April 23, 2009

Will He Or Won't He...

...be the next EA Sports Madden NFL 10 cover boy?

From their website:

"At the heart of Madden NFL 10 is the Fight For Every Yard. Who wanted it more? Who executed? Who left their heart and soul out on the field? The best players in the NFL are those who epitomize this fight and strive to dominate every snap of the ball. It takes this caliber of star to grace the cover of the Madden NFL franchise, and over the course of the next few weeks, we're going to profile 9 candidates that are up for the cover of Madden NFL 10."

Ben is one of the final nine candidates.

The others:

Troy Polamalu

Peyton Manning

Larry Fitzgerald

Matt Cassel

DeMarcus Ware

Brandon Jacobs

Adrian Peterson

Ed Reed

Ben's profile:

Ben Roethlisberger, QB - Pittsburgh Steelers...2 Super Bowl rings by age 27 and the poster child for blue-collar, Steel City football. Say what you want about his QB rating in Super Bowl XL, the guy just wins games. With Big Ben, it's not about stats, it's about the way he plays the game. At 6'5", 240 lbs, there isn't a tougher QB to bring down in the league. How many times did we see him maneuver around a broken down pocket last post-season, only to find an open Hines Ward or Heath Miller for a key 1st down? Oh, and there there's the brilliant Super Bowl winning pass to Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone, perfectly placed over 3 Arizona defenders. Fight for every yard? No, Big Ben fights for every inch.

You can go by their site and click on the videos to hear Madden NFL 10 announcers Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond share their opinions on each player.

The official cover announcement will be on Friday, April 24th.

April 22, 2009

Redoing The 2004 NFL Draft

From NBC Sports' Steve Silverman:

Actual 2004 Draft Order, 1 through 12 -

1. San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning, QB (traded to NYG)
2. Oakland Raiders: Robert Gallery, T
3. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR
4. New York Giants: Philip Rivers, QB (traded to SD)
5. Washington Redskins: Sean Taylor, S
6. Cleveland Browns: Kellen Winslow, TE
7. Detroit Lions: Roy Williams, WR
8. Atlanta Falcons: DeAngelo Hall, CB
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Williams, WR
10. Houston Texans: Dunta Robinson, CB
11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, QB

The Redo -

1. San Diego Chargers: Ben Roethlisberger, QB - Taken 11th overall, he's led the Steelers to two Super Bowls and is still a little underappreciated.

2. Oakland Raiders: Eli Manning, QB - Manning was taken with the first overall pick by San Diego and then traded to the Giants because "The Eli Camp" didn't want him to play for San Diego. Archie never would have signed off on Eli being a Raider, either. Manning's success in the 2007 postseason earns him the second spot in our do-over draft.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR - No. 3 is where Larry Fitzgerald went then. This is where Fitzgerald would go now, although a case could be made for putting him ahead of Manning.

4. New York Giants: Philip Rivers, QB - Rivers was picked in the fourth spot in 2004 as well, though he got shipped to San Diego in exchange for Manning. We could spend a day debating whether his heart-on-the-sleeve act would have been loved or detested in The Apple.

5. Washington Redskins: - Jared Allen, DE - Taken in the fourth round by Kansas City, 126th overall, he has 57.5 sacks. The next highest output from this class? Shaun Phillips with 38.5. Ironically, Phillips was a fourth-rounder as well.

6. Cleveland Browns: Bob Sanders, SS - The 44th overall pick by the Colts and 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Sanders (center) is one of the biggest impact players in the league. Peyton Manning would still be ringless were it not for Sanders' return to the Colts lineup late in 2006.

7. Detroit Lions: Steven Jackson, RB - Taken 24th overall by St. Louis, Jackson has rolled up 7,256 yards from scrimmage and 44 combined touchdowns in five seasons.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shawn Andrews, G - Taken 16th overall by the Eagles, Andrews is a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro (2006) at right guard. Although he missed 2008 with a back injury, he's the first lineman off the board.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Stacy Andrews, RT - Taken in the fourth round by the Bengals (No. 123), in part because he was extremely inexperienced, Andrews was franchised twice. Now, he's on the Eagles next to the man taken right before him, brother Shawn.

10. Houston Texans: Michael Turner, RB - A fifth-round pick (No. 154 overall) by San Diego, Turner (left) did a long apprenticeship behind LaDainian Tomlinson before joining the Falcons. In his first season there, he ran for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Lee Evans, WR - The second-best receiver in this draft behind Larry Fitzgerald, Evans went 13th overall to the Bills. He's got an under-the-radar 296 catches, 4,744 yards and 32 scores for Buffalo.

To see the full do-over from NBC Sports, click here.

And a little humor:

From The Washington D.C. Examiner - "Looking Back With Sarcasm - The 2004 NFL Draft"

12:57PM - Pittsburgh selects quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Tommy Maddox realizes he'll soon be eligible to win the "Comeback Player Of The Year" award again.

1:15PM - The first misspelled "Rothlisberger" jerseys hit the stores in Pittsburgh.

To read the rest, click here, some of them are pretty good!

April 20, 2009

OTA's Are Here!

From WKDA-Channel 2 this afternoon:

The defending Super Bowl champions reunited on the field today as the Steelers held the first of its "organized team activities" at the team's practice facility on the South Side.

Steelers players - including Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch and others --took part in the first unofficial practice of the season from about 10am until noon.

To see KDKA's video, click here.

April 17, 2009

Ben Roethlisberger Benefit Basketball Game

The Ben Roethlisberger Benefit Basketball Game will be held on Saturday, April 25th at Findlay High School in Findlay, Ohio.

The game begins at 7:00 p.m. and doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased at the school's athletic office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and in the cafeteria on Thursday night, April 23rd from 6-8 p.m. in the athletic office. Tickets are also available at Morey's on Tiffin Avenue and Main Street News.

There will be many raffle and auction items, including Ben's signed Super Bowl helmet. Brett Keisel will appear and it is anticipated that other Steelers players will participate as well.

*Thank you to Trish and Barb!

Also Today:

Press Release From Golf Digest -

Ben To Play In U.S. Open Challenge

Golf Digest, the United States Golf Association and NBC Sports have announced that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Justin Timberlake will join Michael Jordan in the 2009 Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge. The three celebrities will play with one amateur golfer who will be determined by online voting.

The foursome will play the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, the site of the 2009 U.S. Open, and attempt to break a score of 100. The 18–hole round will be taped by NBC Sports and air on Sunday, June 21st from 12:00pm — 1:30pm ET, immediately prior to the final–round broadcast of the U.S. Open.

All three celebrities have a single–digit Handicap and have been included in previous Golf Digest rankings of athletes and musicians. On the 2007 list of the top athlete–golfers, Jordan ranked T–30 with a Handicap of 1.2 and Roethlisberger ranked T–121 with a Handicap of 7. Timberlake, the host of the PGA Tour’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, was ranked T–15 with a Handicap of 6 on Golf Digest’s 2008 "Top 100 in Music" list. Timberlake played in the 2008 Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge and shot 98 at Torrey Pines.

Butch Harmon, who is ranked No.1 on Golf Digest’s "America’s 50 Greatest Teachers" list, will once again caddie for Timberlake. Fred Couples, the 15–time PGA TOUR winner and 1992 Masters champion, will caddie for Jordan. Roethlisberger’s caddie will be announced at a later date.

Voting for the amateur participant runs through April 30th at www.gdopencontest.com. The four finalists are: Philippe de Kerillis (Erdenheim, PA), Larry Giebelhausen (Scottsdale, AZ), Dale Matthews (McLean, VA) and Bob Ray (Arnold, MD). Voters can make one selection each day and are automatically entered for the chance to win daily prizes and multiple grand prizes, including two trips to the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

In the December 2008 issue, Golf Digest asked readers to submit a six–word statement on why they thought they could break 100 at Bethpage Black. The four finalists were narrowed down from 73,581 entries.

Profiles of the four finalists and additional information about the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge can be found at GolfDigest.com, USGA.org and NBCSports.com.

And:

To see a photo from last night's NFL Players Gala and a couple of photos from the Special Olympics Football Camp yesterday afternoon, click here.

You can also read about the evening here.

Ben was one of only four NFL players honored with the JB Award, you can learn more here.

April 16, 2009

Big Ben News Is Getting A Face Lift

Nathan Schivley of Fourth Dimension Media has designed a great new look for the site, which is scheduled to premiere this weekend - hopefully!

So, if the site should experience a bit of down time through the weekend, please be patient. It may take a little while to get the new site online....but we'll be back!

Also Today:

(WHIO-TV) Ben Leads Charity Football Camp -

He didn't need a helmet or pads, but Ben Roethlisberger returned to the football field Thursday.

Roethlisberger, 27, led a team of NFL superstars in a football camp for Special Olympics athletes in Washington, D.C.

The clinic is one of a series of charity efforts organized by the National Football League and its players' union on behalf of the Special Olympics.

Roethlisberger is quickly becoming the face of NFL charity work and the league itself.

Roethlisberger said, "It's kind of the natural thing that happens when you start winning Super Bowls."

The former University of Miami of Ohio quarterback was honored Thursday with an award by the league and its partners for his community service. He recently made headlines for a series of financial donations to municipal police departments.

*Ben is in the Nation's Capital for this evening's NFL Players Gala at the Washington Hilton featuring the JB Awards, an annual awards presentation hosted by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to benefit Special Olympics DC (for more on that see below).

To see video from today's first drill, led by Ben, click here.

To see a video interview with Ben from WHIO.TV, click here.

To see a slideshow, click here.

NFL Players Gala Tonight:

From WUSA-9 News in Washington DC -

After a year's worth of stories about Michael Vick being in prison and Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg, it is refreshing to highlight the other side of the NFL -- the good guys., and that's what the league is doing here in Washington tonight. it's the NFL Players Asssociation's annual J.B Awards, hosted by and named after our CBS colleague and good friend James Brown. Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Larry Fitzgerald among the honorees this year for exemplifying leadership, dedication and Commitment to community. Forget rushing yards -- somebody ought to keep stats on that.

Throughout the year an extensive search is conducted to identify the players deserving of these special honors. The recepients are honored at the NFL Players Gala tonight.

Past honorees include Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith, Tony Dungee, Brett Favre, Jerome Bettis, Warrick Dunn, Darrell Green, Adrian Person and Dan Marino. Proceeds from the gala benefti Special Olympics DC, an organization dedicated to providing year-round trainign and athletic competition in sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Hopefully...

I will have some highlights and photos to post tomorrow on the event! So check back!

April 14, 2009

2009 Steelers Regular Season Schedule

The Steelers will start their 2009 season at home against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Sept. 10th at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Pittsburgh is scheduled to play one other nationally televised home primetime game on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8:20 p.m. against the San Diego Chargers. Pittsburgh’s other national primetime games include road contests Monday, Nov. 9th at Denver, Sunday, Nov. 29th at Baltimore, and Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland.

The Steelers’ annual bye week will be on Nov. 1st.

The Steelers official site advised that all Sunday games beginning in Week 11 (Nov. 22nd) through the remainder of the regular season are subject to flexible scheduling and could be moved into the Sunday night time slot (8:20 p.m.). The NFL will give at least 12 days notice of time changes due to the "flex" scheduling. Week 17 start time changes could be decided on six days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications. Flexible scheduling will not impact Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.

You can check out the pre-season schedule and the full regular season schedule in the gray column on the right.

April 11, 2009

John Clayton: "Big Ben Officially Arrived As An Elite Quarterback"

From Mr. Clayton's column on ESPN.com this afternoon:

I spent a few minutes the other day examining two key statistics that are a good barometer of a quarterback's rise from ordinary to extraordinary.

The development of Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, a franchise quarterback on a talented team, prompted the inquiry. Looking back over Roethlisberger's career, I examined two statistical trends -- his record in close games (those decided by eight or fewer points) and his record when asked to throw at least 30 passes.

During his amazing 15-win rookie season in 2004, Roethlisberger was 4-0 in close games, but he wasn't asked to throw 30 passes in any of those games. The next season, he was 1-1 in games in which he had to throw at least 30 passes. In 2006, he was 1-7 in those games, but don't forget that he had the motorcycle accident and the appendectomy that year.

The defining upward trend started in 2007. He was 3-4 in 30-pass games in 2007. Last year, going against an impossibly hard schedule, Roethlisberger went 6-2 in 30-pass games and 6-2 in close ones. Proving he can carry a team when asked to do more, Big Ben officially arrived as an elite quarterback and the Steelers won the Super Bowl.

Others results of the study are equally fascinating. In some ways, it helped confirm a lot of observations that are normally taken for granted. Quarterbacks need time to mature and grow. Asking a young quarterback to carry a team by throwing at least 30 passes in a game in his first year or two as a starter is problematic. It's a major challenge for a young quarterback to carry a team when his running game is shut down or when the offense needs a game-winning, two- or four-minute drive.

To read the rest of his "study", click here.

April 8, 2009

"There Can Only Be One"

EA Sports is looking for a new "cover boy" for their Madden NFL 10 video game and Ben is one of the candidates!

From their website:

"At the heart of Madden NFL 10 is the Fight For Every Yard. Who wanted it more? Who executed? Who left their heart and soul out on the field? The best players in the NFL are those who epitomize this fight and strive to dominate every snap of the ball. It takes this caliber of star to grace the cover of the Madden NFL franchise, and over the course of the next few weeks, we're going to profile 9 candidates that are up for the cover of Madden NFL 10."

This week's Madden NFL 10 candidate profiles include:

Ben Roethlisberger, QB - Pittsburgh Steelers...2 Super Bowl rings by age 27 and the poster child for blue-collar, Steel City football. Say what you want about his QB rating in Super Bowl XL, the guy just wins games. With Big Ben, it's not about stats, it's about the way he plays the game. At 6'5", 240 lbs, there isn't a tougher QB to bring down in the league. How many times did we see him maneuver around a broken down pocket last post-season, only to find an open Hines Ward or Heath Miller for a key 1st down? Oh, and there there's the brilliant Super Bowl winning pass to Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone, perfectly placed over 3 Arizona defenders. Fight for every yard? No, Big Ben fights for every inch.

See their site for profiles on these players:

Brandon Jacobs, RB - New York Giants

Adrian Peterson, RB - Minnesota Vikings

Ed Reed, S - Baltimore Ravens

You can go by their site and click on the videos to hear Madden NFL 10 announcers Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond share their opinions on each player, then check back every Monday to learn more about the candidates, all leading up to the official cover announcement on Friday, April 24th at the NFL Draft.

*And yes, I have heard of the "Madden Curse", so don't email me about it! But if Ben is selected then maybe he's the one that can "Reverse the Curse" (it worked for the Red Sox)!

April 5-6, 2009

Spring Workout Schedule Announced

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

The Steelers will hold their first two of fourteen organized team activities before the draft on April 20th and 21st, according to a list of their spring drills released yesterday.

The OTA's are voluntary activities that include practices without pads. In addition to the 14 voluntary sessions, coach Mike Tomlin will hold a required minicamp the weekend of May 1st-3rd.

The remaining OTA's will take place May 19th-21st, May 26th-28th and June 9th-11th.

Photo Albums from OTA's, Minicamp and Training Camp here.

Sunday Television Alert....

NFL Network has a short tribute (of sorts) on the toughness of Big Ben in an episode of their show "Live Wire" with includes video footage and interview clips.

The show aired at 2:00 pm today and will re-air at 10:00 pm this evening.

According to NFL Network's site, today's episode is entitled "Week 5", which is the episode that is supposed to re-air at 10 pm.

Also:

Check the gray column on the right for the Pre-Season Game schedule!

Speaking of Ben...

Mike Tomlin was in Knoxville this weekend as the featured speaker for Tennessee's spring coaching clinic, the first under new Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin.

He was asked during a press conference if it "helps having a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger leading the charge":

"Sometimes, you can’t win without one, man. We’ve got a special one. It definitely makes it a heck of a lot easier, when you get in situations that you’ve got to make a play, and you’ve got guys that are willing and capable to deliver a play like that. It’s fun to watch."

April 2, 2009

Ben To Be Honored With Award This Month

(Washington D.C.) On April 16, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and 15 other of the NFL’s biggest heroes will be honored at the NFL Players Gala featuring the JB Awards, an annual awards presentation hosted by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to benefit Special Olympics DC.

For the sixth consecutive year, the NFLPA and NFL PLAYERS, its licensing and marketing arm, have partnered with James Brown of CBS Sports "The NFL Today" to recognize NFL players for their individual contributions to their communities with the JB Awards. As in years past, award winners will participate in a panel discussion and will mingle with guests prior to the dinner. These honored players from around the National Football League will also join local Special Olympics athletes for a football clinic, an annual event held the morning of the Gala.

In February, he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a second Super Bowl title after orchestrating a fourth- quarter comeback against the Arizona Cardinals. Since being drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round in 2004, he has completed 1,189 passes and thrown for 14,974 yards and 101 touchdowns.

Roethlisberger currently ranks seventh all-time in NFL passer rating (89.4) and yards per attempt (7.86) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 15,000 career attempts.

In 2008, “Big Ben” engineered six fourth-quarter comebacks, and the one in Super Bowl XLIII helping solidify him as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. In last season’s three playoff games, he completed 54 passes for 692 yards and three touchdowns, one of which was the game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the final 35 seconds of the Super Bowl.

After just five seasons in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger’s name is already written all over the record books. He currently leads the Steelers in passer rating, completion percentage, yards per attempt, 300-yard passing games and 3,000-yard passing seasons. He is second in franchise history in passing touchdowns, passing yards, wins as a starting quarterback and games with a passer rating over 100.

A leader in every sense of the word, Roethlisberger established the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation to support two of his favorite causes. The organization has a local focus on enhancing the quality of life for residents of his hometown of Findlay, Ohio and Pittsburgh. Nationally, the foundation provides support for service dogs of police and fire departments.

Roethlisberger also sponsors the Giving Back Fund, a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing philanthropy around the world through innovative programs and initiatives.

This year’s honorees are:

Gary Brackett (Indianapolis)

Drew Brees (New Orleans)

Isaac Bruce (San Francisco)

Greg Camarillo (Miami)

Rock Cartwright (Washington)

Brian Dawkins (Philadelphia)

Chris Draft (St. Louis)

Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)

Joe Flacco (Baltimore)

Mike Furrey (Detroit)

Tony Pashos (Jacksonville)

Clinton Portis (Washington)

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)

David Thornton (Tennessee)

Kurt Warner (Arizona)

Daniel Wilcox (Baltimore)

Also Today:

Speaking of Big Ben...

"Even the great Steelers franchise, which runs the football and plays defense year-in and year-out with the best of them, went more than 20 years between Super Bowl wins. Why? Because after Terry Bradshaw (who retired in 1983), they had quarterbacks who were just good enough to create a false sense of hope but not good enough to win.

"So five years ago they went out and drafted Ben Roethlisberger in the first round, 11th overall. They’ve won two Super Bowls since. Coincidence? Not a chance." -- Naples Daily News sports journalist David Moulton, in his column on the Chicago Bears trading for Jay Cutler.

And...

"There's a reason they were celebrating in Chicago and we were shaking our heads in Denver on Thursday, even with all those new draft picks. However you felt about Jay Cutler, there is no debate in the NFL about the importance of franchise quarterbacks.

"The past five Super Bowl champion quarterbacks are Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady. Franchise quarterbacks all." -- The Denver Post's Dave Krieger in his column this evening.

April 1, 2009

2009 Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship

From The Desert Sun News:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was back in competition Tuesday almost two months since winning Super Bowl XLIII.

The setting had shifted, however. Instead of connecting with balletic receiver Santonio Holmes for the winning touchdown, he was unleashing powerful drives at the Kraft Nabisco Championship Celebrity Pro-Am.

"It's a great time. It's a great place," said Roethlisberger, who was paired with Natalie Gulbis, tournament chairman Dennis Belcastro and amateur Sang Chun.

The event is becoming a permanent fixture on the quarterback's offseason schedule.

"Dennis and those guys at Kraft do an awesome job out here, and I said, ‘As long as you'll ask me, I'll come,'" he said.

Roethlisberger was relaxed and down-to-earth on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course, joking with fans that he was wearing a bright red shirt to channel Tiger Woods, who wears his signature color on Sundays. He signed countless autographs and thanked fans for their support after his second Super Bowl victory.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback might not be the only member of his family to win a championship this year. His sister, Carlee, could capture an NCAA women's basketball title.

As a sophomore forward for the Oklahoma Sooners, Roethlisberger and her teammates advanced to the Final Four with a 74-68 victory over Purdue on Tuesday. Fighting for playing time behind more experienced starters, the 6-foot-1 forward has flourished in the tournament, earning more minutes off the bench.

"She's persevered, and I'm proud of her," Ben Roethlisberger said.

The Steeler said he plans on attending the Final Four in St. Louis, but don't count on the Miami (Ohio) alumnus singing "Boomer Sooner" with the OU faithful.

"No, I don't do that. I just cheer for her," he said with a laugh.

Roethlisberger said he has been playing a lot of golf across the country during the offseason, including a recent round at Bighorn Golf Club. He has a 7 handicap, according to a list of athletes' handicaps published by Golf Digest in 2007. That puts him in the middle of pack, tied for 121st out of 220 athletes, placing him behind former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw (2.9 handicap) but ahead of New England quarterback Tom Brady.

Roethlisberger said his handicap has improved slightly, but he was unwilling to disclose the number, joking that his playing partners would think he was playing below his level.

"I can't reveal that because then all the people I play with will think I'm sandbagging," he said with a laugh.

To see photos of Ben from the Pro-Am, click here. (I will add 'em as I find 'em!)

For more on Big Brother Big Ben...

Click here to watch the video of an interview with him talking about Carlee and her Oklahoma team.

*Thank you to Tracy for the video link, and to Jan and Trish for the news and photos while I was out of town with no internet connection!

March 26, 2009

Ben At Valley High School Last Night

Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch and other members of the Steelers Basketball Team played police officers from New Kensington and Arnold last night in the Annual Tom Cimino D.A.R.E. Benefit Basketball Game at Valley High School.

According to Arnold Detective Sergeant Eric Doutt, between 1,000 and 1,100 people attended the event.

The Steelers won 151-32!

To see a couple of photos from the game, check out the Valley News Dispatch here.

*Thanks Trish!

Also:

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Karen Price has a nice interview with Ben's sister, Carlee, in the Friday edition of their Trib Live Sports section entitled, "The Last Name Gives Carlee Roethlisberger Away".

To read it, click here.

March 22, 2009

New Photos Added...

I have added a few more photos from the Premiere of the movie "Watchmen" that Ben attended in Hollywood earlier this month.

To view them, click here.

*The photo above shows Ben posing for a photo with TapouT at the Premiere. You can check out their website here.

"Peter's Take" makes perfect sense...if you're a Ravens fan!

From Peter Schmuck's column today in the Baltimore Sun:

News item: The Ravens reportedly have asked the NFL not to schedule next season's road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in prime time.

My take: They'll get no complaint from me. It's bad enough having to watch Ben Roethlisberger engineer a last-minute touchdown drive every time the Ravens play the Steelers at Heinz Field. Why should I have to miss Jimmy Kimmel Live!, too?

Quote of the Day:

"Unless you grade on a generous curve, the list of franchise quarterbacks in the NFL has only three names on it: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger." -- The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla in his column today on Jay Cutler.

March 12, 2009

Vote For Ben!

Ben has been nominated for the 2008 Boomer Esiason Award at ProFootballTalk.com as part of their PFT Heroes Awards selections (which also marks their final award) for the 2008 season.

The other two nominees are Drew Brees and Kurt Warner. Ben leads the voting, but Brees is gaining ground.

To cast your vote for Ben, click here.

UPDATE:

Saturday, March 14th: Well, Drew Brees may have won their award, but Ben still won the Super Bowl...his second! Thank you to everyone who stopped by ProFootballTalk.com to vote for Ben!

March 5, 2009

"Super Bowl Champs Can Play Some Hoops, Too"

From an article by Mike Bires today in the Beaver County Times:

If you loved the Pittsburgh Steelers on the football field, you’re bound to love them on the basketball court.

Yes, many of those Super Bowl champion Steelers like to show off their hoops skills. They do so in a series of fund-raising games each winter and spring held throughout western Pennsylvania.

The Steelers’ basketball team started an ambitious 66-game schedule on Friday at Ellwood City High School. It plays two to four games a week. Providing the opposition for them are pick-up teams comprised of faculty, coaches, athletes, employees or celebrities chosen by the school or charity staging the event.

"It’s really a good time," said Ambridge athletic director Randy Cosgrove, who’s helping arrange basketball games against the Steelers for his school as well as Cornell. "Because the Steelers are so popular, the games are always sold out. It’s just a great chance for fans to see these guys up close without their uniforms on."

One of the best basketball players among the Steelers is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was a three-sport star in high school. He plays in about 15-20 of the games.

"A couple years ago at Ambridge, Ben did something that really turned the crowd on," Cosgrove said. "At one point as he was running down the court, he just ran up into the stands and sat down with some of the fans. Then someone threw him a ball, and, from the stands, he threw up a shot that went in. The place went crazy."

Among other Steelers who play hoops well are defensive end Brett Keisel, wide receiver Hines Ward, cornerback Deshea Towsend, quarterback Chalie Batch and even linebacker James Harrison, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.

Tickets for Steeler basketball games are $7 each. And at halftime at each game, the Steelers playing that day will autograph one item per boy or girl.

To read Mr. Bires full article and to see the game schedule, click here.

*Thank you to Kathy for the heads-up!

March 3, 2009

2009 American Century Golf Championship

I know it's early...but it IS the off-season!

Ben is scheduled to participate once again in the American Century Golf Championship which takes place from July 14th through the 19th at the Edgewater Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

The Championship will welcome other 'regulars' from the sports and entertainment world including Tony Romo, Drew Brees, LaDanian Tomlinson, Dan Marino, Oscar De La Hoya, Dennis Quaid, Ray Romano and Jack Wagner as well as newcomers Elliot Sadler (NASCAR), A.J. Hawk (Green Bay Packers), Joe Carter (MLB), and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.

NBC Sports will televise portions of the Championship.

- For information on purchasing spectator tickets, click here (space is limited, so get your tickets early).

- To download a free Tahoe Celebrity Golf calendar of Ben (above), click here.

To see photos of Ben's past participation in the Championship, click here.

March 2, 2009 - *Updated at 1:45 p.m.

Happy 27th Birthday Ben!!

In honor of Ben's birthday...

If you are my 27th emailer, you will receive the new Super Bowl XLIII Champions DVD.

The DVD contains highlights from the 2008 season, playoffs and Super Bowl XLIII. Extras include Media Day highlights, post-game highlights, profiles on Dick LeBeau, Mike Tomlin, Willie Parker, the Steelers Defense, Steelers Nation, and a profile and interview with "Captain Comeback" - Ben Roethlisberger. Ben talks about the ability of his team to play from behind throughout the 2008 season.

Email me at erin@bigbennews.com (You can copy & paste the email addy if it's easier)!

*Update: Congratulations to Misty Mills - she was the 27th emailer (very early) this morning and will receive the DVD! Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest.

February 28, 2009

A Few Photos From Last Night's Victory Party...

Ben and his teammates celebrated their Super Bowl win with a party at TAO Las Vegas nightclub last night.

To check out some photos from the event, click here!

*Thank you once again to Leah Sushelsky!

February 27, 2009

If You Are In Vegas This Weekend...

Super Bowl Victory Party tonight at TAO Las Vegas, hosted by Big Ben -

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate their big win this Friday night at TAO Las Vegas in the Venetian Hotel.

Doors open at 10:00 pm.

Also attending are Charlie Batch, Darnell Stapleton, Willie Colon and Trai Essex. Come on down and party with your favorite team!!!!!

$20.00 cover charge at the door.

To see a larger, complete version of the invitation/flyer, click here.

*Thank you to Leah Sushelsky for sending along the information to use on the site!

February 23, 2009

2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship Celebrity Pro-Am

Once again, Ben will participate in the Celebrity Pro-Am of the Kraft Nabisco Golf Tournament from March 31 through April 1, 2009, at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

The 38th annual Celebrity Pro-Am serves as the lead-in for one of the biggest weeks on the LPGA Tour. The Championship Tournament will tee off on April 2nd and will draw more than 100 of the best woman golfers in the world including the 2009 defending champion and three time Rolex Player of the Year, Lorena Ochoa.

The Celebrity Pro-Am will be held on both the Arnold Palmer Course and the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. Spectators are encouraged to bring their cameras and video cameras during both days of the Pro-Am. No cameras are allowed once championship play begins.

For more information on the Celebrity Pro-Am and Tournament, click here.

To see photos of Ben's past participation, click here (pages 4, 8 and 9).

And:

Just in case you missed it the first time...

Ben's appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" from February 2nd will be repeated tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 24th on CBS at 11:35pm.

For more info, click here.

You can see photos and screen captures from the show's first airing here.

February 21, 2009

No. 2 Sooners Extend Big 12 Lead By Beating Baylor...

...and Ben was there to cheer them on!

From the Dallas Morning News this afternoon:

Courtney Paris had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and No. 2 Oklahoma shut out fifth-ranked Baylor for an extended stretch of the second half to take a commanding lead in the Big 12 with a 66-58 victory Saturday.

The Sooners (24-2, 12-0 Big 12) squandered a 15-point, first-half lead before finding themselves down by six in the second half. That's when Oklahoma came up with a huge defensive stand, holding the Bears scoreless for 11 minutes while reeling off 13 straight points to surge back into the lead.

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose sister plays for Oklahoma, stood and raised both arms over his head when Nyeshia Stevenson hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 7:20 to play. Paris added another six straight points for Oklahoma.

Roethlisberger watched from a courtside table with a group of his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates, but his sister, Carlee, came up empty on both of her shots — a layup in the first half and a 3-pointer in the second half. They did applaud when she took a charge that started Oklahoma's defensive stand, and got even more fired up when it pushed the Sooners back ahead at 50-49 on Stevenson's 3-pointer.

To check out a larger version of the photo, click here.

February 20, 2009

"Combine Snap Judgments: Draft's Top Two Quarterbacks Leave NFL Uncertain"

From Sports Illustrated's Don Banks in his Inside the NFL column tonight:

I hate to spoil the party before it even starts, but any time spent trying to figure out if there's another Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco-like instant success story lurking in the first round of this year's NFL Draft strikes me as wasted energy.

There are plenty of hesitations within the league when it comes to expecting early results from a highly rated junior quarterback, and the track record of such picks is less than comforting. Yes, Ben Roethlisberger was the exception to the rule in 2004. But for every Big Ben -- and there's only one -- there have been an Alex Smith, a Tim Couch, a Ryan Leaf, a Heath Shuler or an Andre Ware.

"As a general rule, the more games they play in college and the more years they play as a starter, the better their chances of success in our league,'' said Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert, the man who drafted both Roethlisberger as a junior in '04's first round, and the less successful Omar Jacobs as a junior in '06's fifth round. "And if you take a junior, the longer they wait to play [in the NFL], the better they're going to be long-term in the NFL. And that's true for even the senior quarterbacks who aren't forced to play right away."

Roethlisberger and Trent Dilfer are the only junior-drafted quarterbacks who own Super Bowl rings as starters since the league began drafting underclassmen in 1989, and Dilfer's path to that pinnacle was full of early-career setbacks. And even Colbert admits Roethlisberger had no business winning his first Super Bowl ring in just his second season.

"People can look at Ben and say, 'OK, wait a minute. He was a junior, and he was ready,' '' Colbert said. "But two things: He was a redshirt junior, so he had been in school for four years, and second, he wasn't ready to do what he did. And that sounds wrong, because he had a great rookie year. But we never felt he was going to be ready that soon. Tommy Maddox was still coming off a pretty good year for us, and then he gets hurt in Week 2. But we drafted Ben with the thought that he would eventually replace Tommy. We didn't anticipate him playing that early, and we certainly never thought he'd play that well that early."

To read the entire article, click here.

To see a larger version of the photo above, click here.

February 15, 2009

2009 Old Spice Ben Roethlisberger Football Camp

Time to register for Ben's 2009 Football Camp...

Dates: June 22 - 24, 2009

Location: Mars Area High School - Mars, PA

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Cost: $249 ($6 online and credit card convenience fee not included)

Refund Policy: A full refund less $35 handling fee will be available until two weeks prior to camp.

Open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14.

Each camper will receive:

• Camp T-Shirt

• Camp team photo

• 9 hours of expert instruction

• An opportunity to win contests and prizes

• A fun and educational experience guaranteed!

For more information on the camp, how to register and to see a highlight video from last year, click here.

The site's photo gallery is not working at this time, but you can see photos from last year's camp by clicking here.

February 10, 2009

"Bradshaw Marvels At Roethlisberger's Poise"

From Leslie Visser's column at CBS Sports.com this morning:

Terry Bradshaw roared at the question.

"Is Ben Roethlisberger more mature than I was at 26?" he repeated. "He's more mature than I am now!"

Bradshaw won his first of four Super Bowls with the Steelers when he was 26, and the excitement/debate has already begun. With two Super Bowl titles, Ben is now halfway to Bradshaw. Do they compare?

"He is far more accurate than I was," Bradshaw said, "but I was faster. And I was big, but never this big. I played my first Super Bowl at 208 pounds. Ben's about 260."

Hard to believe Terry would exaggerate -- 240 is more like it. But both men have been known for being hard to bring down. While Bradshaw was more elusive, Ben has been the Plymouth Rock, just standing there when being assaulted on all sides.

"He's so athletic, so strong mentally and physically," Bradshaw said. "At that age, I couldn't even warm him up."

Another slight exaggeration.

Bradshaw threw for 27,989 yards, winning 107 games for the Steelers between 1970 and 1983. None of the Steelers quarterbacks who followed him came close to his combination of skills -- not Bubby Brister nor Mark Malone nor Tommy Maddox nor Neil O'Donnell. Even Kordell Stewart, whose rushing ability equaled his arm, combined for only 15,889 yards, second in Steelers history.

Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at age 23. Back then, he admitted, he was, "along for the ride." The ride was a bus, and everybody piled on to get Jerome Bettis a ring before he retired. Roethlisberger was particularly disappointing, with a 22.6 passer rating -- the lowest in history for the winning quarterback.

This time, Big Ben was in charge.

Bradshaw, the Hall of Fame standard by which all Steelers quarterbacks are measured, never had to bring his team back the length of the field with a world championship on the line. Big Ben was ready.

Roethlisberger's 6-yard symphony to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left to rally Pittsburgh to a 27-23 victory against Arizona finished an equally breathtaking eight-play drive from the Steelers 22, in which Roethlisberger completed five of seven passes and scrambled for 4 yards.

He told his team it was "now or never," and though the dramatic pass to Holmes had a fancy name, Roethlisberger said it was basically, "drop back, scramble right, scramble left, then find someone open."

He said this drive, this victory, was deeply satisfying, and that the touchdown will "probably be remembered for decades to come."

Roethlisberger's passion and determination, like Bradshaw's, fit the franchise and its people.

"We're both tough, both hard-headed," Bradshaw said. "Pittsburgh loves that."

Neither player should be defined by his statistics. Bradshaw went to only three Pro Bowls in his glorious career. Ben has been to one. Instead, both will be remembered for their punishing plays and the punishment they endured.

"Ben has much more poise than I had at that age," Bradshaw said, "but there's one place we're exactly the same: we're both leaders."

To read Ms. Visser's full columnn, click here.

Speaking of punishment endured....

Given the news and speculation surrounding Ben's injuries the last couple of days, I thought it might be worth a re-post of this article from The New York Times Jeffrey Marcus. The article, entitled, 'Big Ben Needs a Crutch - You're Welcome Pittsburgh" first appeared in the Times on January 26th:

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is listed at 6 feet 5 inches, 241 pounds. Me? I’m a very generous 5-9 (and a ½), 154. So I was bit surprised when Roethlisberger decided to use me as a human crutch to step down from the dais after the Steelers’ first news conference here this afternoon.

"Hold on a second," he called out as I was unplugging my digital recorder. "I’m an old man, I need some help." Roethlisberger, who is seven years younger than me, reached out and put his left hand on my left shoulder. I thought he just needed to get his balance, but instead he put a good portion of his weight on me as he made the six-inch descent from the riser to the floor, grunting the whole way down.

You can’t really fault the big guy. As tough as he is, Roethlisberger has endured quite a beating this season.

Judy Battista reported two weeks ago, before the Steelers won the A.F.C. divisional playoff: "From shoulders (sore or perhaps separated earlier this season) to toes (broken or maybe not in 2005), Roethlisberger’s skeleton has sometimes made more news than his statistics, to the occasional dismay of his coaches and the consternation of a small clutch of online fans who wonder if he is exaggerating his ailments."

There’s no exaggerating the number of times he was sacked this season (46) or the number of times he fumbled (14). Those statistics have prompted some to criticize Roethlisberger for holding on to the ball too long. It’s the one bit of criticism that he finds particularly amusing, and he says it fuels him as he and his teammates prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday.

“I laugh at it,” Roethlisberger said Monday, before asking for my help. “It may sound mean, it may sound rude, but you’re sitting behind a desk, I really don’t care what you think about me.”

(He’s right, I do sit behind a desk for most of my waking hours. But it didn’t stop me from propping him up and avoiding a potentially disastrous spill on the team’s first day in Tampa — you’re welcome, Pittsburgh.)

"I’ll play even worse than I did last time," he said referring to his performance in 2006, when he went 9 for 21 with 2 interceptions in Super Bowl XL. "If we win, I don’t really care. That’s all that matters to me is winning the football game."

Also Today:

Just in case you're missing Steelers football already...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots (11/30/08) - NFL Network 8:00 p.m.

Steelers force 5 turnovers and outscore Patriots 23-0 in second half to defeat rival Patriots at Foxboro.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Week 14: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12/7/08) - NFL Network 9:30 p.m.

Steelers stun Cowboys late, rally from 10-point fourth quarter deficit; loss snaps Dallas' three-game winning streak, damaging its playoff chances.

Thursday, February 12th

Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

FULL GAME on NFL Network, 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

With Bruce Springsteen's Halftime Performance - Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers to a dramatic come-from-behind victory in a wild back-and-forth game that set 12 Super Bowl records; Pittsburgh secured its record 6th Super Bowl with the win.

February 9, 2009

"I Play The Game One Way. You Saw It On The Last Drive"

From Peter King's "Monday Morning QB" column in Sports Illustrated:

I need to relive the Steelers' last drive of the Super Bowl. I want to relive it. I watched a DVD of the game sent from NBC the other day, then spoke at length to Ben Roethlisberger Saturday night about one of the great drives in big-game history. Four things that stand out now, eight days after the fact:

1. Roethlisberger still doesn't know why he threw the winning pass into triple coverage to Santonio Holmes. "If I'd thought about it, and now, looking back, seeing what I've seen, I never would have thrown it,'' Roethlisberger told me from southern California, where he was soaking in memories of the best game of his life, getting away from it all, and considering some lucrative endorsement deals.

2. Roethlisberger, playing on adrenaline, toughed out the game with at least two small rib fractures -- which didn't show up in an X-ray the week before the game but did when he got an MRI after returning to Pittsburgh.

I spent two hours examining the eight plays of the drive, which will go down as an NFL classic. I mean an all-timer. I know Roethlisberger's only 26, but this I can promise: Even if he wins three more Super Bowls and goes to the Hall of Fame someday, Big Ben will never have a championship game drive like this again -- 88 yards, trailing by three, final three minutes, starting with a first-and-20, eschewing anything like a play-it-safe mode, ending with one of the great clutch passes thrown in the NFL.

Lofty words. True words.

Before I take you back to the breezy Tampa night, there's a part of Roethlisberger's football personality that you've got to know. Rewind to Nov. 20, a Thursday night in Pittsburgh. With 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, the Steelers led Cincinnati 20-10, and all Roethlisberger had to do was bleed the clock the rest of the way and the Steelers could go home, safely, winners. But he was quarterbacking for points, not to kill the clock.

With a bum shoulder, he took off out of the pocket from the Bengals' eight, dove for the goal line, stretched his arm with the ball out, and crossed the plane for a touchdown. In the locker room I asked him: "Why not play it safe?'' And he said: "Heck no. I will never ... Casey Hampton said to me on the sidelines, 'What are you doing scoring? Why didn't you just go down at the one?' I said, 'Hamp, don't you know by now? That's my heart.' I'm a competitor. I want to get in the end zone. And I want to win. Period. I don't think about running the clock out. I don't think about saving myself. It'll take someone to bring me down. It's the competitive side. [Coach Mike Tomlin] tells me, 'Don't take a hit. Get down, slide.' But in that situation, it's competition."

So here we go in the Super Bowl. Arizona 23, Pittsburgh 20, 2:30 left. Ball on the Steeler 22. But guard Chris Kemoeatu holds on first down, so with 2:24 left, the real drive starts on the Pittsburgh 12. "Hard enough to go 78 yards starting on first-and-10,'' Big Ben said. "But the odds of going 88 yards, with 20 yards to go on first down ... " The Steelers needed about 58 yards to get into Jeff Reed's field-goal range -- but that's not what Roethlisberger was thinking. He wasn't thinking tie and get the game into overtime. He was thinking win.

"Never once," he said. "Not on the entire drive do I think 'field goal.' Never do I think, 'Play it safe.' Subconsciously, I guess I knew it. Of course I knew it, because we were down by three. But I wasn't trying to get us into field-goal range."

Roethlisberger is an interesting case. I've asked other quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady -- about big plays and big drives, and they remember tiny details. They're like Tiger Woods going shot-by-shot on a Thursday round (particularly Peyton), able to tell you why he went with the three-iron instead of the four-, 278 yards out from the tall grass on the seventh hole. Not Ben. "I don't remember a lot of the plays from that drive," he said. "I just don't remember things in great detail like that." So some of this was pulling teeth, but the insight was good.

"It's one of those throws where you just don't think," Roethlisberger said. "You're just trying to put it where the receiver can catch it, but if you don't, he's the only one who can catch it. When I let it go, I thought it was his ball or no one's. But a second later, I see the corner [Brown] and I think, He's gonna pick it off."

The ball went five inches, maybe six, over the gloved fingertips of the leaping Brown. Francisco was coming in for the kill shot on Holmes. Rodgers-Cromartie reminded me so much of Asante Samuel on last year's miracle catch by David Tyree -- a spectator, strangely and regrettably, on the biggest play of the season, instead of a mugger as soon as the ball hit Holmes' hands.

Holmes had missed the previous throw. Not this one. Leaning over the white boundary stripe, five feet shy of the end line, Holmes snatched the high ball out of the air and got what -- one, two feet down? The Ultra Slow-Motion camera at NBC director Fred Gaudelli's disposal (the network had three of these artsy cameras in use, two low at either end zone, and one on the 50) dispelled all doubt that Holmes got his right foot down. No way referee Terry McAulay would have been able to overturn the call anyway, but Ultra Slow-Mo assured that the Steelers had their touchdown -- and Roethlisberger his drive for the ages.

When he hugged Holmes, Roethlisberger said to him: "The other catch would have been a lot easier. You should have caught that one," meaning the pass on the previous play. And they both laughed.

Now that he's relived it a few hundred times, Roethlisberger wouldn't change a thing. Obviously. "I was just trying to make a play," he said. "Nothing complicated. Looking back on it, if I was a little timid, or if I thought about it, it's a different story. But you can't play football like that. It's a game of reaction. I play the game one way. You saw it on that drive."

Regarding the celebrated ribs:

Roethlisberger was speared in the kidney area in the AFC Championship Game. His midsection hurt so much that he had X-rays before the Super Bowl. They were negative. But a subsequent MRI told a different story. He found out last Thursday.

"Fractured ribs," Roethlisberger said. "Luckily, in the game, I didn't take any big hits to make 'em hurt. But I knew all along there was something wrong. There wouldn't have been anything they could have done about fractured ribs anyway. It was just suck it up and play."

The kid from Miami of Ohio sucked it up pretty good. The Super Bowl win standings of the Quarterback Class of 2004: Roethlisberger - 2, Eli Manning - 1, Philip Rivers, J.P. Losman, Matt Schaub - 0. Look at the three draft picks in the first round before Roethlisberger in 2004 -- cornerback DeAngelo Hall, wideout Reggie Williams, cornerback Dunta Robinson. Think Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston regret those picks?

To read Mr. King's full column, click here.

February 8, 2009

"Ben Roethlisberger Finds A Way To Win - At Everything"

From the column of L.A. Times sports journalist Sam Farmer today:

Here's a little story about Ben Roethlisberger, one that hints at the skills required to make the kind of precision passes the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback made in the Super Bowl last Sunday.

It happened a few hours after the divisional playoff victory over San Diego, when Roethlisberger was unwinding at a Pittsburgh pub with a group of family and friends. They were playing the arcade game "2 Minute Drill," the object of which is to throw junior-sized footballs through holes for points over the course of two minutes. There are three holes, with the top being the smallest and most valuable. It takes a pinpoint spiral to squeeze through that one.

On his first try, Roethlisberger set a new record for the machine.

Whump. Whump. Whump. Whump. Pass after pass zipped through the top hole.

On his second try, he broke his own mark. On his third, he scored so many points that the three-digit counter rolled over. Two minutes without a miss.

The whole pub erupted in applause.

"You get kind of competitive when it comes to things like that," Roethlisberger said in a phone interview this week. "I wasn't going to let anybody beat my score. It started with me competing with the guys there. But then it got to the point where, well, let me shoot for the high score. So that was the next competition and I blew it away."

(Roethlisberger, by the way, won't be in the Pro Bowl today, not even as an alternate. It's more evidence voting for that all-star game is a joke, but more on that in a moment.)

Among the things separating Roethlisberger from other quarterbacks are his incredibly skilled hands. Those allow him to zip passes on target, whether he's throwing off his front foot, back foot, twisted the wrong way, or with would-be tacklers dangling off him like Christmas ornaments.

"As a quarterback, especially in the NFL, you can't just drop back every time and throw a regular pass perfect," he said. "There's always going to have to be a different angle you're throwing the ball, someone's rushing you, you've got to drop your arm a little bit and throw through lanes, whatever it might be."

The steel-city grip of his right hand also allows him to execute more complete and convincing pump fakes, the kind that can fool an entire secondary into shifting out of position, as he did in the winning drive against Arizona. Whereas other NFL quarterbacks might flinch a fake, Roethlisberger gets three-quarters of the way through his throwing motion before resetting, the ball crazy-glued in place.

"Any time that you get a little pump fake, the more realistic it is, the more the defenders are going to bite on it. It happened in the Super Bowl on the one to Santonio [Holmes]," he said, referring to the 40-yard catch and carry that set up the winning touchdown. "I pumped on it and everyone came flying up and he was open. I bet it happens at least once a game where you can affect multiple defensive players by doing that."

The biggest knocks on Big Ben -- that he holds onto the ball too long and sometimes takes unnecessary hits -- are also some of his biggest strengths. He's a tough quarterback in a tough city.

And it comes back to the hands and the incredible athleticism. Roethlisberger's agents, cousins Ryan and Bruce Tollner, have seen it for years. They've both spent their lives around top athletes -- Ryan's a former Cal quarterback; Bruce's dad, Ted, was USC's football coach -- but they've seen some things from Ben that have left them rubbing their eyes.

They've seen him play as a fill-in in a competitive softball game and, in five at-bats, effortlessly pump five home runs over the fence -- the only five of the game.

They've seen him shoot around with the Phoenix Suns, at the invitation of his buddy Steve Nash, and even beat ex-Suns forward Shawn Marion in a three-point contest.

And they've seen Roethlisberger's epic ping-pong battles with his dad, that ball just a little white blur.

"Anyone that spends any time around Ben ultimately will get frustrated because they'll lose in anything they compete with him in," Ryan Tollner said. "Any little game he comes up with -- which is part of his personality, you'll play games all day long -- he'll win. It's quite humbling."

Last Sunday, a record TV audience watched Roethlisberger work his magic. With his performance in the playoffs culminating with his masterful two-minute drive in the Super Bowl, he went from a very good quarterback to an elite one. His name deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Peyton Manning's and Tom Brady's.

Manning is the AFC's starting quarterback in the Pro Bowl. The reserves are Jay Cutler and Kerry Collins, who is replacing the injured Brett Favre. (Notably absent are both Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.) Fans, players and coaches vote for the Pro Bowl, and the teams are determined before the regular season ends.

"It's funny because I remember when it got announced," Roethlisberger said of the Pro Bowl roster. "People were coming up to me saying, `Man, I can't believe you didn't make it.' I'd say, `You know what? It's all right. I'll just go out and get a Super Bowl now. I'd rather have a Super Bowl than a Pro Bowl any day.' I'm just glad that it worked out."

Somehow, you get the feeling he's gotten over the disappointment.

Funny how a second Super Bowl ring can do that.

To read Mr. Farmer's full column, click here.

Also Today:

Another article worth a read -

"Steelers final Super Bowl drive eerily similar to Montana and the 49ers" from the San Francisco Examiner this morning.

February 7, 2009

"All Roethlisberger Does Is Win"

From the column of Tyler Huey, sports writer for the small town Washington state newspaper, Nisqually Valley News:

Roethlisberger is not the type of glorified quarterback who gets constant praise for putting up gaudy numbers. He just does what it takes to win. Take Pittsburgh’s final drive, for example.

Pittsburgh trailed by three points with 2 minutes and 37 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. A la Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and John Elway, Roethlisberger led the Steelers 78 yards in eight plays, capped by a flawless 6-yard throw and catch to wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

Holmes was named the Most Valuable player due to his game-winning catch and 131 receiving yards, but Roethlisberger was more deserving of the award. If Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning or any other superstar quarterback did what Roethlisberger had done, they would have been named MVP. No questions asked. All Roethlisberger does is win. At 26, he’s a two-time Super Bowl Champ.

Pittsburgh took a 20-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The game looked like it was over, but it wasn’t. After Pittsburgh was charged a safety for holding on their goal line, Warner and Fitzgerald connected on two separate 1- and 64-yard touchdown passes for a 23-20 lead. And that’s the exact moment when Roethlisberger showed the world what he’s made of.

To read Mr. Huey's full column, click here.

February 5, 2009

Ben In The Bend...

In the latest issue of Sports Illustrated magazine (Feb. 9th).

Ben leads off the "Leading off" photo segment - all photos from the "behind the scenes" album (mentioned yesterday). The issue also has eight pages of Super Bowl XLIII coverage.

To see the magazine photo, click here.

I have also added a photo of Ben from last night's Penguins game. To view it, click here.

Television This Weekend:

NFL Network Steelers Replay Schedule -

Thursday, February 5th

Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

NFL Replay on NFL Network, 8:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.

NFL Network gives viewers the ultimate insider access; letting them listen in on players and coaches during the game on the field. Award-winning NFL Films crews capture exclusive on-field and off-field sound from Super Bowl XLIII.

Friday, February 6th

Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

NFL Replay on NFL Network, 2:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m.

NFL Network gives viewers the ultimate insider access; letting them listen in on players and coaches during the game on the field. Award-winning NFL Films crews capture exclusive on-field and off-field sound from Super Bowl XLIII.

Saturday, February 7th

Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

NFL Replay on NFL Network, 3:30 p.m.

Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers to a dramatic come-from-behind victory in a wild back-and-forth game that set 12 Super Bowl records; Pittsburgh secured its record 6th Super Bowl with the win.

Sunday, February 8th

2008 Divisional - San Diego Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1/11/09)

NFL Replay on NFL Network, 10:30 a.m.

Parker's 146 yards and 2 touchdowns and efficient play from Roethlisberger lead Steelers to AFC Championship game; Rivers' 308 yards and 3 touchdowns are not enough to continue San Diego's late season run.

Sunday, February 8th

Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

NFL Replay on NFL Network, 3:00 p.m.

Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers to a dramatic come-from-behind victory in a wild back-and-forth game that set 12 Super Bowl records; Pittsburgh secured its record 6th Super Bowl with the win.

Sunday, February 8th

Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals

FULL GAME on NFL Network, 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

With Bruce Springsteen's Halftime Performance - Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers to a dramatic come-from-behind victory in a wild back-and-forth game that set 12 Super Bowl records; Pittsburgh secured its record 6th Super Bowl with the win.

*You can always check the Television Alert section in the gray column on your right!

February 4, 2009

Marketing Big Ben

From an article in USA Today:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lost out to teammate Santonio Holmes for the Most Valuable Player award after Super Bowl XLIII.

But Roethlisberger and charismatic young Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are likely to be the winners in the contest for post-Super Bowl marketing bucks, Madison Avenue experts say.

In a recession-plagued economy, national endorsements are few and far between.

Marketers are more likely to go with safe choices such as Roethlisberger or 36-year old Tomlin, predicts Shawn McBride, vice president of Ketchum Sports and Entertainment Marketing.

Tomlin became the youngest coach to lead his team to victory in Super Bowl history with Sunday's 27-23 victory against the Arizona Cardinals.

Agent Brian Levy at Goal Line Football Management said Tuesday his phone has been "ringing off the hook" with book offers for his client.

In a broken economy, Levy thinks Tomlin and others are more likely to land book deals than endorsement contracts since publishing houses can recoup their financial investments quicker than endorsement partners.

"He's a bit of a private guy, so we're going to be careful," Levy says about Tomlin. "Any endorsement that comes out of this will have to fit his personality, his morals and his ethics."

Roethlisberger, who appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, is under contract with Nike.

The company "looks forward to continuing to work with Ben as he has proven to be an inspiration to football players on all levels," spokesman KeJuan Wilkins wrote in an e-mail.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has also appeared in ads for Campbell's Soup and Fathead.

With a name like Roethlisberger, it would be a natural for a company like Burger King to name a sandwich after him, says Bob Dorfman, executive creative director at Baker Street Partners.

"He's got a blue-collar, working-class appeal," Dorfman says. "He'd be perfect for any kind of product that gets the job done without glitz and glamour: burgers, trucks, power tools, home-improvement chains. He doesn't have Tom Brady's glamour. He's not as good on camera as Peyton Manning. But if you're looking for a tough, hardworking guy, he fits the bill."

Also Today:

From the entertaining column of sports columnist (and Ravens fan) Tony Giro, in the Baltimore Examiner, entited "Big Ben: the hatred runs deep" -

I'm in an abusive relationship with a guy named Ben.

I met him, geez, I guess five years ago. It was the winter of 2004.

I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on him. He was just standing around, holding a clipboard for a guy named Tommy. He seemed harmless enough -- almost unassuming and Shrek-like with his super-sized head and unsightly moles.

I didn't really think much of him until he and Tommy exchanged roles.

If I only had known what I know now, I could've saved the $10 I spent on the "Steelers Suck" T-shirt I bought that day.

I mean, how the hell was I supposed to envision a tall oaf like him would make a living ripping my heart out one ventricle at a time?

I get cold just thinking about the first time he broke the huddle. You know how some guys just have a look -- the look that separates them from everyone else? He had it.

All the greats -- Unitas, Jordan, Gretzky, Don Rickles -- had it.

I want to give myself a home lobotomy just to erase the memory of the first time he dropped back, scrambled and threw a dart downfield.

"Lucky," I told myself.

Then Ben did it again. And again.

Then, I didn't feel so good.

Why the hell did Tommy have to get hurt that day? Why, football Zeus, why?

The more I watched him that day, the more I hated him and his, "Oh, look at me. I'm so calm. Watch me act like my spleen was ripped Mortal Kombat-style from my body and come back on an ambulance 10 minutes later to finish you."

I had plans to go to Tampa last weekend, but noooo. Somebody had to make some plays on countless third-and-forevers against the Ravens.

Why can't I just walk away? Better yet, why doesn't he just walk away? Retire. Put me out of my misery.

Isn't two Super Bowl rings enough?

To read the entire article (it's worth it!), click here.

*Thank you Kathy!

SI photographer Ben Roethlisberger...

Teamed up with another SI photographer, Michael LeBrecht, to bring you "behind the scenes" photos from Super Bowl XLIII:

Click here to check them out.

Television Program Reminder:

NFL Network will re-air SuperBowl XLIII tonight at 8:30 p.m.

It will be shown in a 90-minute fast-paced format, without halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome.

February 3, 2009

Super Bowl XLIII Victory Parade

The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated their NFL-record sixth Super Bowl championship with a parade through the city on Tuesday afternoon.

The celebration began with a motorcade through downtown Pittsburgh as fans clad in black and gold waved flags, signs and Terrible Towels. The parade began near the corner of Grant Street and Liberty Avenue before reaching a stage on the Boulevard of the Allies and Stanwix Street.

"I love all you guys," wide receiver Hines Ward said to the crowd. "This is what it's all about. Hey, next year we're gonna bring back a seventh championship. Let's do it again."

After a hug for Coach Tomlin, Ben took the microphone and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Hey Pittsburgh, what's up?" to huge applause. "Hey you guys are the best fans in all of sports bar none, and you know what? We got SIX so no NFL team can touch us! We can argue it all we want now, right? We love you guys so much. Thanks for all your support, we appreciate it!"

The Steelers, who defeated Seattle three years ago in Super Bowl XL, are now alone among Super Bowl winners with six, while Dallas and San Francisco are tied for second place with five. Pittsburgh went 12-4 in the regular season and won the AFC North title for the second straight year. It then defeated San Diego and Baltimore in the playoffs before reaching the Super Bowl for the seventh time in team history (6-1).

I have added photos and screen captures here.

Also Today:

Ben was a guest on the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio this afternoon after the parade. Below is his interview:

Scott: "Ben, from Letterman to this...your life’s falling apart. That’s a hell of a fall!"

Ben: "Nah….Scott how you doin’?"

Scott: "So the last 24 hours — tell us about it. Must’ve been bonkers."

Ben: "Oh, it’s unbelievable. The game, and then umm, you know, the night with the family and friends, then getting a couple hours of sleep, then flying to New York to do Letterman, then going home last night, and then getting up this morning to go to the parade. Just unbelievable."

Scott: "What was that thing on your head? It looked like a muskrat with flaps."

Ben: "That was my warm hat. It was cold! The hat kept my head warm, my ears. I was trying to be warm, I didn’t care."

Scott: "What was it like today?"

Ben: "Unbelievable. More people than last time we did the parade. People hanging from trees! Our fans are just unbelievable!"

Scott asks him about what it was like "in the huddle" after Arizona took the lead.

Ben: "Well, you know, when I’m on the sideline and they scored, it was just unbelievable. I can’t believe this is happening. Then you snap out of it and say…you know, 'we can do this'. Unfortunately, in the huddle I didn’t have a Joe Montana/John Candy moment. I just told the guys, 'this is what it all boils down to. This is the last 2 minutes of the season, and all the hard work we’ve put in, all the talk, it’s all gonna be for nothing if we don’t do something done about it."

Scott mentions that Santonio Holmes said that when he missed the first pass he felt like he "blew it", and "Ben said when he threw the winning pass he thought HE blew it". Scott asks Ben to take him through that play.

Ben: "He’s right, the first one was probably actually the easier catch. The next play, Ton was the third read. I kind of pumped, and got ready to scramble. I don’t even know why I threw it to Santonio -- he was in the corner with three guys around him. And when I let go of it I thought 'oh my goodness' And Ton went up and like a ballerina he came down on his toes...and any receiver can learn how to do it from that."

Scott asks him about the second time around and how he "got it done".

Ben: "It was a completely different ball game. The first time it was my second year and I was nervous, I was so overwhelmed by making it to the Super Bowl. This time I just went out and enjoyed it, everything, even the media. I didn't have the cotton mouth or weak legs like I did the first time."

Scott: "Does getting two make you hungrier for the third?"

Ben: "Oh, yeah. I am incredibly grateful. I’m enjoying it don’t get me wrong, but when next season starts I want to get another on."

Scott asks him when he will "feel normal again?"

Ben: "Probably right about the day before training camp starts (laughs) no – I’ll start to feel better in the next couple weeks. It’s amazing what a little bit of golf, and some sun, and some water and beach, how it can make you feel better."

Scott: "Where you heading?"

Ben: "I’m not telling – people like to find me and show up."

Scott: "Magic number was 265 (number of texts Santonio Holmes had) What was your number?"

Ben: "I had 70 some text messages and about 12 missed calls and voice messages. That’s a pretty big number Ton had."

Scott: "Pittsburgh feels like America’s team - Do you feel like you guys have become not just the property of Pittsburgh, but that this country has embraced you guys for all that you have accomplished?"

Ben: "I don’t feel like the fans of any team, in any sport, can top our fans. Every stadium we go to it’s like a home game. It’s unbelievable. It’s great, you know, and we love playing for them. And you know what this does – it’s kind of magical for our fans. Now our fans have a legit argument on why they have the best team."

Ben laughts as Scott tells him, "You know this means we’re just gonna run the hell out of that commercial you did a couple of years ago."

Scott congratulates him and the interview ends.

*Thank you so much to Jan who took the time to record and transcribe this interview!

And:

According to PR/NewsWire and a report on ESPN News...

Super Bowl XLIII was the most viewed television program in U.S. history with a total audience of 151.6 million viewers, according to official national ratings data released today by Nielsen Media Research.

MOST VIEWED TELEVISION PROGRAMS IN HISTORY (total viewers):

1. Super Bowl XLIII: 151.6 million -- NBC 2009

2. Super Bowl XLII: 148.3 million -- Fox 2008

3. Super Bowl XXVIII: 144.4 million -- CBS 2004

The average viewership of 98.7 million is tops in Super Bowl history, beating last year's game by 1.2 million viewers (97.5 million).

February 2, 2009 - Evening Update

Ben On The "Late Show With David Letterman"

The show aired at 11:30 pm this evening, here are a couple of highlights from Ben's guest appearance:

NEW YORK — When he threw the pass that won the Super Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger thought he'd just blown the game for the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh quarterback went on the "Late Show with David Letterman" Monday night and told the host his pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds to play Sunday night was his third read, and he thought a defensive back would intercept it.

"I was getting ready to start running and then I saw about five guys closing on me, I knew my life was about to end," Roethlisberger told Letterman.

"I saw Santonio in the corner and as soon as I let go of it, I saw the defensive back going to get it, and I thought it was intercepted. I thought the game was over. I thought I blew it. And, you know what? He made a heck of a catch, he really did."

Letterman also thanked Roethlisberger for appearing on the show after a night celebrating Pittsburgh's 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

"Long night — but what better way to celebrate the next day than to be here with you," Roethlisberger said.

"Oh, what a guy, what a guy," Letterman said, applauding.

To see a larger version of the photo above, click here.

For screen captures and quotes, click here.

*You can watch the video here.

February 2, 2009

TV Appearance For Ben Tonight...

Ben will be a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight on CBS at 11:30 p.m.

For more info, check out the site here.

To see the screen caps from his two previous appearances (screen capture at left is from his appearance after Super Bowl XL), click here (pages 6 & 7).

Big Ben Postpones Disney Visit?

According to several news sources last night, Ben would be riding in the Disney Parade with MVP Santonio Holmes today, however according to Disney's site, MousePlanet.com this morning:

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers' dramatic Super Bowl victory, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Santonio Holmes recorded the latest in the series of "I'm going to Disney World!" spots.

Only Super Bowl MVP Holmes will ride down Main Street USA in a parade today.

Roethlisberger has postponed, and will visit the Magic Kingdom on another day.

The info was posted by MousePlanet writer, editor and podcaster Mark Goldhaber.

Steelers Victory Parade is tomorrow at noon!

According to KDKA.com:

KDKA has learned the Steelers' victory parade will be held tomorrow in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The parade will begin at noon and will take a similar route as the traditional St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The route begins near Mellon Arena, then down Center Avenue, a right turn onto Sixth Avenue, left onto Grant Street then a right onto the Boulevard of the Allies.

If you can't watch the parade live on television, KDKA.com will provide a live web stream beginning at 11 a.m.

The team returns to Pittsburgh International Airport at 2 p.m. today.

Also Today:

You can see Ben's latest "Body By Milk" Post-game print advertisement here. There are also two different size desktop wallpaper images.

For photos from the game, click here (pages 1 through 7).

Quote of the Day:

"I heard all the talk all week, and if you're gonna tell me that Ben Roethlisberger is not an elite quarterback then you don't know what you're talking about!" -- Former NFL head coach, player and current football analyst Mike Ditka on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show this morning.

Some articles written today that you may be interesting in reading:

Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger takes his place among Super Bowl's best (Tampa-St. Petersburg Times)

Roethlisberger puts 2005 performance behind him (Naples News)

Time has come for Steelers' Big Ben (The Denver Post)

Ben Roethlisberger is Super this time leading game winning drive for Steelers (New York Daily News)

A timely Big Ben Roethlisberger (Boston Herald)

Ben Roethlisberger takes command of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Tampa-St. Petersburg Times)

Big Ben Needs A Crutch -- Your'e Welcome, Pittsburgh (New York Times)

"Big Ben" and Horse Racing (StandardBred Canada News)

Ben Is Pure Steeler (Boston Herald)

Lord of the Rings (Beaver County Times)

And:

Did you know that Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is a die-hard Steelers fan? Well, he is (and so is Sox manager Terry Francona)! Curt and his family were at the game yesteday.

You can read about his Super Bowl Sunday experience on his "38 pitches blog" here.

February 1, 2009 - Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl XLIII: Big Ben & The Steelers Win 27-23

"I thought Roethlisberger was spectacular all night - extending plays, avoiding the rush and making the big plays. " -- Former Indianapolis head coach and NBC football analyst Tony Dungee after the game.

What once seemed on its way to being a one-sided Super Bowl victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers instead became a memorably dramatic triumph for them. They squandered a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, then got a remarkable touchdown catch by wide receiver Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds remaining to beat the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, here this evening.

Pittsburgh was led by yet another gutsy performance by QB Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger completed 21-of-30 passes for 256 yards and hooked up with WR Santonio Holmes on a 6-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winning score. Holmes earned Super Bowl MVP honors after hauling in nine passes for 131 yards.

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner lost a fumble on a sack with five seconds to go to seal the outcome.

The Cardinals had rallied with two touchdown passes from Warner, a one-yarder and a 64-yarder, to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and a safety on a holding penalty on Steelers center Justin Hartwig in his own end zone.

Roethlisberger became a two-time Super Bowl winner a month shy of his 27th birthday. Warner lost for the second time in three career Super Bowl appearances, the first two of which came with the St. Louis Rams.

For much of the night, the Cardinals were plagued by mistakes in the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. They looked like the pitiable team that began this season with one winning season since 1984, and the one that went 0-5 on the East Coast during the regular season before going on a magical playoff run.

The Cardinals were hurt by penalties and Warner threw an interception that Steelers linebacker James Harrison returned 100 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. The longest play in Super Bowl history gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead at the intermission.

Tailback Gary Russell ran for a second-quarter touchdown for the Steelers. Warner finished with three touchdown passes, the first one to tight end Ben Patrick in the second quarter.

Roethlisberger won the Super Bowl with the Steelers three years ago in Detroit as a second-year pro. But he played miserably that day and spent the buildup to this game vowing to perform better this time around. He also deflected speculation he was bothered by a rib injury, and he got off to a good beginning in this game on the second offensive play.

Roethlisberger rolled to his right and threw a dart of a pass to wide receiver Hines Ward, who was playing with a sprained knee suffered in the AFC title game. Ward showed no ill effects from the injury, getting wide open on the play. He made the catch and raced to the Arizona 32-yard line for a 38-yard gain. Roethlisberger later got the Steelers a first down at the 1 with a 21-yard completion to tight end Heath Miller.

On third down from the 1, Roethlisberger rolled to his right but couldn't find an open receiver. He decided to run but was met by Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. Roethlisberger bulled his way toward the goal line with Dockett holding on. The officials on the field signaled touchdown. But Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Steelers' offensive coordinator for their last Super Bowl triumph, didn't agree and issued an instant replay challenge.

Roethlisberger had been awarded a controversial rushing touchdown three years earlier in the Super Bowl, but not this time. Referee Terry McAulay reversed the original call, ruling that Roethlisberger's knee had touched the turf before he reached the end zone. Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin decided against a fourth-down gamble, and place kicker Jeff Reed's field goal provided a 3-0 edge.

The Cardinals went nowhere on their opening possession and punted, and the Steelers were back at it. Wideout Santonio Holmes went 25 yards with a screen pass, and Roethlisberger used a nifty escape from the pass rush to buy time to find Miller for an 11-yard completion on a third-and-10 play. All of that led to a one-yard touchdown burst by Russell, a reserve tailback, on the second play of the second quarter.

The Cardinals got another chance when Roethlisberger threw a tipped-ball interception to linebacker Karlos Dansby. Fitzgerald made his first catch of the night. Two catches by Boldin gave the Cardinals a first down at the Steelers 1 and they took a timeout with 18 seconds left in the half.

Harrison, the NFL defensive player of the year, faked a blitz but dropped into coverage. Warner threw a pass toward Boldin but Harrison stepped in front of him and made the grab at the goal line. He rumbled his way up the right sideline, maneuvering around Warner and outrunning tight end Leonard Pope and offensive tackle Mike Gandy.

Fitzgerald and Breaston caught him at the far goal line, 100 yards from where Harrison began his record-setting journey, and pulled him down as the clock reached zero. Harrison fell on his head at the goal line. He remained on the ground for a few moments but got to his feet and walked off the field about the time McAulay announced the replay review confirmed that Harrison had crossed the goal line and the touchdown counted.

To see photos from the game, click here (pages 1-6).

(game summary from several different news sources)

"Holmes, Roethlisberger to Disney World"

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tonight:

TAMPA — Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes and winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will attend festivities today at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as part of performing the famous "I'm going to Disney World" commercials."

Normally the MVP does the commercial alone, but Roethlisberger, who tossed the game-winning 6-yard touchdown pass to Holmes with 35 seconds remaining in the Steelers' thrilling 27-23 win Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium, will join Holmes at today's parade. The two also will participate in other activities at the popular theme park.

The commercial features selected players shouting the phrase "I'm going to Disney World" while celebrating the team's victory on the field immediately after the game.

More tomorrow...

February 1, 2009 - Super Bowl Sunday (Morning)

"International Ben": Scotland on Sunday

From the Edinburgh, Scotland newspaper, Scotland on Sunday:

"Superbowl: Ben steeled to cash in on any Cardinal sins" by Mark Woods

THE TIES that bind the Pittsburgh Steeler Nation are strong and visible. The Terrible Towel, available only in yellow and black. A sense of history, instilled through the storied franchise's five NFL Championship runs. And a mystique created in the post-war era of Jock Sutherland, that emigrant son of Coupar Angus, which has been passed down the generations through good days and bad, earning an army of devotees from the rundown inner precincts of Pennsylvania's industrial heartland to the sanctum of American power.

Even President Obama, who has belatedly proclaimed himself a Steeler fan, surely exhaled a sigh of relief on Friday morning when Sutherland's latest head coaching successor, Mike Tomlin, uttered arguably the six most significant words among the vast global chatter in the build-up to Super Bowl XLIII. "Ben's fine. He's going to play," he said.

The Arizona Cardinals, unfancied opponents this evening in Tampa, will have duly taken note.

On the health of Ben Roethlisberger rest the Steelers' hopes of claiming a second title in four seasons. Certainly, the return to fitness of wide receiver Hines Ward, Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XL, holds huge significance, as does the league's best defence. Having so many in their ranks with prior experience in dealing with the circus that precedes the game can't have hurt either.

Yet it is a quarterback who, by his own conviction, failed to impose himself during his first appearance on American football's greatest stage, who holds the keys to the trophy cabinet.

It has been Big Ben (Version 2.0) that has been doing the rounds in Florida. Sure, he still might look like a man for whom riding a Harley is a full-time occupation with his baseball cap rarely peak-forward. However, now aged 26, and with the veterans of '06 in retirement, this has become his Steelers. "You have to be as you grow at the position," he admits.

"You kind of naturally have to whether you force it or not. I never tried to force it when I got here. It just naturally became my time."

"It's maturity," insists Hines Ward.

"When he walked into the huddle he was still the quarterback, but he had some legendary guys who were captains – Alan Faneca, Jerome Bettis, Marvel Smith. We had a lot of veteran guys. It was only his second year in the league. Now when he steps into the huddle, it's his team. He doesn't have to worry about other guys.

"When he steps into the huddle, all eyes are on him. He has a presence."

Much of the advance spotlight has fallen on Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner.

The NFC champions have been, for so long, America's answer to East Stirling. However, with Warner at the helm, and with mercurial receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldi as his targets, they are well capable of springing the greatest of many upsets this campaign.

Roethlisberger, statistically at least, is no match for his counterpart, nor does his personal story tug at the heart strings. He has more to gain here though, and – despite the arguments of his colleagues – more to prove. He recalls the evening of February 5, 2006 in Detroit when, while becoming the youngest-ever QB to get a ring, he ended up with the fixture's worst ever passer rating, a meagre 22.6. "It fuels the fire," he insists, "to want to come out and play a better game next time."

That time is tonight, once Jennifer Hudson has belted out the Star Spangled Banner, the smoke has cleared and the towels have begun their relentless spinning.

"I'm sure once the ball is kicked there will be nerves going through it," Roethlisberger admits. "But if you're not nervous for this game, then there's something wrong with you." The Steeler Nation will trust that there ain't.

To read the entire article, click here.

I have more Super Bowl articles here.

Let's Go Steelers! Let's Go!

January 31, 2009

Photos From Today's Final Practice

The Steelers had their final practice today at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

You can see the latest photos of Ben (and his video recorder) right here.

You can also see photos from the "Body by Milk" ads here.

You can see a behind-the-scenes video of the ad and get a desktop wallpaper here.

*Thanks Tima!

Also:

Brett Keisel fan? check out this site:

http://www.brett-keisel.com/

Heath Miller fan? check out this site:

http://www.heath-miller.com/

Troy Polamalu fan? Check out this site:

http://www.troypolamalufan.com/

We've all been a bit busy this week! Enjoy!

January 30, 2009

Ben "Michael Flatley" Roethlisberger

Ben did a bit of Irish step dancing today during practice!

Don't believe me? I have proof...

Click here to see them!

Perhaps he's just working on his moves for a possible trip to Ireland after the Super Bowl!

 

January 29, 2009

"Hopes Of Steelers Faithful Ride On Roethlisberger"

From the Miami Herald today:

In a back corner of the Blue Martini lounge, a group of NFL hotshots occupied a table that remained relatively quiet for much of Monday night, meaning there was at least some room to move around.

Then, something changed. The energy lifted. A swarm of people -- mostly women -- buzzed through the area because of one person.

"He doesn't even realize I'm scratching his back!" said one fan, yelling over the music to a friend as she spent nearly 10 seconds with her index finger pressed against his shoulder.

Thanks for coming, Ben Roethlisberger.

Like a whale unaware of the suckerfish stuck to its body, the Steelers' star quarterback (and the ultimate VIP of Super Bowl week) cruised through the lounge unfazed by the noise he created. Then again, what else would you expect?

Roethlisberger isn't the type to be daunted by such hoopla. Instead, he symbolizes the city he represents. He is tough and gritty, firm and resolute.

Sure, he also was polite, obliging when asked for photos on the only night when both teams' curfews had been lifted. But scenes such as these earn him the adoration of his hometown fans.

"He's a cowboy," Steelers left tackle Max Starks said. "He doesn't need to be on the cover of GQ. I think he was on the cover of Men's Health once, and he wore a long-sleeved shirt. That's just how he is.

"He doesn't care about the recognition."

As he seeks his second Super Bowl title in five years, Roethlisberger is learning that his blue-collar ethic is one of the reasons why his popularity is growing.

When asked to describe how the Steelers are perceived around the league, Roethlisberger said "hard-nosed, grind-it-out football."

That is the style of play he will try to instill in his team again Sunday, as the blue-collar Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in a game that could build upon Roethlisberger's legacy.

"It doesn't matter where we play; in the mud, in the rain, in bad weather, in snow or whatever it is," he said. "It's just about finding a way to win."

Roethlisberger might as well be describing himself. With his recognizable goatee and 245-pound frame, Roethlisberger isn't hard to miss. He's the one who looks and acts as tough as the city he loves.

That probably is why the city loves him back.

"Sometimes, Pittsburgh isn't that pretty, just like our offense isn't going to be that pretty all the time," tight end Heath Miller said. "But he's always going to be there, getting it done.

"That's why the city embraces him."

To read the entire article, click here.

*Thank you to Lexi!

Also Today:

I have added more photos from Tampa, of course...

To see the latest, click here.

 

 

January 28, 2009

Proud Grandparents

From an article/interview in the Naples Daily News today:

As the nation obsesses over the Super Bowl this week, there is a Fort Myers Beach couple even more interested than most people.

Frank and Fran Foust live the quiet old Florida lifestyle for about six months every year. It’s a quiet, well-kept place off the beaten path but only a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the beachfront tourist crowds.

Usually. This week there’s an air of anticipation as Ben Roethlisberger’s grandparents get ready to watch the Steelers starting quarterback try for his second NFL title.

"I’m a nervous wreck (watching the game)," said Grandma Fran, who turns 72 on Friday. "I'm a mess. My husband is even worse. He can't hardly eat."

There's a party planned for Super Bowl Sunday at the park. The Fousts are going, but Grandma admits that if the game is a close one or if the crowd is too noisy she won’t be there.

"If it’s too loud or if they're losing I'll sneak home," she said.

Frank, also 72, said that when Ben was playing in high school in Findlay, Ohio, he'd hoped to see his grandson play at Ohio State. That seems clear from the Buckeye jacket grandpa sports in the picture.

Instead, Ben opted for Miami of Ohio.

"He made that very clear he wasn't going to Ohio State," Frank said. "He made a good choice whatever his reason was."

Fran said she never imagined her grandson would play in the National Football League until she was watching him play in college.

"It never dawned on me," she said. "Then I heard an announcer say 'We'll be watching him on Sunday'."

The first time Roethlisberger played in the Super Bowl it was played in Detroit in 2006.

"We looked at the weather and said 'No'," she said.

This time around the game is in Tampa, but the Fousts are staying at Ebb Tide. There's a big screen TV in the clubhouse, and their own small home-away-from-home is close enough for an escape if it gets too tense.

To read the full article/interview, click here.

Also Today:

I have added a few more photos to the Super Bowl XLIII album in the gallery.

To see the latest, click here.

 

 

January 27, 2009

Super Bowl XLIII Media Day

Some Highlights:

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has learned to embrace Media Day the second time around.

Three years after he led Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl matchup against Seattle, Roethlisberger appeared relaxed Tuesday even while surrounded by hundreds of journalists.

"You get all kinds of crazy questions on a day like this, but you just have to roll with it," he said.

"Don't be overwhelmed by distractions. Keep your focus on the game ahead. It's been a little easier for me to do that this year."

There's a sharp contrast between Roethlisberger and Arizona veteran Kurt Warner, but both have proven successful in getting to the big stage.

"Nothing I do is typical," said Roethlisberger. "I run around too much, I hold the ball too long, but somehow the job gets done. I think Kurt Warner is a phenomenal football player. I love watching the guy play. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he plays the game."

At one point, a little boy (with a pad and pencil and wearing a press pass around his neck) got Ben's attention and asked him how many plays he had to remember, and if they were all on his wristband:

"We have about 200 plays to remember and most of them are on there."

The little boy then asked, "Who was your hero growing up?"

"My dad. I wanted to be just like my dad. I still do."

He asked the little boy if he had any more questions which prompted a "Do you play Madden?"

"Do I play Madden? I play the college one, does that count? I don't