From the AP‘s Dave Skretta today:

It would take a lot more than a banged up thumb to keep Roethlisberger out this week. The Steelers (7-3) are a half-game behind Baltimore (8-3) in the tough AFC North, with Cincinnati just a game back, heading into this week’s games. They have a good opportunity to pick up a win on the road against the Chiefs (4-6), who have lost three straight and been ravaged by injuries all season.

“I’ll be out there, I guarantee that,” Roethlisberger said. “It won’t be an issue that way. Will it be an issue with pain and throwing? I don’t know.”

The truth is that Roethlisberger seems to play better when he’s ailing.

There have been numerous concussions, several knee injuries, and a fractured thumb sustained a few weeks ago against Cincinnati. Roethlisberger plans to play tonight against Kansas City, even though he admitted it’ll be painful, and that’s dreadful news to the Chiefs.

“He’s an extremely intense competitor,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “and I think adversity such as that brings that out of him. I think it’s a characteristic that all good competitors have.”


You can read more here.



Also This Weekend:

From ESPN AFC North Blogger‘s Jamison Hensley in his “Fived nuggets of knowledge about Week 12”:

Best under duress: It seems like Ben Roethlisberger, who has a fractured right thumb, thrives when playing in pain. But there’s no question that he is the best when it comes to handling pressure this season. Roethlisberger is completing 60 percent of his passes this season when under duress, the best rate among qualified quarterbacks.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, “under duress” is defined as situations when defensive pressure forced players to throw early, off-balance or when they were getting hit. The league average for completion percentage while under duress is 38.5 percent.


You can read the rest here.


Tonight’s game is on NBC at 8:20 PM. Go Steelers!

From Ben this evening…

“Ashley and I want to wish everyone out there all over the country and world a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving! We hope everyone has an amazing day, and don’t eat too much, lol. We all have so much to be thankful for, we hope that everyone appreciates everything the good Lord has blessed us all with. Happy Turkey Day everyone!”

From Steeler Nation…


“I would like to wish Ben, his family, and you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope Ben is resting his thumb but getting enough reps that he will feel comfortable in the game.He is such a tough, elite, and warrior QB that always gets the job done!! I wish him, his family, and you a healthy, enjoyable, and safe Thanksgiving!! Good luck to the Steelers on SNF!! We are on the road to number #7!! Go Steelers!!” – Michelle



“Enjoy your turkey and Thanksgiving and don’t eat too much, and show the Chiefs on Sunday-night who’s the boss!!!” — Todd Ross


“Happy 1st Thanksgiving together, Ben & Ashley!” — Annette Filippone


“Ben, Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful that you are doing well!” — Susan B. Oglietti

“Happy Happy Thanksgiving! When I offer my Thanksgiving prayers you and yours will be counted amongst them! A special one for our dear Ben and family…for health and safety and healing of his thumb.” — Mary Rafail, Utah

“Would like to wish Ben and Ashley a Happy Thanksgiving as a married couple. from their die hard steeler fans in Fort Worth, Texas! Go Steelers!” — The Rodriguez Family


“Happy Thanksgiving and may Good Luck and Gods Blessings surround you and yours!” — Juanita Tondy


“Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!” — Terrie Frye

“Ben, hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your time with your family. Give the thumb a rest and good luck in Sunday’s game!” — Wendy Hodges

“Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.” — Mike Clegg


“Ben, here’s wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving may the Lord bless you and your family. Enjoy your day ! You are the hero in the Florez family.” — Diana Cubilla


“Have a joyous day and give thanks for all the blessings.” — Donna Repka


“Now more than ever, be thankful for your […]

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

The foundation will be distributing a grant to the Kansas City Police Department in Kansas City, Missouri where the Steelers will play the Chiefs this Sunday, November 27th.

The department will purchase a dual-purpose canine so that a 10-year-old veteran canine can retire. The new canine’s skill will be put to work on the national stage during the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and at presidential candidate events in the upcoming year.

Kansas City Police Commander Kevin O’Sullivan said, “The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is thrilled to be receiving this award from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. The money will be used to purchase a dual-purpose canine for both patrol work and bomb detection. We have a great need for a young energetic pup to take the place of a very experienced dog that will be retired this year.”

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.

In commenting on why the mission of the foundation is so important to him, Ben said, “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.”


For more information:

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

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Billy Cole of Pittsburgh! He was the winner of the contest…and of the 8X10 autographed photograph of Ben hoisting the Super Bowl XLIII trophy!


Billy submitted his two photos on November 15th:

“This isn’t just a man cave, it’s a man and woman cave! My fiancee Sheena and I just bought our first house at 26-years old and this is OUR Steelers Cave! (and Dog Cave! Our dogs Wonka and Stanley are huge Big Ben Fans also! We call them Medium Ben and Little Ben when they wear their Roethlisberger jerseys on Sunday! We hope you like it!”


You can see his “Fan Cave” here (first two photos re-posted).


Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs for the contest! It was a tough decision given all the great rooms to choose from!

Oh, and we will have more contests in the future, so please check back!



Also Today –


Update: Ben’s injury

“Those of us who know Ben understand that he’s going to show and show for his teammates.” — Coach Tomlin.

From ESPN‘s Jamison Hensley this afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger’s fractured right thumb didn’t put him on the sidelines the day it happened — the Steelers’ Nov. 13 win at Cincinnati. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin says it won’t keep him out this Sunday, either.

Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger will start at quarterback against the Kansas City Chiefs. And while Tomlin can’t tell how much the thumb will affect him, he expects Roethlisberger to be effective.

Roethlisberger wore a splint under his glove and didn’t take a snap from under center Monday, working out of shotgun and pistol formations. Yet Tomlin doesn’t think direct snaps from center Maurkice Pouncey will be a problem Sunday.


You can read more here.


You can also read Ben’s interview today at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

#1 Cochran Buick GMC of Robinson has posted many photos from Ben’s appearance on November 14th to their dealership’s Facebook page!


From #1 Cochran:

#1 Cochran Buick GM hosted a V.I.P. event on November 14th, 2011, for those customers who purchased a vehicle during the “Save Big, Meet Ben” event.

Although Big Ben broke his thumb only a day before the event, he showed up in great spirits.

He felt badly he couldn’t sign autographs due to his injury, but posed for photographs with all of the guests.

Once his thumb is better, he has promised to personally sign all of the photos which #1 Cochran will then give to the guests to commemorate the event. In addition to meeting Big Ben, guests enjoyed refreshments and were entertained by 93.7 The Fan AND the Steelers’ own Steely McBeam.

The event took place in #1 Cochran Buick GMC of Robinson’s brand new showroom.


You can view all the photos on their Facebook page.



Also Today:

From ESPN‘s Jamison Hensley, AFC North Blog:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is doing his best to protect his fractured right thumb.

Roethlisberger didn’t take a snap from center during practice on Monday, instead working out of the shotgun and pistol formations to avoid the risk of aggravating the injury.

While he called the thumb painful Roethlisberger insists he should be good to go on Sunday night when the Steelers play at Kansas City. Roethlisberger hurt the thumb in the second half of a win at Cincinnati a couple weeks ago but stayed in the game.

“It hurts first off to just grip the ball,” he said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “It’s something you’ve got to get used to.”

He said coach Mike Tomlin told him not to throw on Monday, “but I was like ‘I want to get some reps, I want to throw some.’ ”


You can read more here.

You can also read Scott Brown’s report at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review here…

And Ed Bouchette’s interview transcript with Ben at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here.

Ben will be the guest speaker at the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame banquet on April 28, 2012.

The event will take place at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA.

“With it being our 25th anniversary, we thought it would be appropriate to get a blockbuster name,” Blair Hall president Dave Andrews said. “And we have that with Ben Roethlisberger.”

Mr. Andrews continued, “Ben’s agent went to Hines, and he spoke highly of our event,” Andrews said. “It was something that interested Ben’s agent, and Ben accepted right away. He wanted to speak for an organization that honors student athletes and local sports heroes. We invited him to bring his wife as well.”

Set for induction April 28 are former St. Francis basketball player and current Williamsburg coach Don Appleman, former Maryland football player Todd Benson, former minor league baseball player Harold “Bucky” Bush, former Duquesne University and WNBA player Candace Futrell, former Villanova basketball player Allen Griffith and Tyrone Area High School’s PIAA championship football team of 1999.

Tickets are $85 each or $850 for tables of 10. Corporate packages, which include 10 tickets to Saturday night’s banquet, 10 tickets to Friday night’s inductees reception and a photo with Ben, are also available.


For more information, contact Kathy Millward at 296-2302.