The 2013 Big Ben UK Tour

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Most viewed - The 2013 Big Ben UK Tour

July 4th, 2013 - Ben in Ireland1581 viewsCharge d'affairs John Hennessey Niland, Ben and Mr. Rooney before the start of the Annual flag football game.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland

July 4th, 2013 - Ben in Ireland1544 viewsSigning a football for a big fan in the land of Erin (Ireland).

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1446 viewsBen speaks to the media during a photo-shoot in front of Big Ben.

"I want to pass Terry Bradshaw by getting more Super Bowl wins. That's our expectations in Pittsburgh." -- Ben

Photo: Mr. Burt Lauten, Steelers

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1403 viewsLook kids!! Big Ben...in front of Big Ben!

"London is beautiful and we are excited to grow the Steelers fan base worldwide!" -- Ben

Photo: NFL - UK

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1349 views"Great experience for Steelers fans as Ben shows fans what goes into a sample play during a game." -- Burt Lauten, Steelers

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1340 viewsBen attracting a crowd as he poses in front of the Houses of Parliament.

"There is no other franchise I would rather play for than the Pittsburgh Steelers." -- Ben

Photo: David Tossell, sports writer - NFL

July 4th, 2013 - Big Ben in Ireland1339 viewsThe official coin toss by Ben, overseen by Mr. Rooney, to start the game!

Photo: Mr. Lauten, Steelers

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1325 viewsBen and Jets-UK fan Bill Badger.

"I was taken aback at how down to earth and unassuming Ben was. Even though I am a Jets fan I have always been a fan of Benâ€™s and it was great that he seemed to be as happy to be there as we were! He didnâ€™t try to rush off, he had time for everyone and even asked for a photo with everyone in front of the Steelers UK flag which was terrific. Thought I was lucky to get a place and very lucky to have been able to be part of such a unique event." -- Bill

July 4th, 2013 - Ben in Ireland1273 viewsBen speaking at the U.S. Embassy in Ireland.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1272 viewsBen poses with fan Andrew Duncan at the NFL-UK Meet & Greet.

Andrew wanted to give those fans that were not in attendance an idea of what transpired at the Meet & Greet between Ben and NFL-UK fans last evening at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London:

Tuesday evening in London, England there was a unique event put on by the NFL to promote the International Series football games that will be played during the regular season at Wembley Stadium.

Twenty six English football fans were invited to attend a meet and greet session with Ben Roethlisberger. The audience wasnâ€™t entirely made up of Steelers fans, but as will happen in September when the Steelers play the Vikings, Steeler Nation UK were out in force.

Via the Steeler Nation UK Facebook group, many fans were encouraged to enter their names with NFL UK to ensure Ben was greeted by a friendly audience. Steeler Nation met up in Henrys Bar, Piccadilly, which will be the meeting place for Steeler fans from around the world in September the evening before the Minnesota game.

The proud sight of Steeler fans, dressed in their Ben shirts with their Terrible Towels walking the streets of London to the Grosvenor House Hotel would have a sight for English sore eyes. With a few fans of other NFL teams in the room, twenty UK Steeler fans made their entrance and overwhelmed the event with a sea of black and gold.

Ben appeared and was introduced to the fans by Neil Reynolds, Sky TV presenter. To begin the session, Neil showed a clip of Ben avoiding tackles against a Dallas defense and asked if there was any logic in what Ben was doing as he ran around the field trying to find an open receiver. Ben retorted that the first thing he intended was to try and not get hit!

Saying he recalled the play, Ben continued to explain what happened against â€œthe perfect defenseâ€ shown in the clip eventually making a completion to the ever reliable Heath Miller.

Neil suggested the improvising shown in the clip was playground football and Ben agreed, commenting that he grew up playing football in the backyard and playing in the schoolyard, "My competitiveness doesnâ€™t allow me to just give up on a play. I canâ€™t do it. As coaches know, we live by the sword, we die by the sword."

Ben moved on with his talk by expressing the feelings of coming to London to play football and how excited he was to tell his teammates that, "weâ€™re going there because we have fans there. It makes me happy, itâ€™ll make the guys happy and I have always said the Steeler fans are the best fans in sports. Weâ€™re playing for the fans and thatâ€™s whatâ€™s exciting. Itâ€™s not just about making money for the NFL, itâ€™s about playing for the fans."

Looking at one of the Terrible Towels the fans were holding, Neil suggested that he shouldnâ€™t touch it as he wasnâ€™t a Steeler fan. Ben laughed and commented, â€œYou can touch it. But donâ€™t disrespect it. Donâ€™t step on it. Just donâ€™t do anything bad with it.â€

During the question and answer session with the audience, Ben responded to questions that included his golf enthusiasm, his memories of the first game as a Steeler, the return of Heath Miller and the changing personnel, his favourite and the worst place to play (Baltimore).

Ben then moved to a flip chart to draw Xs and Os for a couple of plays that could happen on the field. Ben first joked that he would draw the whole playbook, before suggesting Pictionary. Addressing the enthralled fans, Ben drew a base play describing each move and option.

He also explained that NFL playbooks change every week and players have four or five days to learn the new plays, the terminology and what everyone is doing. Acknowledging that there could be 210 plays in a game plan, for each game, Ben confirmed he would talk to offensive co-ordinator Todd Haley every Friday and if he didnâ€™t like a play he can ask the coach to take it out.

When the Steeler Nation UK flag was unravelled, Ben was very enthused and keen to have his photo taken with it and the fans.

The session ended with Ben having his photo taken individually with each fan.

*Thank you Andrew!

July 4th, 2013 - Big Ben in Ireland1272 viewsPosing with Dublin Footballer Barry Cahill.

"Great meeting Big Ben today @steelers @usembassydublin" -- Barry @barrycahilldub

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1259 viewsBen talks to the media during the first day of his UK Promotional Tour for the upcoming Steelers vs Vikings game at Wembley Stadium on September, 29th, 2013.

Photo: Mr. Burt Lauten, Steelers

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