Ben’s Statement…
“I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person. I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
For more news from today, see the post below.
Whitfield on Ben: “He’ll be ready”
From an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this morning written by Scott Brown:
George Whitfield Jr. is well aware of the pressure that comes with his latest endeavor. But Whitfield looks at working with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the professional opportunity of a lifetime.
“I cannot wait for this four-week run to see how sharp I can get him by the time week five rolls around,” Whitfield said Wednesday. “He’ll be ready.”
Whitfield, 32, trains quarterbacks for a living — he is the owner of Whitfield Athletix in San Diego — and he first worked with Roethlisberger right after the 2009 season in Southern California.
Of their first day together, Whitfield recalled: “I don’t know how many guys like to throw in the rain, but he did it in a steady, driving rain for two hours. To him, it was much more than just going through drills. He wanted to know: ‘What did you notice here? What do you have in mind for this drill?’ I learned how dedicated this guy is.”
“We did talk to (Roethlisberger) about being out in Southern California, but he said right away: ‘I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to be right here in the city of Pittsburgh, near my teammates,’ ” Whitfield said.
You can read the entire article/interview with Mr. Whitfield here.
New Fan Story…
Rich Huttenhower and his 6-year old son Teddy attended the Steelers pre-season game in Denver last Sunday and sent their story today:
We were just at the Steelers-Broncos game in Denver and we’d like to thank Ben for tossing his shoe to us. It’s the first time I ever sat in the front row and I apprehensively bought the tickets a week before, wondering what I was doing spending so much money on a pre-season game…. Now, I know why.
This was my son’s first ever football game and I can’t tell you how exited he is to have one of Ben’s shoes (see photo above showing his fellow 1st and 2nd graders).
If we hadn’t left our seats at halftime, I’m sure Ben would have signed the shoe like he did for the kid and dad sitting next to us…
Oh well. As I told my son, only 2 in 66,000 people at the game got one of Ben’s shoes.
I don’t know what is next for my son. At 6-months old, Jackson Browne picked him up at a concert and now at 6-years old, Ben gave him a shoe!
Thank you again Ben, from the bottom of our hearts!
Have a great season; Super Bowl #3 is coming soon! I’ve been a fan for a long time and I’m convinced Ben will be the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls.
Go Steelers, Go Ben!
Rich (father) and Teddy (son) Huttenhower
P.S. Tell Ben that I’m also a Miami grad (1982) and I’m a pretty old dad (51 and my son is 6), so he’s got plenty of time. We went to the same school together at different times.
You can see a larger version of Teddy with his new shoe, and one of father and son at the game here.
*Thank you so much to both Rich and Teddy!
Also Today:
Friday meeting set…
The Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed today that Ben will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this Friday, September 3rd.
You […]
After the game…
“I was shocked. It was the end of the quarter and he said I was done. I still wanted to go in, but he wasn’t going to have it.” — Ben, on Coach Tomlin’s decision to take him out of last night’s game at the start of the second quarter.
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Ben drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos. Photo: Getty ImagesHe was booed loudly when the Steelers’ offense took the field for the first time.
He responded by completing his first pass on the first play of scrimmage, 47 yards to Mike Wallace and finished after 11 snaps with 4 completions in 6 attempts for 67 yards.
His first series ended in a 33-yard field goal by Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger also guided the first-team offense to three points during 20 snaps against the Giants.
“I thought he was sharp,” Tomlin said. “He moved the ball and did some nice things.”
You can read the rest here.
From Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press:
Roethlisberger was yanked in the middle of Pittsburgh’s second series after the Steelers had gained 97 yards on 11 plays.
Tomlin had some evaluation to do.
Dennis Dixon has started only one NFL game, and he is expected to be Byron Leftwich’s backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger’s suspension begins. So, he got his first significant playing time with the starters.
Dixon finished 9 of 16 for 94 yards, two interceptions and a pair of sacks by Robert Ayers.
You can read the rest here.
Also from last night:
According to FOX Sports just prior to the game, Ben will learn sometime after the final exhibition game Thursday if his six-game suspension will be reduced to four games.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with Ben “soon”, but declined to say when or where.
“I hope it’s a good meeting,” Roethlisberger said. “Right now it’s been all about football for me. I haven’t had time to think too much about it because I’m not really sure even when it’s going to be.
“I would just assume that I’ll sit and talk to him. We’ll have good communication and talk and find out things he has to say,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m sure he’ll want to hear what I […]
Ben to start Sunday against Broncos
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
It looks as though Roethlisberger might make his second start of the preseason at quarterback and Dennis Dixon will get his first chance to run the first team after him.
Normally, Roethlisberger starting a third preseason game would be no revelation, but he cannot start in the regular season until at least the fifth game Oct. 17 and the Steelers are trying to prepare Byron Leftwich and Dixon to play in his absence.
“I like playing football, it’s what I love to do, so, if I can get out there, I’ll enjoy it,” said Roethlisberger, who started Saturday night against the New York Giants and played 30 snaps.
You can read the rest of Mr. Bouchette’s column here.
Note: Sunday’s game is on FOX at 8:00 p.m.
And if you missed Wednesday’s links:
— Ben spoke with the media after practice on Wednesday, you can watch the video here.
— Steelers.com has added some new photo galleries from both pre-season games here.
— I have added a few more photos from both pre-season games here.
Wednesday: Notes & Quotes
SI.com feature – Best NFL Player by Jersey Number:
Sports Illustrated has put together a list of the 101 greatest players by jersey number.
According to their website, they based their decision on a combination of factors, including the player’s impact on the game, statistics and his team’s success during the time he wore the number.
John Elway took the honors for #7, however, the runner up?
Ben Roethlisberger!
You can check out the slideshow feature here (you’ll find a few more Steelers on the list!)
From the mailbag of FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer:
Question (Tom Ploskina from Philly) on Ben Roethlisberger: “I am an Eagles fan, but being from Pa. I also like the Steelers. Question being, why in mentioning Brady, Favre, Brees, the Mannings and Romo, do people constantly not mention Big Ben in their praisings? I would love to have him on the Eagles. I think he is the best in the league bar none. Has anyone checked his stats?”
Jay Glazer: “Great question…The reason why is because people are kind of stuck on what Big Ben used to be. Now he’s developed into one of the best passers in the NFL, but is still not being recognized. I am in full agreement with you that he is one of the top 3-4 QBs in the NFL. What he was asked to do early in his career was to be a game manager. But he can make every throw you want, he’s extremely elusive in the pocket and does not get the respect he deserves as being an elite player and QB.”
You can read his full mailbag here.
Also Today:
— Ben spoke with the media after practice this afternoon, you can watch the video here.
— Steelers.com has added some new photo galleries from both pre-season games here.
— I have added a few new photos from both pre-season games here.