Ben’s press conference
Some of the highlights:
On having Heath Miller in the line-up –
“It’s huge. Heath Miller is one of the best tight ends in the game. I don’t want to take anything away from DJ or Matt Spaeth who played well last time, but Heath Miller is a special player, even when he is not getting the ball, he opens up things for the guys on the outside and he’s a great safety valve for me.”
On how different the New York Jets defense looks week to week –
“There is a lot of confusion. That’s probably one of the things that they pride themselves on. It starts with Coach Ryan. I mean, he is a mastermind at what he does. That’s why it’s extra study, it’s extra walk-throughs, it’s as much as you can do. The Jets defense beat the best two quarterbacks in the game, at their place. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, they’re good!”
On whether he believes his ability to move out of the pocket gives him an edge –
“I guess. But those two are also the best IN the pocket at doing what they do. And like I said, to go into their place and beat them at home is something really special.”
On New York Jets’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s comment that he loves him –
“I love him too! (laughter from the media). I have a lot of respect for those guys on defense, every single one of them because they are so good, they really are! All I have to say is they went into Indy and New England and beat the best two quarterbacks in the game, enough said in my opinion.”
On New York Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez –
“He makes the plays. People get on him a lot, you know it’s, ‘run the plays and manage the game, Mark!’, well no! To be a quarterback at this level and do what he has done you don’t just ‘manage the game’! You play the game and you do it at a high level, and that’s what he’s done! I think every week you see him take strides and get that much better.”
On whether there is frustration at not being put in the same “class” as both Peyton Manning and […]
What they’re saying…
“When I was in Baltimore my first year and Bart [Scott] kind of decapitated him, Ben came back into the game, and you know what he did? He said, ‘Great hit, Bart.’ He’s taken beatings, and he gets up. Time after time after time.” — Trevor Pryce, from the ESPN article/interview below.
Check these out:
From ESPN – Johnette Howard’s article/interview, “Big Ben poses big problems for Jets’ D” here.
Also from ESPN – John Clayton’s column, “Jets’ next challenge” here.
From Steelers.com – Game Day Exclusive – AFC Divisonal Round video here (Actually, this is a “must see”!)
From News Day – Arthur Staple’s article, “Next up for Jets: Big Ben” here.
From FOX Sports – Len Pasquarelli’s, “Roethlisberger on pace for Canton” here.
Also:
Thank you to all the fans that have already sent support emails for Ben and the team! If you haven’t sent one yet, there is still time! Just contact me here. They will be posted later this week!
Fear the Beard!
You can still get in on the “Fear the Beard” photo contest at Brett-Keisel.com! The winner will receive an autographed photo of #99!
Tomorrow:
Wednesday at 12:15 p.m., Steelers.com will have a LIVE Stream of a press conference with Ben, James Farrior, Hines Ward and Coach Tomlin!
*Thanks Trish!
It’s Jets vs Steelers…
And the talk has already begun….but it’s all good!
Updated Today:
“He’s a quarterback, who I think, is by far one of the best players in this league. That’s a lot of ‘tough sledding’ to overcome. He’s tough, he’s loose, he’s a great football player…but I think he embodies the temperament of a winner. Rex has the utmost respect for him. He’s told us that many times, and the other way around, the same thing.
“Tom Brady is not going to move. Tom Brady is looking to be hit. Ben wants to be hit. He has a much different mentality. He brings a tough-guy mentality to the game.” — Jets defensive end Trevor Pryce, from Jets.com today (click on the link to see the video).
“How do you prepare to tackle a guy as big as a polar bear? How do you prepare for a guy who can flick a ball 50 yards at the drop of a dime? How do you prepare for a guy that can run like he does? How do you prepare for a guy that wants to win like he wants to win?
“I don’t think anything really works with that guy, because he makes it up as he goes along. He’s as big as all of us and he’s impossible to tackle. He will not go down. If you go in there and do the same thing, he’ll kill you.” — Trevor Pryce, talking about Ben again on ESPN later this afternoon.
“I’ve never seen a guy take the hits he can take and also make people miss the way he does and be as accurate on the run. ” — Jets Coach Rex Ryan, from a Q&A with the media.
“He’s a great guy. He’s a tough guy … I love him, man. Ben’s a competitor, man.” — Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, during post-game comments last night.
“I give Ben Roethlisberger a lot of credit, he’s man enough to stay in the pocket, look in the barrel of the gun and take the hit. Most quarterbacks don’t like getting hit. When they get hit, they turn into a totally different person.” — Jets linebacker […]
Sunday: Notes & Quotes
” I told Bruce Arians, ‘Let’s send him.’ All the receivers were supposed to do 15-yard stop routes. I said, ‘Let’s just chuck it deep. If they pick it, it’s a pick way down there, and it’s just as good as a punt. Ed Reed lined up to the left.” — Ben, on the “third-and-19 rainbow pass” to Antonio Brown, from Peter King’s column this morning at SI.com.
More from SI‘s Peter King:
There’s a reason why the Steelers have been so good for so long. The system gets the coaches the players, the players get coached, and the players fit into the roles the old Steelers like Jack Lambert and Terry Bradshaw and Mike Webster defined; and before you know it, James Harrison (three sacks against Baltimore), Roethlisberger (two touchdowns, 101.8 rating, seventh straight win over the hated Ravens) and Maurkice Pouncey (a brute force in the middle of the line, though a rookie) take their place, and play big in big games the way their predecessors did.
You can read all of Mr. King’s column here.
“It’s Ben. You give this guy an opportunity to snap it; he’s capable of producing plays. It’s not always how you draw it up, but he has a no-blink mentality. He is a competitor and a winner. And those guys follow him.” — Coach Tomlin, post-game.
From ESPN’s James Walker, in his AFC North Blog:
There is not much that separates the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Both teams have elite defenses, Pro Bowl players, future Hall of Famers and two of the best coaching staffs in the NFL.
But on Pittsburgh’s sideline you have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. And on Baltimore’s sideline you have Joe Flacco.
Game, set and match in favor of the Steelers.
The game marked Roethlisberger’s seventh consecutive win over Baltimore — Pittsburgh’s biggest rival — and improved his career record to 9-2 against the Ravens. It’s painfully obvious that the Ravens will not climb “Mt. Roethlisberger” until Flacco closes ground on Pittsburgh’s two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback.
You can read the rest of Mr. Walker’s […]
Steelers win AFC Division Game, 31-24
I’ve got confidence in the guys. All I’ve got to do is throw it.” — Ben, after the win.
From the New York Daily News‘ Hank Gola:
Ben Roethlisberger broke the Ravens hearts again.
In a play that will go down as one of the biggest in the rich history of the Steelers, Roethlisberger completed a 58-yard pass to rookie Antonio Brown on third-and-19 from the Steeler 39 to set up Rashard Mendhall’s two-yard TD with 1:39 left. The 31-24 win sent the Steelers to their second AFC Championship Game in three years. They will either visit the Patriots or host the Jets.
It was Roethlisberger’s eighth straight win over the Ravens and his third in the post-season and it came on a day where they sacked him six times. But Roethlisberger, who threw for two third quarter TDs, emerged from the backyard brawl whistling again.
You can read more here.
“Right now I don’t feel anything but joy!” — Ben, when asked about the “beating” he took during the game.
From WLTX-CBS Columbia, SC:
In a game that looked headed to the first application of the NFL’s new overtime rule, Ben Roethlisberger had other plans.
Roethlisberger’s biggest pass of the day set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall with 1:33 left that gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a 31-24 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
The win sends Pittsburgh into the AFC title game against either the New England Patriots or the New York Jets, who meet Sunday.
You can read more here.
“We’re family. We have been ever since I’ve been here.” — Ben, talking about his team.
From the AP‘s quick game summary:
The Pittsburgh Steelers stood around as the Baltimore Ravens scored an inexplicable first-half touchdown. Then it was the error-prone Ravens who watched helplessly as the team they love to beat most came back to beat them when it mattered most.
You can read more here.
From ESPN‘s James Walker, AFC North Blog:
The Ravens and Steelers staged another classic game in this heated rivalry, as Pittsburgh overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half. An unbelievable, 58-yard pass on third-and-19 to rookie Antonio Brown proved to be the difference.
You can read more here.
“I saw […]
Ben: “I love this time of year”
“I might never win the passing title or be the league MVP. But I’m OK with that. I just want to win championships. I’ve got a lot of fingers left for rings and I want to win a lot more championships. When I’m done and they look back on my career, I want them to be able to say he won the big games. That will mean more to me than anything.” — Ben, from Mr. Cook’s column.
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ron Cook this morning:
Roethlisberger will play in another of those big games Saturday when the Steelers meet the Ravens at Heinz Field. With all due respect to the Steelers’ great defense, he’s the No. 1 reason to like the home team. He and Brady are the best big-game quarterbacks of this generation.
“I’ve seen and heard a few of the guys say, ‘In 7 We Trust,’ ” Roethlisberger said. “That’s an unbelievable honor. I don’t take that for granted. But I do take that pressure. I want to be that guy for this team. I want to win for my teammates.”
You can read Mr. Cook’s entire column here.
You can check out photos from practice this week here.