at least they held him out of the win column.


You can read more here.

“He won the game. […]

Top honors for Week 8 went to a duo from teams representing Pennsylvania – Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers won FedEx Air Player of the Week, and LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles won FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week!

Ben completed 36 of 50 passes for 365 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the Steelers’ 25-17 win over the New England Patriots. His total passing yards were the most of any quarterback on the weekend.

LeSean McCoy rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in the Eagles’ 34-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. His ground yardage total was the highest of any player on the weekend.

Junior Achievement has partnered with FedEx and with Ben’s win, they win! $2,000 will be donated to Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.

Thank you fans!!!


You can check out NFL.com for all the FedEx Players of the Week so far.

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com today:

You could hear the trepidation in 17-year old April’s voice as she spoke in front of those gathered at the CASA Champions for Children event at Heinz Field.

But after a few minutes she read from the poem “Hide Away” that she wrote, and a confident girl quickly emerged. A girl whose life has changed thanks to CASA and the volunteers her poem was directed toward.

April is one of the 250 kids served by CASA, short for Court Appointed Special Advocates, in Allegheny County. CASA works with children in the child welfare system that are neglected or abused. The advocates serve as a voice for the children in court and other situations to help ensure that every child has a safe, supportive and permanent home.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace served as the honorary chair of the event, something he is happy to do especially after meeting April.

The Steelers and CASA have teamed up thanks to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, whose wife Chris is a CASA volunteer. Wallace, Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger kicked off the night by attending a dinner with sponsors, giving them the opportunity to hear April speak.

“Kids are neglected in Allegheny County way too much,” said Roethlisberger. “These things help get those kids out of bad situations and put them into places where they can thrive and strive. These kids are in tough situations. If I can help them out I will do that.”


You can read more here.



Also Today:

“Steelers’ Roethlisberger shrugs off MVP talk”

From an article by Mark Kaboly, Pittsburgh-Tribune Review:

Drew Brees has the yards, Tom Brady has the reputation, and Aaron Rodgers, well, he probably has the award already locked up.

For Ben Roethlisberger, that’s just fine because he’s not really interested in all the talk of him being in the running for the NFL MVP award with some of the league’s heavyweights midway through the season.

He’s more worried about winning.

“I am never about individual stats and numbers,” Roethlisberger said. “For me, that has kind of defined my career by just winning football games. For me, that’s all that matters. For me, it is so much bigger than that.”

With the transformation of the Steelers to more of a pass-happy offense coupled with the best four-game stretch of his career, Roethlisberger has maneuvered himself into the league MVP race at the halfway […]