Ben spoke to the media prior to practice today. Some of the highlights:


When asked about the significance of playing in Dallas –

“You know, you get asked the question, ‘if you win one, what would it mean for you?’ Well it would mean a lot for everything I’ve gone through, but honestly it means just as much if not more for me to win for Flozell [Adams] – to get to go back to Dallas. He has never had a chance to play in a Super Bowl and to get to play in one and it would be in Dallas – so I want to win one for him as much as I want to win one for myself.”


When asked what he knows about the Packers’ Clay Matthews –

“He’s an animal! He’s got long hair, wears number 52 plays for Packers…that’s a few things I know!

He’s really, really good. We have to account for him and know where he’s at. There’s not much else to say about one of the best players in the game.”


On whether he has a “set routine” now when he goes to the Super Bowl –

“Just have fun with it. Enjoy it and enjoy the circus that is the media, the schedule….just try and have fun with it and not get overwhelmed and not let it stress you out.”


On what he tells the young players who are making their first trip –

“Just tell them to enjoy it, because you never know if it’s your one and only, so enjoy it in that way. But know that you can have fun with the media and do it and it’s going to be crazy for you, but when you step on the field for practice and meetings, you need to focus in and put everything else behind you – your family, your car, the hotel, all the things you’ve got to do, and concentrate on football.”


On the play of Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers –

“I’m friends with Aaron. I think he’s a phenomenal quarterback. I think he’s an elite quarterback in this league, in my opinion. He has a really quick release, a strong arm, very accurate and a mobile guy.”


On Doug Legursky coming in for the injured Maurkice Pouncey last Sunday –

“I was so proud of the way Doug played. He came in and stepped up to play for a Pro Bowler that has played all year and done a great job.”


On who will play the position in the Super Bowl, Ben joked about Maurkice’s brother, Mike –

“I think maybe we’ve got two weeks to try and fool everybody and get Maurkice’s brother in here, and no one would know. But I don’t think that’s going to work!”


You can see his locker room interview prior to practice here.



What others are saying:


Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News –

Two take-no-prisoners defenses. Two tried-and-true bases of die-hard fans. Two championship-fueled franchises. In so many ways, the right two teams are coming to Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV.

The Packers and Steelers are too good, too similar in style, their fans too committed for this game to turn into a letdown of, well, Super proportions.


You can read more here.



Bob Matthews, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle –

When the position-by-position comparisons begin for Super Bowl XLV, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers figures to receive most of the favorable nods over Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

I’ll probably be in the minority, but I prefer Roethlisberger…

Pressure doesn’t bother Big Ben. He’s 10-2 in the postseason, including 2-for-2 in Super Bowls.


You can read more here.



Michael Lombardi, NFL.com –

Ben Roethlisberger was once again the difference. By allowing him to move around in the pocket and escape the pressure, Big Ben killed the Jets, especially on third. His ability to make a play out of nothing is tremendous. As Phil Simms said to me after the game, Roethlisberger’s stats lie. He clearly was the difference in the game.


You can read more here.



And:


Jeff Capellini, a CBS-New York writer and avid Jets fan, gives a thoroughly entertaining account of his time in Pittsburgh for last Sunday’s game –

For all of its glitz and glamour, the new Meadowlands Stadium will never be Heinz Field — even if the Jets or Giants become the best team in football for an extended period of time. Steelers Nation has us over a barrel. I know. I saw it myself first hand. I may never be the same.

The truth is you’d be hard-pressed to find any stadium in any sport as intimidating as Heinz. At least not in January with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.

Everything you’ve heard about Pittsburgh and its love for its football team is true. But since we live in a talk is cheap society, the only way to know for sure is to visit the Steel City and see for yourself.


You can read all of it here.



This Evening:


Ben will be a special guest on two episodes of KDKA’s “PNC Steelers Huddle” show. The first episode will air this Saturday, and the second will air Saturday, February 5th.

Taping of both episodes will be tonight at 6:30 p.m. in front of a live audience at Heinz Field.



Quote of the Day:

“I counted. We had five sacks and a chance at five ‑‑ a legitimate chance at five other sacks. But it was just basically him being Ben, you know, where we missed him or we hit him and came off of him. And a couple of the times, he launched a ball up the field for big plays against us. We gave up by far the most big plays there than we did of any game last season? It’s like trying to tackle a lineman back there.” — Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers on their last match-up with Ben, from his press conference today.



You can see photos from practice today in the new Super Bowl XLV album.