“We were the last two of our draft class (2004), and Max’s locker was next to mine for seven-eight years now. So I saw his jersey, I grabbed it and wore it in honor of Max” — Ben

From USA Today‘s Gary Mihoces this evening:

For practice Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger wore an oversized jersey No. 78 in tribute for former Steelers OT Max Starks.

Starks played for the Steelers at 6-8, 345 pounds.

“It’s his practice jersey. It’s little big. It kept riding on my neck,” said Roethlisberger.

“First and foremost, he was a very good friend,” said Roethlisberger. “Like I said, our lockers were next to each other. So we spent a lot of time together, everything from hearing him snore (during naps) to us complaining about things to just all the things we’ve gone through.

“So very good friend, good teammate and I’m not going to (rule) out the possibility that he might come back. Who knows?”


You can read more from Mr. Mihoces here.

You can see photos from this weekend here.



From Inside Pittsburgh Sports‘ Dale Grdnic:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger fired a wide-receiver screen to split out Mike Wallace on the opening play in 11-on-11 drills that quickly broke open for a long gain. Roethlisberger followed that with a short across the middle that tight end Heath Miller pulled in among several nearby defenders for a first down.

Roethlisberger, who wore a No. 78 practice jersey to honor former Steelers left offensive tackle Max Starks, continued to be sharp in moving the ball down the field….


You can read more from Mr. Grdnic here.

You can see a few fan photos from today here.


If you would like to share your photos from training camp, please email me (BigBen7website@gmail.com)!



Division Rivals – Quote of the Day:

“Kindle made it through the three-hour practice in full pads without incident, which is very good news for all concerned. He was a premier pass rusher in college and would be a major asset to a Ravens team that had a franchise-low 27 sacks […]

Excerpt from WPXI‘s “Camp Notebook” this evening:

2:45 p.m. – The Steelers have begun making their way onto the field. They are still not allowed to wear pads.

Some of the first guys out here are Heath Miller and Byron Leftwich. They’ll be practicing on the far soccer field today because the normal ones are very wet from yesterday’s storms.

The biggest cheer from the crowd came when Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison walked down the steps HOLDING HANDS!

It may be the heat, but the crowd is extremely small for the first Saturday of camp.


WPXI does a great job of taking you through the whole practice day here.

You can check out a larger version of the photo above on WPXI’s slideshow here.



Also Today:

Teresa Varley, of Steelers.com – Steelers Training Camp Diary

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Steelers ‘interested’ in Burress

Damon Hack, of SI’s “Inside the NFL” – Postcard from camp: Steelers

Ben talks Burress…

“We have a great group of young guys who I think would welcome an opportunity to play alongside Plaxico as well as they welcome the challenge of running alongside Hines Ward.” — Ben.

From Ed Bouchette at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today:

Ben Roethlisberger laughed today over James Harrison’s comments in Men’s Journal that he was no Peyton Manning, but says it’s no laughing matter about trying to get receiver Plaxico Burress to rejoin the Steelers.

The quarterback said he has been lobbying Plaxico for the past two months to consider re-signing with the Steelers, who drafted him in the first round in 2000.

“I’ve been talking to him,” said Roethlisberer, who was a rookie during Burress’ final season with the Steelers in 2004. “Plax and I have been talking for the last couple of months. I talked to him the other day and said, ‘Would you be interested?’ I’m excited for him to come whenever he comes here.”


You can read more here.



Ben talks to the media…

“We were joking literally that day, talking about it because no one’s going to be harder on me than I am.” — Ben, on his discussion with James Harrison over magazine comments earlier this month.

After Friday morning’s walk-through, Ben took some time to talk with the media before lunch.


Check out the video of his interview here.

Photos are here.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund is still welcoming grant inquiries for support until August 1st for the 2011-12 season!


The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2011-12 season.

As the deadline approaches, the Foundation is still seeking grant requests from Police and Fire agencies in San Francisco, Indianapolis and Kansas City!!

If your city, county or town falls within the surrounding area of any of these three major cities and your local public safety agency needs assistance with the purchase of K-9’s, rescue or bomb dogs, their equipment or care, please give them this link so they can view the full grant requirements, eligibility and evaluation process to make their request!


For more information, please contact Jessica Duffaut at jduffaut@givingback.org.

From Jason Cato at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this evening:

Big Ben’s wedding is proving to be the event that keeps on giving. At least for the next few days.

Floral arrangements made from flowers used for the wedding and reception of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his bride, the former Ashley Harlan, were delivered to the Ronald McDonald House and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, both in Lawrenceville, as well as the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh in Bloomfield and The Children’s Institute in Squirrel Hill.

“There were a lot of them,” said Rachel Check, owner of Hepatica, the Regent Square florist the Roethlisbergers hired. “That’s why so many people were able to enjoy them.”

Flowers used in the wedding and reception included roses, orchids and hydrangeas.

Hepatica regularly donates arrangements to hospitals and charities after events and weddings, but Check said leftovers from Saturday’s wedding provided more than usual. She declined to say how many arrangements were delivered this week.


For Mr. Cato’s column, click here (left-side, under Photo Gallery).

From Steeler Nation….


I just wanted to say congratulations to Ben and his bride Ashley. May you both have a long and happy life together and have lots of babies. God Bless you both. — Debi Mackey


Just wanted to say we saw the picture of Ben and Ashley on the website and wanted to tell them they make a very lovely couple. Best of wishes for a happy marriage. — The Rodriguez family


Ben and Ashley: A marriage can be a love affair…a friendship…a journey….a partnership. And the family it creates will be the best part of your lives. “This Day I Will Marry My Friend, Whom I laugh With, Cry With, Live For, Love”. I wish all of that and more for the two of you as you are beginning your life together. Best wishes, be happy! — Jan Banko, Nescopeck PA


Ben and Ashley, I wish you both the best throughout your lives together. I hope its full of happiness and joy. I couldn’t be any happier for the both of you. — Kayla Levers, Akron Ohio


Congratulations Ben and Ashley on your marriage. May God bless you and guide you through life’s road together, may the love that you two share grow deeper every day. — Love, Billie Jo and Greg Yakubik, Pittsburgh, PA

Ben and Ashley, CONGRATULATIONS to you on your marriage. I wish for you a lifetime of love and happiness. Your rehearsal dinner and wedding pictures are fantastic. Thanks for sharing them with the public. You make a beautiful couple, and your smiles are contagious! God bless you. — Karen, Wheeling, WV

Congratulations to Ben and Ashley on their marriage!! What a beautiful bride! Beautiful dress! Lovely couple! May our Father in Heaven bless your marriage and give you a long and happy life together! — Regards, Anita Doddroe, Canal Winchester, OH


Just wanted to wish Ben and Ashley the best of luck and happiness!! Go Steelers!! Can’t wait for the season!! — J.P. Grey, Duryea, PA


Ben and Ashley, “Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry.” ~ Tom Mullen. Here is to a wonderful life […]