Today, Ben announced the ninth and final grant of the 2010 season outside of the Pittsburgh area from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.

The Foundation will be distributing a grant to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department (CMHAPD), located in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers play the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday.

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department will use the grant to purchase much needed detection training supplies and protection equipment for their K-9 unit. The funds will help fill a void in the department left by the loss of Kubo, CMHA’s three-year old police dog, who died on September 27, 2010 during a training exercise.

Chief of Police Andres Gonzalez said, “I want to thank The Ben Foundation Foundation for this very timely award. We will now be able to enhance our training program and purchase needed items and vests for our K-9 unit.”

CEO and Safety Director George Phillips-Oliver added, “I appreciate the consideration given to us by The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. This generous grant will significantly enhance our police department. It will be used to improve the K-9 unit.”

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is distributing grants to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities of each regular season away-game for the Steelers in the 2010 season.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments in the nine cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.


For more info, check out the Foundation page here.

For information on the Giving Back Fund, click here.


You can also contact them directly:

Stephanie Sandler
The Giving Back Fund
310.649.5222
ssandler@givingback.org



Also Today:

“This is December football. If you don’t know what that means, find someone that does and ride with them! Time to ride boys, no more messin’ around!” — Ben, in the huddle during the Steelers vs. Panthers game.

NFL Videos is featuring a Sound FX of a wired Coach Tomlin and Ben from last week’s game against the Panthers.

Does Ben know how to Dougie? Is Coach worried Ben will “John Wayne” it?


You can check it out here.

Congratulations to Ben!


Ben was the recipient of the Chief Award today, an honor that is given annually to the Steelers player that is most helpful and cooperative with the media.

“I said I need to be more cooperative with people, be a better person,” said Ben. “It’s just a change I wanted to make in my life.”

The award is voted on annually by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association. The award is named after Steelers founder, Art Rooney.

“Anything named after ‘The Chief’ or the Rooney family is an honor,” he said. “So it is an honor.”

It is the first time in 23 years that a quarterback has won the award.


You can watch an interview with Ben about the award here.



Also Today:

Congratulations to rookie center Maurkice Pouncey. He was the recipient of the Joe Greene Award, which is given to the team’s outstanding rookie.

Ben spoke today about Maurkice’s first trip to the Pro Bowl –

“I am not surprised. I told you guys all along he is one of the best in the game. He is going to be the best. The sky is the limit for him. I am just happy and proud that everyone recognized it.”


And:

Career long consecutive pass attempt streak for Ben

Ben has a current streak of 136 consecutive pass attempts without throwing an interception, which is a career long streak. The streak began following his interception by CB Josh Wilson against Baltimore on Dec. 5 (Week 13). His previous best was a streak of 129 pass attempts without an interception during the 2008 season. That streak began at New England 11/30 when he was picked off by Mike Vrabel on his second pass attempt…He then attempted 129 pass attempts vs. Dallas 12/7, at Baltimore 12/14 and at Tennessee 12/21. Ben’s 130th pass attempt was intercepted by Michael Griffin, thus ending his streak at 129.

Ben’s current streak of 136 games is the longest for the Steelers since Kordell Stewart had a streak of 159 consecutive pass attempts without an interception in 2001. Stewart’s streak began after his last pass attempt at Tampa Bay 10/21 when he was picked off by Ronde Barber…it started vs. Tennessee 10/29 and continued vs. Baltimore 11/4, at Cleveland 11/11, vs. Jacksonville 11/18, at Tennessee 11/25 and ended at Minnesota 12/2. Stewart’s fifth pass was intercepted by Robert Griffith, thus ending […]

Carolina comes through during a quiet week!


Carolina Quintero had great seats and her camera at the December 19th game at Heinz Field against the Jets.

Now, the Steelers didn’t win, but we did with these great photos of Ben and your other favorite players, including some fun shots of the weekly “attack” ritual on Casey Hampton!


You can check out her photos here.


*Thank you so much, Carolina!



Also Today:

Congratulations to Maurkice Pouncey, James Harrison, and Troy Polamalu on their selections to represent the Steelers at the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ben and teammates Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, Casey Hampton, LaMarr Woodley, and Ryan Clark are all Pro Bowl alternates.

Thank you to all those fans who voted for Ben and his other teammates as well!



And:

Ben received an Honorable Mention for “A Year Full of Earful: The best sports quotes from 2010” as compiled by the Covers.com staff:

“I look like I went 12 rounds with (Manny) Pacquiao. I guess I’ll be having a little surgery in the morning to get it fixed.” — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the broken nose he suffered following a hard hit at the hands of Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata earlier this season. The next week, Roethlisberger wore a face shield on his helmet.


You can check out more great quotes from their list here.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ed Bouchette this morning:

Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace have been teammates for only 31 games, but they already are on the verge of becoming the most prolific big-play combination in franchise history.

When Roethlisberger and Wallace hooked up for a 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the Steelers’ victory Thursday against Carolina, they tied a club record for most touchdowns of 40 yards or more by a quarterback-wide receiver combination.

“He’s a great player,” Wallace said of Roethlisberger. “He has a real good feel for the game. It’s not hard for me as a receiver when you have a guy that good. I have the easy job, especially when you’re playing with a guy like that.”


You can read Mr. Bouchette’s article here.



Also Today:

Do Ben’s teammates think he’s soft?

Not a chance!


Check out this video interview at NFL.com with Mike Wallace and Lawrence Timmons.

I just want to wish all of my fans and Steelers fans out there a very Merry Christmas. I hope that everyone has a blessed holiday! And I hope that Santa brings all you kids out there everything you wanted!

Thank you all for your continued support, and a special thank you and Merry Christmas to Erin for the awesome job she does on this site!

Take care everyone and have a great New Year,

Ben


You can check out a larger version of Ben’s Christmas photo here.


You can also watch and listen to Ben’s message to the troops here.

Back by popular demand…


“Steel City Dreams” – Super Bowl XLIII, by artist Fred Carrow:

Twas the night before the game, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, except for his mouse.

The posters were hung, on his walls with great care,

In hopes that Big Ben, soon would be there.


The child was nestled, all snug in his bed,

As visions of touchdowns, danced in his head.

Terrible towel for his hand, bedpost for his cap,

He and his dog, settled down for their nap.


When up on his desk, arose such a clatter,

Should he awaken, the players would scatter.

From posters and photos, the players came forth,

Rehearsing the game, this team from the North.


With halftime approaching, the Cardinals were poised,

To score a touchdown, and end all this noise.

The call was to blitz, but deep in his mind,

James saw this before, and dropped in behind.


A slant to Fitzgerald, could never miscue,

Be sure to account, for this guy, ninety-two.

He slyly slipped back, and made a quick slash,

Intercepting the ball, for a one hundred yard dash.


Now Larry was game, and would never give up,

He’d run down this thief, who drank from their cup.

He could never get near, with this team that surrounds,

In order to catch him, he’d sneak out of bounds.


With a heart from the Burgh, but his apparel now red,

A pass up the middle, and the birds were ahead.

Ten peeked at the clock, its time to be great,

We’ll give it our best, and seal our own fate.


One final drive, to take back the lead,

Get Santonio the ball, and we’d surely succeed.

To the corner he ran, to the ball he did stretch,

Two toes in the zone, for the game winning catch.


He ‘woke the next morning, his visions had waned,

Twas merely a dream, yet the ticket remained?

And later that evening, his dreams they proved right,

“Seasons beatings to all and to all a good-night.”


XLIII – Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23


Original Poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore (1822).

Parodied by Fred in 2009.


*Thank you to Fred once again! Check out his website (and a larger version of the print) here .


Merry Christmas!