Ben is ready
“This place is special, I couldn’t have left without playing in front of the best fans not only in the NFL but in all sports, they mean the world to me, almost all my adult life I have played in front of them.” — Ben, during his press conference today.
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:
It’s a preseason game, but for Ben Roethlisberger, it doesn’t matter.
He wants to play.
Roethlisberger, who is entering his 18th season, will start against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night at Heinz Field, his first action of the preseason.
And he said it’s important that he plays, especially with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan.
“We have a new system. There’s a new coach to player communication in terms of a new guy. The offense is different. He’s up in the box as compared to on the field. There is a lot of newness. I think it’s prudent to get as much time as I can under those circumstances.”
Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t give any indication as to how much time Roethlisberger would see during his weekly press conference on Thursday, but Roethlisberger indicated it will be how he feels.
“I would love to get as many reps as I can. It’s been how many months since I’ve actually stepped on the football field to take a hit? I know it’s preseason, but still just meaningful reps. With the newness of it I’d definitely like to get as much as I can.
“I guess it depends on how we’re doing, how it feels. I really wanted to try and play last week because it was on the road and that would have been our first opportunity to play on the road and the situation, with circumstances like crowd noise and things like that before we go into a very hostile environment in week one. But Coach, I couldn’t talk him into it.”
Roethlisberger said one of the things he likes most about the changes in Canada’s offense is that it’s new, it’s different, and he has spent a lot of time studying it.
“The challenge of newness. I spent a lot of time at home, going over it, reading it, watching film. I was telling my wife the other night that I think maybe it’s even better that there’s some new stuff because it almost refocuses you in a way. […]
The Steelers get some experienced help on the field!
“What’s the secret in Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s playbook?”
“Having Ben Jr. call in the plays!” — Matt Freed, photographer.
“Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger greets his family as they watch training camp Wednesday at Heinz Field.”
“It’s Roethlisberger Jr. to Roethlisberger Sr…..for 6!”
“It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”
Steelers training camp: #7 in action
“Thank you Ben Roethlisberger”
From Parker Abate, SteelerNation.com:
It is up in the air whether this will be the last season of Ben Roethlisberger‘s career as not only a Pittsburgh Steeler, but a player in the National Football League. Many speculate that this will be his last season regardless. It is certain that others outside of Pittsburgh have strong, negative opinions about Roethlisberger, but the members of Steeler Nation have plenty of respect and admiration for him.
He has produced 156 regular season wins (5th all time) to go along with 13 postseason wins (4th all time) and two Super Bowl victories. He is the greatest Steeler quarterback ever and deserves to be seen as so. If this is the last year that we get to see Roethlisberger put on the black and gold, I think I can speak for the majority of the fan base and say thank you.
It has been a long road from April 24, 2004 when he was drafted until now. Media scrutiny, off the field questions and a plethora of injuries have all been part of the rollercoaster for Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh has seen him grow into a mature leader who understands what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
He has joined the field with multiple Hall of Famers (with whom he will join in Canton one day) and is one of only two players drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft still playing (Larry Fitzgerald). We have seen ups and downs throughout his career, but every time he suits up as QB1, Steelers fans across the world believe a victory is possible regardless of the circumstances. That is rare to find and we “aght” to be appreciative of having that for so many years.
A 13-win first season, his shoestring tackle in the 2006 AFC Divisional Game, game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLIII, combined division record of 67-22-1 (including playoffs) and so much more have given Steeler fans memories for generations down the line. Roethlisberger only has a losing record against five out of the 31 NFL teams he has played.
It is rare in today’s sports world to have someone play for the same city and fan base for as long as Roethlisberger has. Albeit, it is not like the Steelers were ever planning on letting him go, […]
“Ben Roethlisberger’s staying power is not to be taken for granted”
From Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
In the past eight years, only seven of the 20 quarterbacks selected in the first round are with the team that drafted them.
That number becomes increasingly embarrassing when you consider none of the nine quarterbacks who were first-round picks from 2013 to 2016 are with the same team.
Wentz’s class is a prime example. All three No. 1 picks in 2016 — Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch are the others — have moved on from the teams that selected them.
All this does is highlight the incredible production and longevity of Ben Roethlisberger, who begins his 18th season with the same team that drafted him in 2004 — the longest tenure of any quarterback in NFL history.
When the regular season begins in September, Roethlisberger will surpass Dan Marino, who played all 17 of his seasons with the Miami Dolphins; and John Brodie, who played all 17 years with the San Francisco 49ers. He has already passed six other quarterbacks who spent their entire 16-year career with just one team — John Elway in Denver, Ken Anderson in Cincinnati, Bart Starr and Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Steve Grogan in New England and Eli Manning with the New York Giants.
Philip Rivers spent 16 years with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, but he played his final season in Indianapolis in 2020. Tom Brady, who spent 20 seasons in New England, is the only quarterback in history to spend more seasons with one team than Roethlisberger, but even his remarkable career is ending in another city.
Think about it: No quarterback in history has played his entire career with one team longer than Ben Roethlisberger. In a league where some top quarterbacks flop and get the heave-ho, Roethlisberger has placed himself in a category that is both elite and beyond reproach.
You can read more from Mr. Dulac’s column here.
Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers
Throwback Thursday – Latrobe Memories
My son Eustis and I would like to thank Ben from the very bottom of our hearts for the very amazing and impressionable first time ever at Steeler’s Training Camp on Wednesday, August 5th.
It exceeded my expectations more than I ever could have dreamed. Thank you so much Ben for making my son’s day! Big Ben so graciously took his cleat off, signed it, and handed it to my son!! It just happened so fast and we were in shock so I’m pretty sure we never got to thank him, but if you’re reading this now Big Ben, you are our HERO, you are a true class act! — Trisha & Eustis.
I was standing right beside this little guy when Ben did this. I thought it was one of the nicest things I had ever seen a player do. We thought Ben passed him by, but then turned around, went back to his cart, took his shoe off, and handed it to this little guy! I patted him on the back, for a job well done! I think Ben’s thanks came from the response of the crowd. He gave his other shoe to a little girl, who was being held by her mother. Way to go Ben!
And another “thank you” for Ben that arrived on the same day:
I am an auxiliary police officer for the city of Canton, Ohio. On August 9th, Ben got a little lost trying to figure out where to park for the Hall of Fame game. With a little help from us, he got parked and in there on time. He was nice enough to take a photo with us, and I just wanted to thank Ben for taking the time to do so! — Bobby Kinser.