Once again, Ben served up some good cheer and great food over the holidays at Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh.


This year, approximately forty children, including siblings, enjoyed a delicious New Year’s Eve dinner that included a menu of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, different salads, tortelli, and dessert, all provided by Ben.

According to Leslie Montgomery of Ronald McDonald House, “The families had a wonderful time at their holiday feast and enjoyed every last bite. There weren’t even leftovers and they loved the desserts.”

All together, sixty families from all over the United States, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina and Vermont enjoyed the holiday meal together. There was also a family from Egypt and one from Kuwait who enjoyed the festivities so far from home.

The families were “overwhelmed” and a good time was had by all!


For information on Ronald McDonald House Charities, Pittsburgh, click here.

You can see more Community news here.


*Thank you to Ms. Montgomery!



Also Today:

If you missed Ben’s interview on ESPN Radio‘s Mike & Mike Show this morning, you can listen to the podcast here.



And:

If you’re ever driving through Bridgewater, New Jersey….

Stop by Soprano’s Pizza, run by Steelers fan John Galatti, and you’ll think you’re back home!

Just tell him that Erin sent ya!

Check out a couple of photos of John’s place here.

John’s children can be found in the Lil’ Fans album here.


*Thank you to John for sharing the photos!

Sports Illustrated is unveiling its list of the Most Decisive Moments over the course of the past 44 Super Bowls, presented by Bing:

Most games come down to one play, one decision, one moment that decides the outcome. SI has selected the most pivotal moments in Super Bowl history and they want you to select the winner. There are three rounds to the voting and no limit to how many times you can vote.

Round 1 began today and runs through January 18th. Round 2 begins on January 19th and ends January 25th.

The Championship Round begins January 26th and ends February 3rd.

The Winning Moment will be announced on February 4th.

There are two recent Steelers Super Bowl “moments” among the list:

Randle El-to-Ward Flea Flicker – Super Bowl XL
Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
Feb. 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Getting the ball on an apparent reverse around the right end, wideout Antwaan Randle El throws on the run and hits Hines Ward in stride for a 43-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a two-score lead with just over nine minutes left to play. It’s the first touchdown pass thrown by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history.

See photos here.


And:


Roethlisberger to Holmes TD
Super Bowl XLIII
Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
Feb. 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa

Surrounded by three defenders in the back corner of the end zone, Santonio Holmes pulls down Ben Roethlisberger’s perfect spiral and, using his tiptoes like a ballerina, keeps both feet inbounds to score the winning touchdown with 35 seconds left to play. The 6-yard reception – one of nine totaling 131 yards – earns Holmes MVP honors.

See photos here.


There are other “moments” in Steelers Super Bowl history as well – Terry Bradshaw’s completion, Super Bowl IX on Jan. 12, 1975; Swann’s catch, Super Bowl X on Jan. 18, 1976; Franco Harris’ touchdown run, Super Bowl XIII on Jan. 21, 1979; and John Stallworth’s touchdown catch, Super Bowl XIV on Jan. 20, 1980.


You can check out all of them and cast your votes here.

Ben was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.


The Steelers 41-9 win also secured them the AFC North title. Ben completed 15 of 22 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 141.3 passer rating.

Ben finished the regular season having completed 240 passes for 3,200 yards, 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions. It’s the fifth consecutive year he has thrown for over 3,000 yards.

He also finishes the regular season with the third best quarterback rating (96.98) in the AFC, behind only Tom Brady and Philip Rivers…after missing four games!

Ben was also selected as the Steelers Digest Player of the Week!

You can read more on that here.



Quote of the Day:

“It’s all about team – offense, defense and special teams. It’s about how close this locker room is. Maybe a better word, team is a sub-word, family is better. You start with the coaches, owners, and the Rooney family. We are family. That is the better word.” — Ben, on the success of this year’s team.



Tomorrow:

You can catch Ben on ESPN‘s Mike & Mike Show at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, January 6th! He will be a phone-in guest!

…an elite quarterback?

“How many Super Bowls does a guy have to win to get some respect around here?” – SI’s Kerry J. Byrne, from his column below.

From Sports Illustrated “Cold Hard Football Facts” columnist Kerry J. Byrne this afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger’s name never comes up when it comes time to name the elite quarterbacks.

It should.

The truth is Big Ben is one of the most prolific passers in the history of football. The problem is many fans and pigskin pundits are obsessed with meaningless volume numbers and not the meaningful efficiency numbers — such as average per attempt — that have a high correlation to success.

Roethlisberger’s career average of 8.04 yards per attempt is the fifth highest mark in the history of football. Three of the guys ahead of him are in the Hall of Fame (Graham, Luckman, Van Brocklin). He’s topped 8.0 YPA in a season four times in seven years. Peyton Manning’s done it twice in 13 seasons. Tom Brady? Just once.

The Steelers instantly became contenders the day Big Ben walked on the field. And they are a threat to win it all again. Roethlisberger’s historic ability to puncture defenses with long passing plays is the biggest reason.


You can read more from Mr. Byrne here.



From ESPN‘s John Clayton, who has Ben ranked 4th in the Elite Divison:

His formula – these quarterbacks complete better than 60 percent of their passes, have 4,000-yard passing potential and demonstrate fourth-quarter comeback ability. These players can carry a team to the playoffs.

1. Tom Brady

2. Peyton Manning

3. Drew Brees

4. Ben Roethlisberger – Roethlisberger grew up as a person after starting the season with a four-game suspension and remained every bit as good as a quarterback. The only knock is his tendency to have low-scoring games against top defenses.

Mr. Clayton also has Ben ranked as the top tier quarterback in the AFC North.


To understand his ranking system and to read his full list, click here.



And while the Baltimore Sun’s Matt Vensel agreed with Mr. Clayton’s 1 through 4, he differed with the rest of his list:

I briefly mentioned earlier that my definition of an elite quarterback is a little different, […]

“This is one step to what we hope is the ultimate…we love to win the division, especially this division, because it’s a hard division to win. We hope this is just the beginning.” — Ben, to reporters after the game.

Today’s Game: Steelers 41, Browns 9

1st Playoff Game: Saturday, January 15th at 4:30 p.m. (CBS)



Media Notes & Quotes….


From ESPN:

The Steelers (12-4) clinched the AFC North division title and a first-round bye for the second time in three years. Pittsburgh holds the No. 2 seed and would only have to play on the road at New England if both of those teams play in the AFC title game.

The Steelers return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl following the 2008 season. Pittsburgh will play the highest seed from the wild-card round.


You can read more here.



From Tom Withers, AP:

Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes as the Steelers geared up for another Super Bowl run by winning their division and securing a first-round playoff bye with a 41-9 win Sunday over Cleveland. He finished 15 of 22 for 280 yards and has gone 158 consecutive attempts without throwing an interception, the longest streak of his career.

In winning its third division title in four years, Pittsburgh guaranteed itself at least one postseason home game.

Roethlisberger, who got to rest most of the second half, threw a 56-yard TD to Mike Wallace on his first pass. The Steelers (11-5) built a 31-3 halftime lead and rocked the rival Browns (5-11).


You can read more here.



From Slam Sports:

The Steelers were in control throughout the regular season finale, scoring on all six possessions with Roethlisberger under center.

Troy Polamalu, returned from a two-game absence and made an immediate impact with an interception on the second play from scrimmage. On the next snap, Wallace got behind the secondary and hauled in Roethlisberger’s 56-yard bomb for an early lead that was quickly extended.

Wallace’s 41-yard catch and run highlighted a 10-play, 71-yard march that Mendenhall capped with a one-yard run with 6:57 left in the opening quarter.

Pittsburgh continued to impose its will on offense on the ensuing possession, which ended in another Mendenhall one-yard romp for a 21-3 cushion.

McCoy was intercepted on Cleveland’s next two drives. […]

From the website manager’s perspective:

All things being equal, give me No. 7. In the NFL’s biggest game, on its grandest stage, I’ll take Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger over Indianapolis Colts’ wunderkind Peyton Manning to win a Super Bowl. — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review‘s John Harris, January 9th.

“He put a smile on my family’s face today and I’m pretty sure my son will never forget it. If he does, he’s always got a nice picture and autograph to remind him. I should have never prejudged the guy like so many others.” — Colin Gratchen, in an email to me about his son Maddox meeting Ben , April 23rd.


“We’ll welcome him with open arms. He’s still our quarterback, and he doesn’t have to win over anybody.” — Hines Ward, from an interview, May 1st.


“Our relationship with Ben is exactly as it has always been. Nothing has changed…He’s met with kids from all over country, not just our chapter. He’s a hot commodity.” — Judith Stone, the president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Make-A-Wish branch, from an interview with Fox Sports, May 3rd.


“When Ben showed up, it was absolutely electric!! The kids were ecstatic and regardless of how the media portrays it, as far as I could tell most, if not all, of the parents were happy to see him, too. I didn’t hear a single negative reaction.” — Parent Anita Doddroe, who was on hand for Ben’s surprise visit to the Coach Tomlin Football Camp, June 27th.


“Driving up here today I was talking to my dad, and for the first time it hit me about what is about to happen and – who knows? I got scared. I really did. He said it is OK to be scared and afraid of those things, and to just be yourself and be human; and that is what hit me coming up here. I don’t know what is going to happen, and I am scared.” — Ben, during an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ed Bouchette, July 30th.

“Roethlisberger walked down the hill to practice amid cheers. Not a boo was heard.” — Tweet from Steel City Insider‘s Jim […]