“I’ll gradually ramp up the number of days and the throws and the distance and the velocity. I really feel like I could let it rip right now if I had to, but what’s the point? There’s no need for me to rush it.”

From Ron Cook’s interview with #7:

I spent a lot of time this winter wondering what it’s like being Ben Roethlisberger these days.

“There’s pressure, but I put more pressure on myself,” he said Thursday. “As much as the fans and my teammates want me out there, I want to be out there even more. I saw last season what this team is capable of doing. I’m pushing myself to come back better than ever.”

“I have no doubts I’m going to be able to come back and play well — none,” Roethlisberger said. “I have complete confidence in that. I’m throwing without pain for the first time in years. Some games, I would have a little pain. Some games, I would have a lot of pain. But in the New England game and the Seattle game [last season], it got to be too much. To be able to throw without pain now? That feels nice. That’s a nice feeling. I know I’m not getting any younger, but I feel younger because I don’t have any pain.”

Roethlisberger said he will increase his throwing from twice a week to three times a week next week.

“Right now, it’s about 40 throws a day and about 20 yards. I throw from my knees and I throw flat-footed. It’s mainly just about getting my spin back.

“I’ll gradually ramp up the number of days and the throws and the distance and the velocity. I really feel like I could let it rip right now if I had to, but what’s the point? There’s no need for me to rush it. Our goal was for me to be 80, 90, 100% by OTAs and minicamp. Now that it looks like those things are going to be canceled [because of the COVID-19 pandemic], I can take my time a little more.”

Roethlisberger said he threw to teammate Ryan Switzer on Thursday. It gave him a nice lift at a time he’s home-bound like the rest of us.

“He’s in my small Bible study group and he called and […]

From Collectors Showcase of America this morning:

CSA Shows and The Dulles Expo Center have been working closely together to make the best decision for our customers and clients pertaining to the Coronavirus situation in our country. Following yesterday’s CDC recommendations concerning public gatherings, we must cancel the April 3-5, 2020 show in Chantilly VA.

We are going to work hard to bring you the best CSA show ever in July. We will reschedule as many April guests for July as possible. Advance tickets can be refunded or applied to the July show. Please be patient in contacting us. Email info@csashows.com for refund requests. More details will be forthcoming. Please check our website www.csashow.com for updates.

“This guy (K9 Csuti) has done an amazing job for the city. He’s taken a lot of stuff off the streets that didn’t need to be out there. It solves a whole lot of problems for us, and Brian and Csuti do a great job.” — Columbiana Police Chief Tim Gladis.

From Scott Lendak, at The Morning Journal:

As the [Columbiana] Police Department continues to accumulate money, it was presented with two checks for a combined $7,000 from the American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary Unit and the community foundation at last week’s city council meeting.

American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary Unit members Joyce Allcorn and Deb Gorby presented Gladis with a $2,000 check, which was made through a fundraiser specifically for the K-9 unit. Deann Davis also presented a check on behalf of the community foundation from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation — Giving Back Fund for $5,000.

“Without the community foundation we wouldn’t have been able to do this. We appreciate everything they did for us. Deann got really short notice from me and really did a lot of work. We appreciate Ben and this foundation for the help they’ve given us to help pay for a new dog.” — Chief Gladis.

Since the department needed to apply for the grant through a nonprofit organization, the community foundation acted as a conduit for the grant. Gladis thanked Davis for working quickly in a short amount of time to ensure they applied in time.

Granchie will remain working with Csuti and Gladis will assign a new officer to work with the other K-9 unit.


Photo (Scott Lendak): Columbiana Community Foundation representative Deann Davis presents a $5,000 check to Police Chief Tim Gladis, K-9 Officer Brian Granchie, K-9 Csuti and the police department for K-9 program from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation — Giving Back Fund.

You can help Ben and his foudation award more grants to police and fire departments by donating here!