The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at work
“Our K9s are important to us and to the citizens we serve. They help track missing people, locate subjects, narcotics and explosive devices as well as provide extra safety for officers who must confront very dangerous situations. Budgets have limitations. Thanks to organizations like the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation we will be able to advance our K9 unit and provide a greater level of service to the community we serve.” — Sheriff Farris, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Last November, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was selected to receive a grant from Ben’s foundation to purchase a new K9 dog, and provide training and equipment for the K9 unit.
Today, they wanted to introduce their new K9 dog to Steeler Nation!
“Bolt”, is a 19-month old Belgian Malinois from Little Rock K9, a police canine training facility in Arkansas. Bolt serves as a dual-purpose K9 working as a road patrol and drug enforcement dog with veteran handler, Deputy Richard Cobble.
“We selected Bolt from a number of promising dogs at the facility in Little Rock for his confidence, excellent skills, and sociability,” said Major Greg Whittaker, a former K9 Deputy who commands the K9 Unit at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. “He is able to work independently and has tremendous concentration when faced with multiple challenges out in the field. He is a very impressive dog.”
Putnam County, similar to Nashville’s Davidson County, is a partner in the State of Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s Middle Region. Through this collaborative partnership, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is committed to responding within the region with all special designated assets, such as K9 units, for large-scale events as well as officer and community safety.
In fact, just two days after joining the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Bolt and Deputy Cobble assisted Jackson County narcotics investigators on a traffic stop that yielded one felony and two misdemeanor drug charges. The Jackson County detectives later wrote saying, “Thank you. We could not have done it without your assistance.”
You can learn more about Ben’s foundation here.
You can support future K-9 grants and satisfy your sweet tooth by purchasing candy on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.SarrisCandiesFundraising.com), using a special purchase code (77-7777). Sarris will donate 25 percent of the purchase price to his foundation.
*Thank you to Michael Ronczkowski!
Ben’s birthday contest
UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!! Congratulations to Mosh Luzer of Pittsburgh, our 302nd emailer!
THANK YOU Steeler Nation for participating in the contest, and for ALL of the birthday wishes!
Tomorrow (Monday) is Ben’s 33rd birthday, but one lucky fan will win a gift from him today!
To celebrate…
The 302nd emailer (that number is from 3/02 – his birth date) today will receive this new, autographed Terrible Towel from Ben.
It’s that easy! No quiz to take, no caption to think up, no questions to answer…just be the right emailer!
However, before you email, please follow these two rules:
1. Emails for the contest WILL NOT be accepted until 12 NOON ET and after (this gives fans in different time zones a chance to participate).
2. Please, just one email per email address only (subsequent emails from the same address will be discounted).
Send emails to: bigben7website@gmail.com
Winner will be notified via email and their name will be posted here in an update this afternoon! Good Luck!
Brown & Bell: Co-winners AFC Offensive Player of the Year award
Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell were honored last night at the 101 Awards Banquet!
From Randy Covitz at the Kansas City Star:
Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown, who led the NFL in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698), and running back Le’Veon Bell, the AFC’s leading rusher (1,361 yards), shared the AFC Offensive Player of the Year award, the first time that’s happened in the 101 Awards’ 45 years.
“We couldn’t do it without a quarterback and the other 10 guys on the field,” Brown said, “and we’re disappointed that Ben (Roethlisberger) isn’t here because he’s the one who gets it started. But the guy to my left (Bell) … I wouldn’t want to share this with anyone else.”
You can read more about the banquet here.
Congratulations to both men, and to Coach Bruce Arians as well, named NFC Coach of the Year – all three awards are well-deserved!
February Fan Photos are here!
And we’re starting off with the perfect Throwback Thursday picture:
“Ben had just finished his first season with the Steelers. My Dad and I heard he was going to be in our hometown at Andrews Cycle meeting fans. He was very nice, and down to earth. Here we are 10 years later still lucky to have him as our QB. Thank you.” — Jason Paster
Swinging the club with #7…sort of!
“Left to Right: Russ Wilson, Kevin Piccola, John Buljat, and me, Dave Hajel. This was the annual fundraiser for the Humane Society of Somerset County held at Arnold Palmer’s Indian Lake Private Course outside of Somerset Pa.
We are super die-hard Steelers and Ben fans of course! He is the ultimate warrior and we would never trade him for any other QB! We suffered through the long drought in the 80’s and 90’s…we appreciate him and all he has done, does, and will continue to do!!! It all changed when #7 was drafted…We consider him The Chosen One! Love where this team is headed and love the fact he is at the helm!
The shelter really appreciates the support Ben gives to Police Canine Units! And we love the fact he is an avid golfer…I’m sure we could find a team that is looking for a fourth in this summer’s tournament if he is available…If his contract is not done by then I will sponsor him! Lol!” — David Hajel
Lil’ Fans spotlight:
6-year old Elliot Askins not only poses like his favorite QB, he draws him too! Photos taken by his dad, Scott.
A tiny fan with a BIG last name that she just happens to share with the BIG guy on her favorite team!
Emely Vegas Roethlisberger shows off her jersey all the way from Bern, Switzerland! Photo taken by her mom, Melanie.
And we end this month’s edition with a really cool dog….who is also sort of a hot dog!
“Did you say it’s -10 degrees out? No problem, I’m Steelers tough, especially when I’m wearing my favorite hat!! — Nala (Photo taken by her human, Kevin Cizmarik).
You can see a […]
Labriola: Ben Roethlisberger ranks in the top three in the NFL right now
From Bob Labriola’s “Asked & Answered” column at Steelers.com this morning:
RICHARD SABLE FROM TAMPA, FL: Bob, you said it would be foolish to look five-six years out for Ben’s replacement. It sure worked out for Green Bay. Tom Brady seemed to work out pretty well, also.
BOB LABRIOLA: When the Packers made Aaron Rodgers their first-round pick in 2005, Brett Favre was not coming off his best NFL regular season, as is the case with Ben Roethlisberger. Just to refresh your memory, in 2014 Roethlisberger put together a season in which he finished No. 4 in attempts, No. 3 in completions, No. 3 in completion percentage, tied-for-No. 1 in yards, No. 3 in average gain, No. 7 in touchdowns, No. 4 in interception percentage, and No. 3 in passer rating, and no other quarterback in the league ranked in the top 10 in each of those categories. In the three seasons from 2002-04, Favre threw 54 interceptions, which indicated to Packers management that he was in rapid decline, and that’s why they made the move to pick Rodgers.
The Patriots didn’t pick Tom Brady on the sixth-round in 2000 thinking he was their quarterback of the future, because if Bill Belichick had ANY IDEA Tom Brady was going to turn out the way he did, there’s no way he waits until the sixth round to pick him. That was luck, pure and simple, and understand that there’s nothing wrong with being lucky. And even with all that, Rodgers was in the starting lineup three years after being drafted, and Brady two years after being drafted. That’s hardly five-six years out, as you yourself state. If you want to waste a draft pick looking for Roethlisberger’s successor now, go ahead. I’m using the pick on a player I hope can help him win me another trophy.
SHAWN SMITH FROM CONNEAUTVILLE, PA: Do you think the media, outside of Pittsburgh, will ever consider Ben the elite quarterback he is? Or will they go on ignoring the records he makes?
BOB LABRIOLA: I cannot answer for those in the national media, but in my mind Ben Roethlisberger ranks in the top three in the NFL right now, along with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Peyton Manning is in serious decline; Eli Manning throws way […]
A “Thank you” all the way from Cheyenne
Fire Chief John McDougall, Francis E. (FE) Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne Wyoming, told us back in January that MSgt Joel Harr is “the biggest Pittsburgh Steelers fan I know (and I know lots!),” and was set to retire in February as an active duty member of the US Air Force after 20 years of service. Chief McDougall was searching for a suggestion “on how we can make Joel’s retirement very special.”
More from Chief McDougall:
“Joel grew up in a small town in West Virginia and is an avid fan of the Steelers. I was hoping to make his retirement on February 20th very special. Joel has a family; his wife Karen, sons Braden and Jack, and daughter Evelyn. Karen is an active Duty MSgt as well, and is as much of a fan of the Steelers as Joel is since she grew up in PA. My goal is simple, I want to make Joel’s retirement after 20 years of dedicated and extraordinary service to our great country a day he’ll long remember.”
Presenting him with a game-worn, autographed Steelers Salute to Service 39THIRTY cap (with the camoflage bill) from Ben sounded like the perfect gift – the players wore those caps during the NFL’s Salute to Service month in November.
Chief McDougall agreed…and when the big day arrived, wanted to share the photos of MSgt Harr’s retirement celebration with us:
“MSgt Joel Harr’s retirement was yesterday 20 Feb, at which I gave him the hat signed by Ben. In attendance was his wife, children, his mother, father, and many other family and friends that traveled all the way from his home state of West Virginia. I wanted to thank Big Ben #7 once again, this really made Joel’s day, it was a wonderful retirement!” — Fire Chief McDougall.
Congratulations to MSgt Harr, and thank you for your many years of service to our country!! God bless!