The Browns’ Joshua Cribbs was interviewed for NFL Network‘s new series “Top 100 Players of 2011” and had this to say about the Steelers quarterback:

“He’s one of the quarterbacks that has IT. A lot of quarterbacks don’t have that IT factor. You don’t know what it is, you can’t put your finger on it…nine times out of ten you can count on this guy to make a play! He has done a tremendous job for his team, led them to Super Bowl after Super Bowl.

“One thing I can say about Ben is he is clutch. In big games, he shows up. Coaches will harp on how hard it is to bring him down, and they’ll bring up the footage of him shaking off guys twice his size…

“Every team wants a winner, Ben Roethlisberger is winner.”


You can watch video with more of the interview here.

There’s still time…

“I just can’t say enough how great Ben was with the kids. We had Heath Miller, Brett Keisel & Chris Hoke come and work with the kids and they were great, too. However, when Ben showed up, it was absolutely electric!!” — Anita Doddroe, whose son attended the Camp in 2010.

Hey Kids! Join Ben this summer for some football instruction and fun at his Football Camp, 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.

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 talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond.


Parents and their guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

Some of the many Camp sponsors include High Mark , #1 Cochran Motors, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,  KDKA- Channel 2, and 102.5 WDVE!

Dates: June 20-21, 2011

Time: 9:00am – 12:30pm each day

Place: Mars Area High School, Mars, 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


A fun and educational experience is guaranteed!


To sign up for the camp, click here.

To learn how your youth football team can attend, click here.

To see photos, like the one taken above by fan Anita Doddroe, click here.

On Saturday night, April 30th at 8:00 p.m., NFL Network will premiere it’s new show, “The Top NFL Players of 2011” as voted on by NFL players.

Each episode will feature 10 players who made the cut. Each of those players will be saluted by someone who watched their play up-close and personal – from a coach, to a teammate, to a rival on the field.

The series will continue weekly on Sundays until the best player of 2011 is revealed on July 3rd.

The producers of NFL Films utilized the league’s most dynamic and recognizable names in the game today to assemble their list, a task usually reserved for Hall of Fame voters and media.

Immediately following each episode will be The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions, a one-hour recap show that takes a closer look at the countdown with analysis and commentary from NFL Network analysts, special guests and fans.

Where did Ben rank in the Top 100? How about Troy Polamalu? James Harrison? What about your other favorite Steelers? You’ll have to tune it to find out!


The Episode Schedule:

Episode #1 (rankings 100-91)
Saturday, April 30 at 8:00 pm

Episode #2 (rankings 90-81)
Sunday, May 8 at 8:00 pm

Episode #3 (rankings 80-71)
Sunday, May 15 at 8:00 pm

Episode #4 (rankings 70-61)
Sunday, May 22 at 8:00 PM ET

Episode #5 (rankings 60-51)
Sunday, May 29 at 8:00 PM ET

Episode #6 (50-41)
Sunday, June 5 8:00 PM ET

Episode #7 (rankings 40-31)
Sunday, June 12 at 8:00 pm

Episode #8 (rankings 30-21)
Sunday, June 19 at 8:00 pm

Episode #9 (rankings 20-11)
Sunday, June 26 8:00 pm

Episode #10 (rankings 10-1)
Sunday, July 3 at 8:00 pm


You can see previews, behind-the-scene videos and more here.

Sports photographer Jack Megaw was courtside at Hampton High School earlier this month (see April 15th news below) as Ben and the rest of the “Footballers” took on a team of Hampton Township teachers in a friendly game of basketball.

It was also for a good cause – the money raised for the event will go to the senior class for their prom and graduation festivities.

Mr. Megaw captured the action on the hardwood and was delighted to share them with us!


You can see his photos in the gallery.

You can also check out more of his wonderful sports images on his website.


*Thank you to Mr. Megaw!

ESPN.com‘s writers ranked the top 10 quarterbacks today….

Ben was ranked at Number 5!

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers were ranked ahead of him.


You can see the rankings and ‘somewhat’ of an explanation here.



From the AFC North blog of James Walker on his rankings:

Two AFC North quarterbacks made the top 10. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a no-brainer. He’s played in three Super Bowls, winning two. Roethlisberger finished No. 5 in the rankings behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. I voted Roethlisberger fourth and Rodgers fifth, but you can make a strong case for both quarterbacks, who are at the top of their game.

Is Flacco a top-10 quarterback? He was tied for the final spot with Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys to make the cut. I’ve watched more Flacco games in person than anyone on the panel and he didn’t make my top 10. I had Flacco rated No. 12 on my ballot behind Romo (No. 10) and Matt Schaub (No. 11) of the Houston Texans.

In three seasons, Flacco has yet to beat the Steelers when Roethlisberger is at quarterback and needs to perform better in the postseason. Therefore, I cannot consider him elite.


You can read the rest of Mr. Walker’s opinion here.



Also Today:


A “SHOUT OUT” to a very special fan….

10-year old Brian Marsh is a fifth grader at Mauger School in Middlesex, New Jersey! He is a BIG Ben and Steelers fan and just like Ben, he not only likes to fish and hunt, but his favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees.

But Brian doesn’t just watch sports, he participates as well – he is both a football and a baseball player as well as a wrestler. Oh, and did I mention that Brian recently won the Citizen of the Year Award in his hometown?

Brian has been battling a pretty tough illness, but one thing we know about Brian – he is fighter….

But even the toughest fighters need support!  Let’s make sure […]

April 24, 2004: A long day at the NFL Draft for the future Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback…

Ben arrives at Madison Square Garden that Saturday morning with plenty of supporters in his corner – his parents Ken and Brenda, his sister Carlee, his agents Leigh Steinberg and Ryan Tollner, and his college coach, Terry Hoeppner and his wife Jane.

At 11:20 a.m., Ben and four others – Eli Manning, Roy Williams, Robert Gallery, and Kellen Winslow Jr. – are introduced to the crowd.

Green Room waiting –

• 12:25 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the San Diego Chargers have selected Eli Manning with the No. 1 pick. Eli emerges from stage right and is greeted by unwelcoming chants by the Chargers fans in attendance.

• 12:58 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that the New York Giants have selected NC State quarterback Philip Rivers with the No. 4 pick. Soon thereafter the trade with the Chargers is announced – Eli Manning is headed to New York, Philip Rivers to San Diego. Both fanbases seem pleased with the outcome.

• 1:57 p.m.: Pittsburgh is on the clock. “We see Ben Roethlisberger on the phone,” ESPN announces for the television audience. Sure enough, it’s Steelers coach Bill Cowher calling to tell Ben the Steelers are going to choose him with the No. 11 pick.

• 2:00 p.m.: NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces that Ben is indeed headed for Pittsburgh. Ben arrives on stage and dons a Steelers ballcap and holds up a Steelers jersey.

• 2:01 p.m.: The Steelers fans in the crowd begin to chant, “Ben, Ben, Ben….”

• 2:02 p.m.: Just off stage, Ben does a press conference for television reporters and then disappears from the public room to do a few interviews with the Pittsburgh media.

• 2:43 p.m.: Ben emerges from the players’ party room where a press conference with print media is set up. An ESPN media representative announces, “Call from Steelers owner Mr. Rooney…” Ben takes the phone and his first words, “Yes sir, Mr. Rooney…”.

• 2:48 p.m.: After another media conference and a round of short one-on-one interviews that last until close to 3:30 p.m., Ben heads for the door – Steelers jersey still slung over his left shoulder.


(The above time-line was made from […]