March 17, 2008 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"A Perfect Match"

I have added a new article today.

To read it, click here.

*Thank you to Jan for transcribing it!

March 13, 2008

Photos Added From Charity Basketball Event

From the Ellwood City website:

Steeler defensive end Brett Keisel was up to his antics again Wednesday Night, this time at the Riverside High School. Antics that included hoisting a lucky fan, this time a young Steeler fan, high above his shoulders for a slam dunk and also throwing down a dunk of his own -- all part of the show the Steelers basketball team put on against the Riverside B.E. Taylor & Company squad.

Keisel and the rest of the Steeler basketball team were joined Wednesday night by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Big Ben played the entire game, showed his hops by throwing down some dunks during the game, and spent half-time signing autographs for the fans.

The Steeler squad consisted of some of the same players that attended Lincoln High School last Friday night along with running back Najah Davenport and Roethlisberger. Proceeds from the event benefited the Riverside girls' varsity softball team

To view the photos, click here.

*Thank you to Trish for the heads-up!

Ben also played in the annual Tom Cimino D.A.R.E. Benefit Basketball Game featuring Arnold and New Kensington Police Departments vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at the Valley High School gym last night. If we are able to locate any photos, we will post them!

Note: There should be no further "down time" for the site. I have upgraded to a shared dedicated server - the high volume of hits was forcing my host to auto-suspend the site because it was crashing their server. That should no longer be a problem with the upgraded server!

March 12, 2008

"Top 10 All-Time QB's: Room For Eli Or Big Ben?"

I have added an article from The Sporting News to the Articles page.

Some excerpts from the article:

Chuck Noll coached the team for 23 years. It was Bill Cowher for the next 15 years, and the Steelers are hoping for 15 more good ones from Mike Tomlin. The one mistake the organization made through the previous two coaching regimes was not having a quarterback set to take the mantle from Terry Bradshaw . The franchise struggled through seasons with the likes of Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox under center before Roethlisberger finally emerged as the man to get a proud team back to its desired level of success.

By securing Roethlisberger for the long-term, the Steelers should, like the Giants and Colts, be consistent contenders. Defense will always be their backbone, and they'll continue to try to run the ball. But Roethlisberger has showed what he can do if the Steelers open up their game plan with a high-percentage passing game that plays off the run.

His arm and athleticism led him to 34 total touchdowns (including 2 rushing) in 2007 against only 11 interceptions. Big Ben quietly had the big statistical season you might expect from Peyton, matching the Colts' star in TDs while posting the better passer rating (104.1) last season.

To read the entire article, click here.

Technical Note: The site has been experiencing some down time lately and I am in the process of making changes with my web-hosting company. Please be patient as this may mean more down time for the site throughout the week.

March 9, 2008

"Roethlisberger, Favre Two Of A Kind"

From the Washington Observer-Reporter today:

Favre retired on Wednesday with just about every NFL passing record worth having and his consecutive game streak - 275 games - is as unbreakable a record as there is in sports.

A quarterback who starts this season would have to go until 2022 or 2023 without missing a game to match it.

Unless the Steelers have an organizational nervous breakdown and decide to become a pass first, run second kind of team, Ben, no matter how long he plays, won't come close to putting up Favre-like numbers.

But it's not about the stats. It's about the attitude.

Favre was a gunslinger. He was just as likely to throw three interceptions as he was to throw four touchdown passes.

Sometimes he managed to do both in the same game.

Maybe you've noticed Ben sometimes has a little too much confidence in his arm and throws some really ugly picks. Favre was as dangerous outside of the pocket as any quarterback in NFL history.

With Favre gone, Ben is now the most dangerous outside-the-pocket guy in the NFL.

He is also now the best basketball/shovel passer in the league. Favre was unpredictable, fun to watch and successful. You can say the same about Ben.

Favre won one Super Bowl in 17 years. Ben has already won one and he's only played four seasons.

Favre's durability and longevity are what make him one of the three or four best quarterbacks in NFL history. Being a gunslinger is one thing. Doing it for 17 years is quite another.

March 7, 2008

Ben Signed On For Another Segment of FSN's "Sports Science"

I have waited a few weeks before posting about this to get confirmation that Ben's appearance this month on FSN's Sports Science was not just a repeat of his October guest shot.

Apparently it's not! It's a whole new season of Sports Science that begins Sunday, March 16th.

Ben is scheduled to make his appearance on Sunday, March 30th at 9:00 pm. The episode is titled, "Gear Factor" and asks the question, "Does protective gear actually protect? Is the equipment the professionals use really the best available for their respective sports?" They will examine how different types of gear both enhance and inhibit the performance of the world's best athletes. Other guests that evening include MMA star Quentin "Rampage" Jackson, former heavyweight boxing champion Chris Byrd, and Chargers DB Quentin Jammer.

Created by FSN and BASE Productions, Sports Science puts world-class athletes to the test, using cutting-edge technology to break down every detail of their performance and provide eye-opening answers to sports' greatest questions.

In the latest installments, Sports Science utilized motion-capture technology to measure velocity, aerodynamics and to deliver a better understanding of how athletes move; CGI delivers a computerized look at previously unseen body movements during competition; high-speed cameras capturing the most precise details of the smallest movements; and pressure censors to give specific mathematical responses to everything from calibrating weight distribution to impact areas to reaction times.

To view screen captures and to read the storyline from Ben's first appearance on Sports Science, click here (they start at the bottom of page 4 through page 7).

March 3, 2008

"He Will Be Our Quarterback For Many Years To Come"

From ESPN.com:

The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a new eight-year, $102 million contract.

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Big Ben among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal. Both Manning's and Vick's deals were signed in 2004.

Roethlisberger now joins Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and the suspended Vick in the $100 million quarterback club.

"This is about being a Pittsburgh Steeler for as long as I can be. I love Pittsburgh," Roethlisberger said. He said he "wanted to be like the Dan Marinos, like the John Elways, guys who played with one team their whole career."

Roethlisberger's agents, Ryan and Bruce Tollner of REP 1 Sports, traveled to Pittsburgh and finalized the deal with the Steelers late Sunday night.

"Ben has been an outstanding leader on the field for the Steelers since his rookie year and we are very happy to know that he will be our quarterback for many years to come," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement.

Roethlisberger, who turned 26 on Sunday, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he completed more than 65 percent of his passes with a team-record 32 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 104.1, leading the Steelers to an AFC North title and the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons.

Roethlisberger, who two years ago became the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, grew as a team leader last season and bounced back from a disappointing 2006 where his offseason was marred by a serious motorcycle accident and an appendectomy.

Roethlisberger was the third quarterback taken in the '04 draft, behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, and the 11th choice overall. He started 13 games his rookie season and was voted offensive rookie of the year, the first quarterback to win the award since it was first given in 1957. The next year he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory.

To view the video of Ben's press conference today, click here.

To read the transcript, click here.

To view the photos from the press conference, click here.

March 2, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!

To celebrate Big Ben's birthday today, I am giving you the gifts, but you have to give me the right answers!

The seventh person to email me with the correct answers to the following questions about Ben's 2007 season, will win the folowing items:

- A 2008 Official Pro Bowl Game Program
- A 2008 Ben Roethlisberger calendar
- A 2007 Ben Roethlisberger Hallmark Keepsake ornament

The questions: In 2007, Ben tied or surpassed a few Steelers Franchise records. Can you give me the correct answers for these?

1. Most touchdown passes in a season - how many?

2. Most touchdown passes in a game - the number? and the game? what other two Steelers quarterbacks did he tie with this record?

3. Most consecutive passes completed in a game - the number? and the game? what other Steelers quarterback did he tie with this record?

4. Highest Passer Rating in a season - what was it?

Send your answers to me via email, I will post the winner when I have one! (You can find the answers to all of them right here on the site, if you know where to look!)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Kayla Tatman - the seventh emailer to send the correct answers! (see below):

1. 32

2. 5 / against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, November 5, 2007.

3. 15 / against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, November 26, 2007 / Bubby Brister also completed 15 straight on October 1, 1989 against the Detroit Lions.

4. 104.1

Thank you to everyone who took the time to email! I'll have more contests in the future!

Also Today:

I have added an article about Ben from the Tribune-Review to the Articles page.

To read it, click here.

An update from my November 15th news -

From SpaceCoast Films - the feature film "SCOUTS HONOR 2 - LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE" is now casting!

Action slapstick comedy is the second in a planned trilogy, and picks up where the first film left off. A group of kids save their town from being invaded and overtaken by bikers. The movie will include some well known athletes appearing as bikers...Dan Marino, Ben Roethlisberger, Brian Urlacher, Wayne Gretsky and Dave Andrechuk.

For more info, click here.

Note: I have no way of checking the validity of the movie's cast of athletes listed and whether they will actually appear in this film!

February 25, 2008

Off-Season Odds & Ends...

I have added a photo of Ben with Jim Kelly that recently surfaced (thanks Jan!) from the Nike Super Bowl event in Arizona.

To view it, click here.

Also:

Ben was a guest at the Roast for WDVE's Jim Krenn. The event was held at PNC Park and a video interview by WTAE-TV 4 with Ben and Brett Keisel can be found here.

Coach Tomlin on Ben (from an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette):

"I've been in this league seven, eight years now and this is the first time I've been around a quarterback like that," Tomlin said. "I've been around elite guys at other positions, but the reality is when you've got an elite quarterback you've got a chance to win. Ben is that."

"And the thing is, you've got a chance to win [if you have an elite quarterback] regardless of circumstance and that's just the reality of it. That lets you know the importance of that position in this league."

Although Roethlisberger has won a Super Bowl and is coming off a spectacular season (32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) in which he led the Steelers to the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons as a starter, Tomlin said the most exciting thing about him is that he is still young.

"Ben's 25 years old, man," Tomlin said. "He's a good player. He's an emerging player and you know that he's capable of becoming a great player and we expect him to be."

February 22, 2008

New Photos Added...

Thanks to Trish, I have added a few more photos, including some "action shots" from the Pro Bowl.

To view them, click here (pages 1 & 2).

Also Today:

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -

"We are moving along. It is something that is progressing very well and we'd like to be able to finalize it. But it is a big deal for him and a big deal for us. But all signs are positive that we are going to get it done." -- Kevin Colburt, director of football operations for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Ben's contract extension during an interview at the Combine.

And:

Even though things are a bit slow around here during the off-season, I still keep up with news and events information, so don't forget to check back! Events are listed in the gray column on the right.

February 14, 2008 - Happy Valentines Day!

Vote For Ben!

For the 2008 Dapper Dan "Sportsman of the Year".

The Dapper Dan Charities executive committee will select a winner based on the top vote-getter. Other categories include "Sportswoman of the Year" and a "Best in Sports History" series which allows you to choose your favorite player, team, and event in Pittsburgh Sports from a pre-selected group of nominees.

The winners will be honored at the 72nd annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction held at the Convention Center on April 1st.

To cast your votes, click here.

For ticket information, click here.

For more information on Dapper Dan Charities, click here.

February 11, 2008

Pro Bowl: News, Notes, Pics & Quotes

From the Honolulu Star Bulletin today:

"Manning wanted to play one stretch. He got warm and played one stretch. We planned on Ben playing most of the third quarter. But his groin was sore and that's why Derek played the whole second half." -- AFC Coach Norv Turner

Also from today's Honolulu Star Bulletin:

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who started the game and guided the conference to a 17-7 lead on 11-for-16 passing and a touchdown, was pulled after his third drive to give signal-callers Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Anderson opportunities to perform.

While the Steelers' Roethlisberger held his own with a short scoring strike to Houshmandzadeh for a 24-14 lead in the second quarter, Anderson, of the Browns, struggled in closing out most of the second half with just 10 completions in 26 attempts. He also threw an interception to end the game.

From Steelers.com today:

"It’s different taking a snap from a different center and throwing to different receivers. You may have the same route, but every single person runs them different. When you are not used to throwing to these news guys it takes some time to get used to. I think we did a good job to get on the same page." -- Ben Roethlisberger

From Bengals.com last night:

"Maybe we can bring people together. We said we were going to try and hook up. Ben let me just go up and make a play." -- T.J. Houshmandzadeh, on his touchdown catch from Big Ben

Game Notes: Roethlisberger was five for nine for 42 yards and a touchdown, while playing in the second quarter of the game, which the NFC won 42-30. He also led the AFC in rushing with one carry for 18 yards.

Quarterback rating - Peyton Manning earned a 118.4 rating (11/16, 147 yards, 1 TD) with Ben Roethlisberger at 104.8 (5/9, 42 yards, 1 TD) and Derek Anderson at 34.6 (10/26, 103 yards, 1 int).

To view photos from the game (and a few more from practice), click here.

Tonight:

Ben's interview with KDKA's Bob Pompeani will air this evening during the 5 p.m. news telecast.

If you missed it, click here to read the transcript.

*Thanks to Dot for sending me the link!

February 8, 2008

More New Pro Bowl Practice Photos Added....

I have added a few more pictures from today's practice (like the one on the right - definitely worthy of an "early" picture of the week change!).

To go directly to the latest, click here.

 

Again, I'll add more this weekend as they become available.

Also Today:

I have screen captures from Ben's appearance on NFL Network's Total Access. To view them, click here.

To watch the video from his interview, click here.

Tomorrow:

NFL Network will air the AFC Pro Bowl practice live at 2:30 p.m.

February 7, 2008

Latest Photos & Screen Captures From Hawaii

I have added a few photos and screen captures of Ben from the AFC practice on Wednesday to the photo gallery.

To go directly to them, click here.

I'll add more this weekend as we find them.

Tomorrow:

Ben is scheduled to appear on NFL Network's Total Access...the show's hosts on this evening's edition said that he will be a guest on their Friday show to talk about the "state of the Pittsburgh Steelers". The show airs at 7:00 p.m.

February 4, 2008

Derek Anderson Joins Peyton And Big Ben At The Pro Bowl

It was announced today that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady would not play in this weekend's game in Honolulu and will be replaced by Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson.

Anderson joins the Colt's Peyton Manning and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger for the AFC.

Following the lead of his quarterback, New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss also pulled out of the Pro Bowl on Monday afternoon and will be replaced by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson.

The Steelers Casey Hampton, making his fourth career trip to the Pro Bowl, is replacing San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Jamal Williams.

According to ESPN Radio's Sportscenter, Brady was "banged up" from yesterday's game and Moss now has an "undisclosed injury" suffered during the game.

Buzz from Ben's Super Bowl ad performance:

Doug Clarke: A pretty fine Sunday … good music and ads, and the game was top-notch!

"The Best: The Charlie Brown balloon grabbing the Coke balloon high above the Macy’s parade, the Charles Barkley cell phone (T-Mobil) commercial, the Ben Roethlisberger commercial for “American Idol,” the mouse trap and the guy eating a bag of Doritos, and ta-da … the Victoria’s Secret quickie." -- The Ohio Chronicle-Telegram

"It’s only been an hour since the game ended and I’ve already forgotten most of them. One thing I can’t get out of my head, though, is the “American Idol” promo in which Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tries to sing “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" -- The Duluth News-Tribune

"Best Fox network promotional commercial: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger singing "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)". The ad was hyping 'American Idol'." -- The Illinois Quincy Herald

"Also a thumbs-up for Best Commercial to the Pepsi Max ad with the head-bobbing reference to the old Saturday Night Live "What is Love?" skit. And to the Vitamin Water spot with Shaq as a jockey - another with the aforementioned groin shot. And to the Chester Pitts bagboy-to-NFL-star commercial for NFL.com. And to Ben Roethlisberger singing Escape (The Pina Colada Song) to promote American Idol." -- St. Petersburg Times

"...But my actual favorites were two FOX promos: The “American Idol” promo with Ben Roethlisberger singing “The Pina Colada Song” and “The Moment of Truth” promo with Chad Johnson as a contestant. They were the two funniest spots of the night, but since they’re promos, they don’t actually count as Super Bowl commercials." -- The West Virginia Herald Dispatch

"Next, American Idol winner Jordan Sparks, whose father was a former pro football player, was front and center for the Star Spangled Banner. Later, Fox and "Idol" used Ben Roethlisberger, a recent Super Bowl star, to hawk American Idol. Some have said Ben qualified for the worst performance; however they miss the point of why Americans like the first few weeks of "Idol" so much – they can relate to the bad singers, can’t imagine embarrassing themselves like this and certainly can’t understand why the contestants would put themselves in this position. Great job Ben!" -- Corner The Market, Voice of Top Right Strategic Marketing

Even The Burgh Blog liked Ben's performance:

"The (ads) that were memorable to us were the one with the animals all screaming, the Justin Timberlake 'Hey, you.' one, the Coke/Pepsi/Beats Me one where Charlie Brown won the bottle, and Benny’s American Idol commercial, which I hate to say, I thought was pretty well-acted on Benny’s part. God, help me." -- Pittgirl, from this morning's blog

Tomorrow:

Ben is scheduled as a guest on NFL Network's Total Access. The show airs 7:00 p.m. eastern time and is live from Hawaii.

*Thank you to Kathy for the heads-up on this appearance!

UPDATE (Feb. 5): Once again, NFL Network didn't deliver. Although Ben was scheduled to appear on tonight's program - he did not!

February 3, 2008

Howie Long's Tough Guys - Super Bowl Special Edition

Each year on Super Bowl Sunday, FOX NFL Sunday studio analyst Howie Long shows off his personal All-Pro team of toughest hombres in the NFL.

The show, "Howie Long's Tough Guys - Super Bowl Edition", shown at 1:30 p.m. today on FOX, featured Ben in a short segment with HOF quarterback Jim Kelly.

To view the screen captures (which, of course, include the quotes from the segment), click here.

Also Added Tonight:

Screen captures from Ben's Super Bowl commercial, shown during the two-minute warning break.

To view them, click here.

You can also watch it here or here.

And, you can catch a video of an interview Ben did at Madden Bowl 2008 this week. Click here.

*Thank you to Becky for the heads-up on the video!

February 2, 2008

Screen Captures Added...

I have added screen captures from Ben's appearance on "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period" to the Photo Gallery.

To view the screen captures (which also include the quotes from the show), click here (pages 1 through 4).

Also Today:

Fatima came across these two VH-1 videos of Ben...

Ben's playlist - The Pro Football Edition:

For Bon Jovi, click here. For James Taylor, click here.

*Thank you to Fatima!

January 30, 2008

Interview & Screen Captures

I have added the entire interview and screen captures from Ben's appearance on ESPN's "Jim Rome is Burning" today.

To read the transcribed interview, click here.

To view the screen captures (which also include the quotes from the entire interview), click here (pages 1 & 2).

Also Today:

Ben, Matt Hasselbeck and Larry Fitzgerald attended a Pro Bowl press conference after their visit to Jim Rome's show.

To view the photos, click here.

From the press conference...

How does a Pro Bowl quarterback react when he sees Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the 50-touchdown man?

"I’m gonna try to get his autograph," Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said Wednesday at a press conference promoting next month's Pro Bowl.

"Me, too," said Roethlisberger.

"He’s playing great football and he’s shattering records," said Hasselbeck, who threw for 28 touchdowns. "I thought I had a decent year this year. It’s not even half the year that he had, so he’s playing great football, and he’s a good guy, and he’s humble. It’s not hard to root for a guy like that."

Roethlisberger set Steelers records this season with 32 touchdowns passes and a passer rating of 104.1, second only to Brady’s 117.2.

"Someone asked me if I could be any super hero, who would I be?" he said.

"I said 'Tom Brady.' He just makes it looks easy. When you watch him play, it looks so easy, and then when we go out and do it, it doesn’t feel easy. … He’s having fun doing it, and it’s just fun to watch."

Though not in the same gushing terms, Roethlisberger and Hasselbeck also praised New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Manning’s brother Peyton won the Super Bowl last season as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. Their father, Archie, was an NFL quarterback.

Hasselbeck’s brother, Tim, is a backup quarterback with the Arizona Cardinals. Their father, Don, played tight end for the Patriots.

A reporter asked Hasselbeck whether he agreed that the Mannings are the "first family" of football.

"It’s like, you know, there’s two days in the draft. There’s like day one … and day two. Our family is like day two of the draft," said Hasselbeck.

And...

I have some screen captures from Ben's visit to the set of NFL Network.

To view them, click here.

*Thanks Jan!

January 29, 2008

Out and About in Arizona...

Television Appearance tomorrow -

Ben is scheduled to appear on "Jim Rome is Burning" on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, January 30th, live from Arizona.

And...Ben's appearance date has changed once again for "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period"!

The Show's website changed their schedule today:

WEDNESDAY
BDSSP's at the Super Bowl!
Former Super Bowl champ Jerome Bettis
Hall of Famer Jim Kelly
3-time Super Bowl champ Jerry Rice
Hall of Famer Barry Sanders
Former Super Bowl champ Joe Theismann
Cardinals QB Kurt Warner

THURSDAY
Guest host Ray Lewis
Broadcaster Tim Brando
NFL Great Archie Manning

FRIDAY
Guest host Ben Roethlisberger
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards
Giants DE Michael Strahan

**Note: According to Fox Sports Network's programming guide, the show will not air until 12:00 AM (FSN west coast channels) and 12:30 AM (FSN east coast channels) on February 2nd due to the FSN Pro Football Preview taking it's original 11 PM time slot.

And a little more info on Ben's Super Bowl commercial:

From MediaWeek.com today -

Fox will use its Feb. 3 Super Bowl telecast to promote a couple of its highest-rated shows, including American Idol, House, Family Guy, Prison Break and Moment of Truth. All of the promos will be in high definition and were made exclusively for the telecast, most of them with football tie-ins.

In one spot, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is featured daydreaming in the locker room, while he’s singing "The Piña Colada Song" on America Idol.

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

Ante up at Tourney -

Ben is scheduled to participate at the One5ive Foundation's Celebrity Night at the Tables playing poker alongside Trent Edwards, Eric Byrnes, Dan Majerle, Colt Brennan, Matt Leinart, Mario Lopez, Don Cheadle, Mekhi Phifer, Elisha Cuthbert and Boomer Esiason.

The charity tournament event takes place Friday at the 944 Super Village at the Scottsdale Waterfront and supports the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Junior Achievement.

Sponsorships are still available and range from $2,000 to $150,000.

For more information, click here.

January 28, 2008

Another Update: Ben's Appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show, Period...

This just in...

from the Show's website this time:

Host Chris Rose, co-hosts John Salley and Rodney Peete and special guest co-host, Olympic gold medalist and GoDaddy.com spokeswoman Amanda Beard, welcome a roster of A-list athletes and celebrities from Wednesday, January 30 to Friday, February 1. BDSSP is taping daily in front of a rowdy audience at the FBR Open, a PGA golf tournament well-known as the biggest sports party in Arizona and home to the largest golf galleries in the world. BDSSP's set will be located in the Birds Nest, the popular FBR Open entertainment tent that can accommodate upwards of 12,000 people.

Each day, a different Super Bowl veteran serves as guest host: Ben Roethlisberger (Wednesday), Ray Lewis (Thursday) and Michael Strahan* (Friday) give an inside view of preparing to play in the last game of the season, discussing the pressures of dealing with the overwhelming media scrutiny while trying to play the biggest game of their lives.

Guest list (subject to change):

Wednesday, January 30: Roethlisberger guest hosts; former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis, former Redskins star QB Joe Theismann, Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck

**They aren't kidding when they say the guest list for an evening is "subject to change". This is the third appearance change for Ben from what was originally reported...

TV Guide.com still has Ben scheduled for the January 31st show AND the FBR Open Golf Tournament website (site of the show's taping) press release says Ben is scheduled for February 1st...?

January 24, 2008

NFLShop.com: Ben Roethlisberger 2008 Pro Bowl AFC Replica Jersey

NFLShop.com is now selling the 2008 Pro Bowl Replica Jerseys. The price per jersey is $99.99

To see a larger version of Ben's replica jersey or to purchase one, click here.

To see the entire line of 2008 Pro Bowl merchandise, click here.

*Thank you to Kim andTrish for the info!

Also Today:

Comcast SportsNet will air the Ed Block Courage Awards live from Baltimore, Maryland at Martin's West, on Tuesday, March 11th.

Ben Roethlisberger, Kevin Everett (Buffalo Bills), Samari Rolle (Baltimore Ravens), Marcus Washington (Washington Redskins) and Amani Toomer (New York Giants) will be among the honorees featured during the Awards Show. Comcast will also air behind-the-scenes specials on the players - away from the football field and within the community - which can be seen during the week of the Awards starting Sunday, March 9th.

UPDATE, March 5, 2008: According to the Events Coordinator for the Ed Block Courage Awards, Ben will NOT be attending the event now!

For more information on the above and for ticket information to attend the event, click here.

To read more about the Ed Block Courage Awards, see my October 30th news.

To view photos from October 30th, click here.

January 23, 2008

Update: Ben on "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period"

Ben is scheduled to be at the taping of The Best Damn Sports Show, Period on February 1st at The Bird's Nest - which is the tournament players club for the FBR Open Golf Tournament located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fox Sports will be broadcasting their shows leading up to the Super Bowl from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Wednesday, January 30th through Friday, February 1st.

Hosted by Chris Rose, Rodney Peete, John Salley and Olympian Amanda Beard, the shows are expected to have all-star lineups. Guests scheduled to appear for the show's first taping include Kurt Warner, Joe Theisman, Barry Sanders and Jerome Bettis.

The cast for the January 31st show will include guest host Ray Lewis, Archie Manning and DeMarcus Ware while Michael Strahan, Ben Roethlisberger and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Herm Edwards are now set for the February 1st show.

If you are in the area and interested in attending the taping, you can click here for ticket information, which starts at $25. per person for general admission with Crown Royal VIP tickets (includes food and drink) available for $175 each.

For those interested in music, KC and the Sunshine Band, are the headliners for the week that includes musicians performing dance hits, rock hits and classics from Neil Diamond. Tainted Love, an 80’s cover band who performs regularly in San Francisco, will headline at The Birds Nest on Friday, Feb. 1.

For more about the FBR Open, click here or you can go to the Show's website, here.

Note: TV Guide.com still has Ben scheduled for the January 31st show ...?

January 19, 2008

"Big Ben Makes His Picks"

From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Roethlisberger broke no new ground when he predicted Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will win another Super Bowl.

But his heart lies with Brett Favre.

"There's a difference between who I like and who I want to win," Roethlisberger said. "I want Brett Favre to win it all, that would be the ultimate. I'd imagine 90 percent of the population has to."

Roethlisberger picked Favre's Green Bay Packers, coached by Greenfield native Mike McCarthy, to beat the New York Giants in tomorrow's NFC championship game, and the Patriots to beat the San Diego Chargers in tomorrow's AFC championship game and then win the Super Bowl.

The Steelers quarterback did not meet Favre until the Steelers played a preseason game against Green Bay in Heinz Field last summer.

"I asked him on the field if I could get an autograph," Roethlisberger said. "He said if I sent him a jersey, he'll sign it for me."

The jersey will soon be on its way, and so, too, are the New England Patriots, Roethlisberger said.

"When you watch the Patriots, you don't ever see them play a bad game," Roethlisberger said. "You don't see a weakness. If the do play bad for a quarter, they step it up for the rest of the game."

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

January 18, 2008

New Fan Photos Added...

Thank you to Jennifer for sharing her photos from the Steelers vs. Ravens game back on November 5th!

To view them, click here.

Also Today:

"He's a hero!" -- Murrysville nurse Sue Franke on Ben in today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

If you get a moment this weekend, please read the story of this incredible lady who gives so much for those who are less fortunate.

Below are a few excerpts from the article -

Since 1990, Franke has been instrumental in connecting more than 100,000 teddy bears and other stuffed animals to children who are experiencing a crisis, including sickness, homelessness, abuse and neglect.

This past Christmas, Franke received toy donations from Dollar Tree to put gifts under the tree for children who otherwise would have had nothing.

"They supplied me with enough toys this Christmas for 3,000 children," she said.

To her surprise, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger quietly purchased three cases of bears to give to needy children.

"He's a hero," Franke said, smiling. "He saw my poster and he said, 'I want to help this lady,' and he sure did."

To add to the gift, Franke bought Terrible Towels to put on the paws, and she was thrilled to let the children know the bears came from Big Ben when she gave them out at the shelters and The Children's Institute in Squirrel Hill.

"What a sensation it made," said Franke, who loves to see children smile.

To read the entire article, click here.

To donate to any of her programs, click here.

January 17, 2008

Ben's Busy Super Bowl Week

Ben will not only be featured in a Super Bowl commercial he will also reprise his guest-host role on "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period" during Super Bowl week.

From Fox Sports Network:

"FSN announced its roster of guest hosts to sit in with "Best Damn Sports Show Period" regulars Super Bowl week: Ray Lewis, Ben Roethlisberger, Michel Strahan and Amanda Beard. With one disclaimer: Strahan's availability might be affected by him actually playing in the game."

According to TVGuide.com, Ben will appear as a guest-host on the January 31st show at 11pm on FSN stations. Also appearing that evening: Michael Strahan and Herm Edwards.

To view screen captures from his February 5th, 2007 guest-hosting stint, click here.

To view screen captures from the February 6th show, click here.

Also Today:

Ben spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette. To read the interview/article, click here.

January 16, 2008

"Steelers' Big Ben Reveals Wish List"

From WPXI today:

Pittsburgh Quarterback Wants Contract, Faneca, Tall Receiver -

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has three items in his off-season wish list: a new contract, the return of Alan Faneca and a tall wide receiver.

In an interview with the Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger explained what direction he’d like to see the Steelers take on those three topics.

Roethlisberger pleaded his case with Steelers management to keep left guard Alan Faneca. Faneca was the only stand-out on an offensive line that had a difficult season for the Steelers; and he was named to the Pro-Bowl again this season.

Faneca will be an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 29, and while the door has not been shut on contract talks, it would take a lot of money to keep him in Pittsburgh as he is expected to command big numbers in the NFL market.

Big Ben also talked about having a taller receiver for a target.

He cited his height, and the fact he has to actually throw down to receivers like Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, because they are not as tall as him. A taller wide receiver would also be a stronger threat on fade passes, which has been a struggle for the Steelers.

Roethlisberger also wants a new contract that will make him a Steeler for life. He cited quarterbacks like Dan Marino and Jim Kelly who stayed with the same team for the duration of their careers.

Roethlisberger will also command big money if his contract is extended -- he has two years left on his current deal. In the 2007 season, Roethlisberger ranked in the lower third of salaries.

Roethlisberger finished his fourth season with the Steelers by breaking several team records, including the most touchdown passes in a season with 32.

To read a more detailed article from Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, click here.

January 15, 2008

Sports Illustrated: 2007 Top QB Performances

Number 5: Ben Roethlisberger, Nov. 5 | Pittsburgh 38, Baltimore 7 -

"With a Who's Who of Pittsburgh luminaries in the house to celebrate the team's 75th season, Big Ben did a little history-making of his own. Roethlisberger established a franchise record with five touchdown passes in the first half -- a masterful Monday Night Football performance that translated to a pristine 158.3 passer rating."

To see all of SI.com's picks, click here.

January 12, 2008

Big Ben: The Next American Idol?

An update from my December 14th news - from Steelers Digest:

Ben Roethlisberger will be a part of the new season of "American Idol" on FOX, but he won't be giving up his day job as an NFL quarterback. Roethlisberger recently filmed a commercial for the show, and FOX will air it during the telecast of Super Bowl XLII.

"It was a little crazy," said Roethlisberger. "It was fun. The people you work with usually make it fun. The director and everybody were a lot of fun."

Roethlisberger spent about eight hours on the set but didn't want to reveal too many details about the shoot.

"It ties in with football and the show, and so I will leave it at that," said Roethlisberger.

One of the scenes had Roethlisberger as a player in the locker room daydreaming about a contestant on "American Idol" while the coach of the team was delivering a pep talk.

"You never know how it's gonna end up turning out," he said. "It's a little bit of jumping around, so we'll see how they kind of tie it in together."

Roethlisberger enjoyed the experience, especially since he's a big fan of the opening episodes of the show's new season.

"I love watching the beginning part of it when people just go out and make fools of themselves," said Roethlisberger. "That's the part I watch."

*Thanks to Sam for the update!

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

January 10, 2008

2007: Best of Ben Roethlisberger

From NFL.com -

Video highlights of the best moments from Ben Roethlisberger in 2007.

Click here.

*Thanks Trish!

Also Today:

I've added an article from The Sporting News on the top 10 QB's in the league....

To read it, click here.

January 9, 2008

"Steelers' Arians Proud Of Roethlisberger's Rally"

I have added a new article from today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by Mike Prisuta.

Excerpt from the article:

Arians appreciated the way Roethlisberger shook off a three-interception first half and rallied the Steelers from an 18-point deficit in a 19-point fourth quarter that achieved for the Steelers a 29-28 lead. "He messed it up in the first half, and a lot of time people go in the tank, but he brought us back, made plays to win the ballgame," Arians said.

The Steelers might have won had they converted a third-and-six from their 26-yard line with 2:56 remaining.

A run around left end by Roethlisberger gained only 1 yard, and the Steelers punted.

"I should have let him throw it again, probably, instead of running it," Arians said.

To read the article, click here.

Also Today:

David Garrard on his post-game conversation with Ben (from an article by Vic Ketchman, senior editor for Jaguars.com) -

It’s the season of David Garrard’s life. It made him a starting quarterback and it could bring him a long-term contract to match, but it means so much more to a player who, most of all, was looking for acceptance.

Garrard got that acceptance last Saturday night in Pittsburgh, from one of the league’s card-carrying members of the quarterback union. As Garrard was doing his postgame, winning-quarterback TV interview, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stood in the background, waiting to congratulate Garrard on his victory.

"He said, 'You’ve had a helluva year. Congratulations on the baby. He said 'Go out and win it all,' " Garrard said of that memorable moment in his football career. "To have that respect to wait for me afterward, it kind of said I arrived."

And:

"Playing Catch With Big Ben: A PROTRADE Reward Story" -

To read Bob's story, click here.

To view photos from Bob's day, click here.

January 8, 2008

"Roethlisberger Is Steelers' Top Priority"

From today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The offseason, which unofficially starts after coach Mike Tomlin wraps up his exit interviews with individual players today, will be a busy one for the Steelers.

One of the top priorities for the organization figures to be signing Ben Roethlisberger to a long-term contract extension or at least working toward an agreement with the quarterback.

Roethlisberger, who set a franchise record with 32 touchdown passes during the regular season, is entering the final year of his contract. What bodes well for the Steelers: Roethlisberger apparently is amenable to signing a deal that would keep him in a black and gold uniform far beyond the 2008 season.

"Ben certainly loves it in Pittsburgh and wants to be a Steeler for life," said Ryan Tollner, Roethlisberger's agent. "We're optimistic that the Steelers will want to approach Ben (about a contract extension) this offseason."

The six-year, $67.5 million contract extension that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo signed earlier this season should provides a baseline for such talks, assuming they take place, and Roethlisberger could even command more money.

He is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and Roethlisberger, who is only 25, will play in his first Pro Bowl next month.

...And from Mike Bires column today in the Beaver County Times:

Roethlisberger is clearly the face of the franchise. And even though he hasn’t complained about it, 23 other NFL quarterbacks made more money than the Steelers’ record-setting QB this year in terms of salary cap numbers.

Roethlisberger has already cashed in on the $9 million signing bonus he received when he signed his rookie contract in 2004. Still, his base salary this year was only $1.006 million.

To put that in perspective, consider that QBs such as Carson Palmer ($7.250 million), Eli Manning ($5.550 million), Marc Bulger ($3.950 million) and Matt Leinart ($2.760 million) made considerably more money than Roethlisberger this year.

If you check Pro Bowl rosters, you’ll note that neither Palmer, Manning, Bulger nor Leinart are on there. Roethlisberger is.

In fact, Roethlisberger’s base salary this year was even less than the man who backs him up. Charlie Batch made $1.355 million.

January 7, 2008

Class Act

Sportswriter John Feinstein from his column today in the Washington Post:

Writing today about the remarkable class of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the wake of his team's 31-29 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night would also be easy. While Jaguars quarterback David Garrard was being interviewed on NBC, Roethlisberger stood to the side and waited patiently for Garrard to finish so he could congratulate him. You don't see that very often from star athletes today.

Sportswriter Bill Pucko from his column today in the Rochester (NY) News:

The most memorable moment of the first weekend of the NFL playoffs wasn't San Diego coach Norv Turner's little dance on the sidelines of the Chargers win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday.

It might have come after the Jacksonville win at Pittsburgh Saturday.

Following the 31-29 Jaguars win in what will be remembered as the best game of the entire postseason, NBC television was interviewing Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard. In the background you could see Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger standing around without any apparent thing to do. It turns out that Ben was waiting for the end of the interview to offer his congratulations to Garrard for winning.

Roethlisberger then took his act to the locker room where he accepted total blame for the Steelers' defeat.

One word. Class.

A nice change from a year ago when we all wasted time debating whether Tom Brady should have personally congratulated Peyton Manning after the Colts beat the Patriots in the AFC title game.

Compliment from a Jaguar fan and a Jaguars.com writer:

From the "Ask Vic" column today -

Q: After the game, “Big Ben” waited for Garrard to finish his game-winner interview to congratulate him. That to me was the epitome of sportsmanship. I wish there was more of that and it was as heralded and chronicled as the misconduct [that occurs]. What a classy guy. - Miguel from Jacksonville.

Vic: I didn’t see it but I heard about it. I like that, too. Why not do it? Why not distinguish yourself and the game that was just played? Roethlisberger is an interesting study. In his first couple of years, everybody wanted to call him a "game manager", but he is anything but a "game manager". The truth is that he’s a "gunslinger". That’s what he was in college and that’s what he’s become in his professional career. He has a fourth-quarter quality to him that is very strong. His second-half performance on Saturday was out of this world: 17 of 23 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He scored on every possession in the second half except the run, run, run, punt surrender possession. He’s a crunch-time guy and I love crunch-time quarterbacks.

*The first screen capture above shows Ben standing in the background congratulating David Garrard during an interview with Maurice Jones-Drew. To see a larger version, click here.

January 6, 2008

Jaguars 31, Steelers 29

Ben Roethlisberger overcame a poor first half performance to lead the Steelers on a stirring comeback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their AFC Wild Card game on Saturday night, only to lose 31-29 after Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee hit a 25-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers had scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, after falling behind 28-10 in the third quarter. Roethlisberger finished with two touchdown passes.

It was a 10-yard touchdown run by Maurice Jones-Drew in the third quarter that sent many fans to the exits. The Steelers were trailing 28-10, and there was no reason to think they had any chance to rally until Big Ben hit receiver Santonio Holmes on a 37-yard scoring play seconds into the fourth quarter.

Ben drove the Steelers back down the field on his next possession, orchestrating a 10-play performance capped with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller. Pittsburgh made a two-point conversion, only to have it called back by a holding penalty.

Roethlisberger tried again, but couldn't find an open target. He tucked the ball and ran, getting hauled down just inside the five-yard line. And even with Davenport's second touchdown, four minutes later, the Steelers still fell short.

Ben was under pressure again for most of the night. He was sacked six times, including one where he fumbled on the first play of the Steelers’ final possession.

"I just wanted them to know, for everybody, not just the offense or defense, that no one should blame anybody or anything other than myself," Roethlisberger said. "I take the heat for that. I dug us a hole. We got out of the hole a little bit, but it was too deep. I'm ashamed of the way I played today."

And while Roethlisberger blamed the loss entirely on himself during those post-game press conference remarks, saying that his teammates were welcome to do the same, they didn't.

"Ben is our leader, he's always going to be our leader. I'll ride or die with him any day," right tackle Willie Colon said in a subdued Steelers locker room, one filled with disappointment but no screaming or angry words. "He's tremendous and I love him to death and he led us back."

Some Sunday Quotes...

"No one should blame anybody or anything other than myself. And you know, I take the heat for that. I dug us a hole, and we got out of that whole a little bit but I dug us too deep of a hole. I am ashamed of the way I played today and I told the guys I apologize. It's unfortunate that it had to end this way." -- Ben, during his post-game press conference.

"It can't just be him. I mean Ben has had a Pro-Bowl season, and a lot of the reason they were where they were was because of Ben and that arm and the way he can extend plays. But I know how competitive he is, he didn't want to throw the ball to the other team - and while he is probably a little too hard on himself, people will be hard on him also...but that's why he is a great competitor, a great winner and a great leader.

Because, quarterbacks...when the praise is comin' their way, they deflect it and give it to the offensive linemen and other players. And great quarterbacks also - when something goes wrong - they take the blame just like you would want your General or your leader or you CEO to do. Ben Roethlisberger did it and it will be something that will fester with him all off-season as he heads into next year to get himself ready. Great leaders will shoulder the blame. Even if he really didn't believe it was all his fault. But he made some decisions that weren't "typical Ben Roethlisberger" and I appreciate him standing up there in front of the nation and in front of his team and saying that! It takes a lot of guts." -- ESPN's Sean Salisbury, responding to a question this morning as to whether Ben was being to hard on himself for shouldering all the blame (ESPN Radio's Countdown to Kickoff)

"Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback of a team two years removed from winning a Super Bowl, isn't supposed to throw three first-half interceptions, two that were ridiculously bad -- but that's what happened. But here's the thing. That same quarterback led the motherlode of all comebacks. That same quarterback picked up the offense, strapped his teammates to his back and carried them across the goal line three times in the second half. That same quarterback made it possible for the Steelers to regain the lead in a game they had no business winning and ultimately lost." -- John Harris, in his column this morning (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).

To view photos from the game, click here (pages 1 & 2).

To view a few more press conference captures and quotes, click here.

*The site has been experiencing technical difficulties since last night (talk about bad timing!) - sorry for any inconvenience!

January 3, 2008

"Steelers Have Edge At QB"

I have added F. Dale Lolley's column today from the Observer-Reporter to the Articles page today.

From his column:

Back in 2004, Ben Roethlisberger took the NFL by storm. He lead the Steelers to a 15-1 regular season mark and won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

But it was what Roethlisberger did in the postseason that year that was so much more unlikely.

In his first playoff game, he led the Steelers to a 20-17 overtime victory over the New York Jets at Heinz Field. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 181 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in the victory.

Why was that so surprising?

Consider that since the 2003 season, just two quarterbacks have won in their first NFL playoff start - Roethlisberger and Carolina's Jake Delhomme . Ten other quarterbacks have failed in their first playoff start in that time.

"The first time I went through this, you didn't know what to expect," said Roethlisberger, who will lead the Steelers (10-6) against the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) in Saturday's AFC wildcard game.

"It was like, 'Oh, this is just another game.' You don't realize that it's not. It's not just another game. Every mistake is magnified. Everything you do has to be precise."

Roethlisberger, however, expects Garrard - a six-year veteran - to handle his first playoff start a little differently than he did. "When you're a veteran like that, I think it's a little better than a rookie doing it," Roethlisberger said. "Still, it's the postseason and it will be different. But I expect that because he's a veteran, he'll be able to adjust quicker than most."

It will help that Garrard has some experience, albeit in a mop-up role. He played the final two series up in Jacksonville's 28-3 wild card loss at New England in the 2005 playoffs, taking over for an ineffective Byron Leftwich and completing three of eight passes for 68 yards.

That doesn't come close to the playoff experience of Roethlisberger, who has completed 89 of 147 passes for 1,210 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

"It shows up when you know how much faster the postseason is, how much faster everybody is moving and the decisions you have to make," said Roethlisberger. "I've put in the extra film work and study time this week and hopefully it shows on the field."

January 2, 2008

"Looming Large: Ben Roethlisberger"

Excerpt from an article written today by JagNation.com staff writer, Christina Hovestadt -

"Roethlisberger will come into Saturday's rematch ready to prove himself against the Jaguars solid defense, and he may have an edge. Pittsburgh will likely spread out the field and allow Roethlisberger to win or lose the game on his own. Ben and company will not have to contend with the heavy winds that they dealt with less than a month ago. That will make things much easier for Ben to spread the ball around."

To read the entire article, click here.

To read an article that appeared in the Canadian Press this evening about "Ben vs. the Jaguars", click here.

Also Today:

Ben spoke with the media on Wednesday about his revamped offensive line. To watch the video, click here.

December 31, 2007

"Ben Doesn't Play But Still Sets Records"

From Mike Bires (Beaver County Times) this morning:

On the last day of the regular season, Ben Roethlisberger rested. And as he did, he set another Steelers’ passing record.

Because he didn’t play in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, Roethlisberger finishes with a 104.1 passer rating. That breaks the record of 98.6 he set two years ago.

Roethlisberger now owns the top three passer ratings in franchise history. As a rookie, he compiled a 98.1 rating. His four-year passer rating of 92.5 is also the best career mark for any Steelers’ quarterback.

Roethlisberger’s 32 touchdown passes this season is also a team record. The previous record of 28 was set by Bradshaw in 1978.

To view photos from the sidelines during last night's game, click here.

To view all the latest photos posted (like the one at left from December 26th), click here. Jan was kind enough to take screen captures for those that could not view the video.

To read this site's two final article postings for 2007 (while looking forward to 2008), click here and here. If you would like to catch up on your reading, check out the Articles page!

*Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

December 30, 2007

News, Notes & Quotes

A couple of final grades are in...

(Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Quarterback: A+

Ben Roethlisberger has set a Steelers record with 32 touchdown passes this season, and his 104.1 passer rating is second only to Tom Brady.

And this guy didn't even win MVP honors on his own team?

It's hard to tell what is more remarkable about Roethlisberger's season: that it comes after a year in which he threw the most interceptions in the NFL (23), or that it has come in spite of an offensive line that has allowed him to be sacked 47 times.

So much for talk that Roethlisberger is a caretaker of the offense. He has been the Steelers' best playmaker and is clearly a franchise quarterback.

(Bob Matthews, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) Steelers: B

No longer a dominant team but still very good. Leads NFL in total defense. Offense struggled at times despite solid performances by QB Ben Roethlisberger (career-most 32 TD passes and 11 INTs compared to 23 in 2006) and RB Willie Parker.

From Jim Wexell's column this morning:

The Chief Award -

A small group of PFWA (Pro Football Writers of America) members do the voting and they voted for a guy who does all the right things. [Alan] Faneca’s always in the locker room for the key Wednesday news-gathering time slot. You go to him only when the other team has a great run defense or a lousy run defense, or when you have a question about a poor showing by the O-line the week before or even the rare strong showing, or you go to him to discuss the most important contract expiration date on the team this year. In other words, you need him every week and Faneca’s been there consistently to make our jobs easier.

As a star quarterback, Roethlisberger can’t open up the gates the way Faneca does, but he gives the local guys what they need if they handle it properly: Quietly and quickly after practice. He does this at the expense of national guys, and that’s certainly appreciated.

The boys back in the media room sniggered when I told them this, but none could recall a time Roethlisberger refused even their slightest requests for help. It’s another award the quarterback should have won this season, but then again, as the players probably asked themselves: Doesn’t he have enough already?

This is James Harrison’s team -

Written on the media-room bulletin board at the Steelers’ practice facility was a reminder that Roethlisberger had been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. But a wiseguy crossed out Roethlisberger’s name and replaced it with James Harrison’s.

Harrison is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

And why not? The team was silly enough to vote Harrison the MVP award instead of Roethlisberger. Why not make Harrison the Director of Football Operations?

Yeah, really silly. It’s so silly that talk of racism in the Steelers’ locker room has been bandied about on the public airwaves. James Farrior was shocked by the thought. Then he laughed. He said that, no, Harrison was voted MVP because he came from nowhere, was cut three times, and that it resonated with so many.

That’s one explanation. Brett Keisel is one of Roethlisberger’s closest friends and one who also has fed off Harrison’s play this season. He explained the vote this way:

'Well, I think everybody expects so much out of Ben. We expect him to have perfect passer ratings. We expect him to complete all his balls. We expect him to avoid the rush. We expect him to make these enormous plays because we’ve seen it out of him for four years. This being James’s first year, no one really knew what to expect with him being the starter full-time. To go out there and play the way he’s played, and then that Baltimore game. I’d never seen anything like that and those kinds of things stick in players’ minds. When a player can completely dominate a game like he did that game, those types of things stick in his mind. And now we expect that from him.'

Click here to read the rest of Mr. Wexell's column.

(Kimberly Jones, New Jersey Star-Ledger): "On Coming Back Strong" -

"If anyone but Ben Roethlisberger wins Comeback Player of the Year -- and that includes Brett Favre -- there needs to be an investigation of the voting. No one else came back from near death. Not even in Green Bay."

(Ira Kaufman, Tampa Tribune): Comeback Player -

"Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers. Big Ben rebounded from a nightmarish 2006 to direct Pittsburgh to a division title. By returning to his '05 form, Roethlisberger solidified his place among the NFL's elite passers. Most importantly, he's been particularly effective on third down."

Also Today...

To view the few photos I was able to find from this afternoon's game, click here.

December 28, 2007

Ben Named FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week for Week 16

NFL.com voters selected Ben and running back Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants as the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for games played on December 20th through 24th, the NFL announced today.

Ben completed 16 of 20 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns earning a 158.3 passer rating in the Steelers’ 41 – 24 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Ben also won the FedEx Air NFL Player for Week 9.

Brandon Jacobs carried the ball 24 times for 145 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Giants’ 38 – 21 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Both were selected from among finalists in air and ground categories. The other FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week finalists were quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, while running backs Laurence Maroney of the New England Patriots and Kenny Watson of the Cincinnati Bengals were the other finalists for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.

The weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards are also a win for the local community. Along with the player awards, FedEx is awarding Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and Weill Cornell College of Cornell, Komansky Center for Children's Health, the children’s hospitals in the winning markets, two checks for $5,000.

Also Today:

I have added Mike Bires' column (Beaver County Times) on the Steelers MVP selection. To read it, click here.

December 27, 2007

Ben Throws TD to Globetrotter

From The Official Site of the Harlem Globetrotters:

Pro Bowl quarterback’s latest touchdown pass comes during on-court appearance at Globetrotters' Pittsburgh show

The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters kicked off the second leg of their 2008 “Magic As Ever” World Tour Wednesday night at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, featuring a special cameo by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Pro Bowl signal caller was invited onto the floor late in the fourth quarter, during the Globetrotters’ wildly popular football routine. As an added treat for the Pittsburgh fans, the Globetrotters broke their huddle donning Steelers jerseys. After the Globetrotter players were put in motion, the ball was snapped to Globetrotter Showman “Showtime” Gaffney, who pitched to Roethlisberger, who then threw a perfect TD strike over the confounded Washington Generals defense to “Hi Rise” Brown, much to the delight of the Pittsburgh faithful.

Several other Steelers players and coaches were in attendance to witness Big Ben’s exploits, including Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s wife and children, who enjoyed the action courtside.

The “Magic As Ever” Tour will continue through mid-April 2008, with the Globetrotters performing more than 240 shows in over 200 North American cities. Click here to purchase tickets.

To see screen captures from the event, click here.

To see the video, click here.

*Thank you to Sidney!

Also Today:

Check out this video about Ben and his hometown of Findlay, Ohio from KDKA-Channel 2!

Also from KDKA-Channel 2 this afternoon:

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is not expected to play in the team's last regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens. Backup QB Charlie Batch says he will start on Sunday. Roethlisberger sprained his ankle during last week's win against St. Louis.

And:

Roethlisberger tops AFC Players of the Week -

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He's joined by Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and Indianapolis defensive tackle Darrell Reid, who are the defensive and special teams Players of the Week.

December 24-25th, 2007 - Merry Christmas!

Quote Of The Season...

From Sports Illustrated's Peter King in his Monday Morning QB column this morning, page 4:

"Of all the stupid opinions I had in my King 500 (the top 500 players in football, which I authored for the SI NFL preview), perhaps the biggest was not having Ben Roethlisberger in my top 20 players."

Also Today:

Injury Update (from WTAE-TV4) -

Ben Roethlisberger has a sprained right ankle but is expected to play in the Steelers' regular-season finale against Baltimore, coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday.

Roethlisberger will be evaluated again after he runs in practice on Wednesday, said Tomlin.

And:

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday. Thank you for your continued support of this site and all the wonderful emails.

December 23, 2007

Big Ben Becomes A Bengals Booster Today

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Scott Brown this morning:

After throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the Steelers' 41-24 win Thursday over the St. Louis Rams, Ben Roethlisberger didn't hesitate to say he would be cheering for the Cincinnati Bengals today.

A Cincinnati win over Cleveland would make the Steelers champions of the AFC North and guarantee them no worse than a No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

"I'm going to give (Bengals quarterback) Carson (Palmer) a call," Roethlisberger said.

No Steelers player will be rooting harder for the Bengals than Roethlisberger.

If the Steelers clinch the division title today, they will have the option of playing Roethlisberger sparingly, if at all, in their regular-season finale next Sunday at Baltimore.

Roethlisberger had a precautionary MRI taken Friday on the ankle he sprained late in the Steelers' win over the Rams. While the injury is not believed to be serious -- coach Mike Tomlin will give an update on the Pro Bowl quarterback's status Monday at his weekly news conference -- Roethlisberger could certainly use some time off.

Roethlisberger, who has thrown a Steelers-record 32 touchdown passes this season, had been nursing a sore (throwing) shoulder prior to hurting his ankle.

A Bengals win isn't the only way that the Steelers can qualify for the postseason today. If the Tennessee Titans lose to the Jets, the Steelers will be no worse than a wild-card team in the playoffs.

"I don't look for help from anyone," Tomlin said. "I want to get in on our feet and because of what we do. If it happens, great; if it doesn't, so be it."

If the Browns beat the Bengals, the Steelers still would be in good position to win the division. They would claim the AFC North with a win over the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday or a Cleveland Browns' loss to the 49ers.

*4 p.m. Update: That phone call to Carson Palmer worked - the Bengals beat the Browns 19-14 resulting in the Steelers clinching the AFC North title. Congratulations to the Steelers!

Also Today:

More on Ben's Injury (from the Toronto Sun) -

As well as losing franchise back Willie Parker with a broken fibula during Thursday night's 41-24 win over the St. Louis Rams, the Pittsburgh Steelers also had QB Ben Roethlisberger on the limp. The Steelers, however, have 10 days to rest up before their next game and coach Mike Tomlin says the extra time will be needed. "Now we have a long week, and he will get treatment" Tomlin said of Roethlisberger. "Ben is a competitor. I am hopeful it won't keep him out of action, but we'll see."

A Gift From Big Ben (from St. Louis Today news) -

Ben Roethlisberger awarded a grant to Florissant (City of Missouri), which the city's police department will use to purchase and train a bomb/patrol dog. Roethlisberger has awarded a similar grant in each city that the Steelers have visited this year.

NFL Fast Facts (from Scout.com) -

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has the second-best touchdown pass percentage of all quarterbacks in the NFL. Trailing only the Patriots' Tom Brady, who has thrown a touchdown on 8.9 percent of his pass attempts, Roethlisberger's 7.9 percent puts him ahead of Cowboys QB Tony Romo (7.1 percent) and the Colts' Peyton Manning (6.0 percent).

And if you missed the Steelers performance on the CMT Hank Williams, Jr. Tribute last month...

...you can watch it now!

Jules has sent along this video (you will have to scroll through the "On TV" selections, choose the "CMT Giants - Hank Williams Jr." video collection and scroll down to the video with Terry Bradshaw - once there, you may want to forward through Steven Tyler's performance). Enjoy!

*Thank you to Jules! You can check out her blog here.

December 22, 2007

"Big Ben Hard To Come By At Hallmark Stores"

Update from my July 16th news...and just for something fun to read:

From today's Beckley Register-Herald -

You can hardly buy Big Ben this Christmas season.

Not the hard-charging, human dynamo of a quarterback in Steel City in the flesh, mind you.

What is tough to come by is the little plastic replica of Ben Roethlisberger, this year’s installment in the NFL series of the Hallmark Card Co.’s annual parade of Keepsake Ornaments.

Unlike some of the NFL greats in past Christmas shopping seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller appears to be headed for sellout status.

And that’s no small feat, considering that Roethlisberger, a Super Bowl champion chosen for ornament depiction, finds himself in some heavy and popular company. Some previous ornaments put the spotlight are the likes of Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning, Bret Favre, and Emmitt Smith.

“Hallmark Gold Crown stores are very close to being sold out of the Ben Roethlisberger ornament throughout the country,” Eileen Gaffen, public relations official for Hallmark, told The Register-Herald.

“As a privately held company, I’m not able to disclose sales information or any comparable data.”

So, a spot check of some stores in major markets revealed Big Ben has acquired a popularity that seemingly put him ahead of other NFL stars in Christmases of the past.

Even in the bitter rival cities of Cleveland and Cincinnati, the Steelers quarterback has proven himself.

“I’m sold out,” manager Susan Burns of a Cincinnati store reported.

Hey, this is Bengals country, and isn’t that bordering on football treason?

“Yes, it is,” Burns said. “Maybe they’re going to hang it upside down on their tree, or something. I don’t know. But this is a good Pittsburgh town, too.”

In the past, a few of the NFL series generally remained available to post-Christmas shoppers, usually at a reduced price. Not so with Big Ben, it appears.

“He’s just popular,” Burns said. “I think there are some Steelers fans here. He’s been sold out for a couple of weeks now.”

Another explanation could lie in the popularity of the series itself, and the reluctance of collectors to skip any year, even if it means buying a representative of a dreaded rival team, one store official suggested.

“I certainly don’t have any stock of it,” the manager of a store in Cleveland said.

How does one explain this, in the home turf of the Browns, traditionally the team that tries more than any other to unleash the dogs on the Steelers?

“I couldn’t tell you,” the woman said. “I just know that I don’t have any stock.”

Big Ben vanished from the shelves of Amy’s Hallmark Store at Crossroads Mall outside Beckley more than a month ago.

But manager Amanda Hurst sees nothing unusual about the swift sellout, noting that sports ornaments normally are snapped up quickly in the Christmas shopping season.

And West Virginia’s proximity to Steel City certainly didn’t hurt sales, given the huge following of the Steelers in this area.

“I think so,” Hurst agreed. “We’re close to that region.”

“It’s not sold out nationwide, still available in certain areas,” assured another Hallmark public relations figure, Deidre Parkes. “It is one of our top performers, right up there with Peyton Manning.”

Roethlisberger was still in stock at a Hallmark Gold Crown store in the Pittsburgh area, five days before Christmas, however. Does that mean Big Ben, like an ancient prophet, is not without honor, save in his own stadium?

Not really.

“We still have a nice quantity for this area,” said a manager, who identified herself only as Carol. “He’s been doing very well, but we do have some in stock. We were prepared for this.”

Carol figured some other stores, especially in cities that view Roethlisberger and Co. as the enemy, likely didn’t order as many, and that fans in the rival cities simply didn’t want to break a series.

Particularly in Cleveland.

“They don’t like him in Cleveland,” she said with a laugh that told one much about the heated rivalry. “They had to buy it. It was an ornament in the series.”

*Click here to visit Hallmark.com.

*To view a larger photo of the ornament, click here.

December 21, 2007

Roethlisberger, Davenport Lead Steelers Past Rams

Ben Roethlisberger passed for three touchdowns to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 41-24 road victory over the St Louis Rams on Thursday.

The win kept the Steelers (10-5) on top of the AFC North Division, but it proved to be a costly one when running back Willie Parker broke his right leg on the second play of the game meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.

His replacement, Najeh Davenport, rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown and caught a TD pass.

Roethlisberger completed 16-of-20 passes for 261 yards with no interceptions and led the Steelers to 21 consecutive points, including an 83-yard hook-up between the quarterback and Santonio Holmes, bridging the second and third quarter as Pittsburgh rallied from a 14-10 deficit. The game marked Roethlisberger's third with a perfect passer rating of 158.3.

The three scoring drives totalled 212 yards on 25 plays.

Roethlisberger hit Nate Washington on a 33-yard fly pattern down the right sideline with 10:46 left in the first half to give Pittsburgh the lead for good, 17-14.

The Steelers quarterback was flushed out of the pocket on the play, rolled to the right and hit Davenport in stride in the right flat.

The running back broke a tackle on the sideline and scored.

Pittsburgh took the opening kick-off of the second half and marched 69 yards on 10 plays.

Roethlisberger went 4-for-4 for 38 yards on the drive, and Davenport added an 18-yard run before plunging into the end zone from the one-yard line.

St. Louis (3-12) cut the deficit to 31-24 on a 23-yard pass from Marc Bulger to Drew Bennett with three minutes to play in the third, but Pittsburgh got a 29-yard field goal from Jeff Reed with 4:38 remaining and Ike Taylor returned an interception 51 yards one minute later to cap the scoring.

(recap compiled from multiple news sources)

- To view a video of the "Week 16 Can't-Miss Play: Roethlisberger bomb", click here.

- To view a video of the first half highlights, click here.

- To view a video of Ben's highlights, click here (see featured videos at the bottom of page).

- To view photos from last night's game, click here.

*Thank you to Haydee for the video links!

December 19, 2007

Big Ben Meets A Big Fan

From KDKA-Channel 2:

An 8-year-old boy suffering from a devastating disease got a Steelers-sized wish granted last night.

Joseph DeBacco got to meet his idol, Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a very special taping of the PNC Hines Ward Show.

Joseph, who was only given a 10- to 15-percent chance to live, was ecstatic when he found out he would be meeting Big Ben face-to-face.

"I want to have him sign my jersey and I feel awesome," he told KDKA.

Joseph suffers from a rare form of muscular-skeletal cancer that has inflicted tremendous amounts of pain on his body.

"It has ate holes in his bones," said Joseph's mother, Amy. "It's broke his leg. His three vertabrae are compressed fractures in his spine but he's come a long way."

Amy DeBacco entered the KDKA 75th anniversary poster contest never imagining it would lead to Joseph being able to meet Big Ben.

"It means the world to him," she said. "He's got Ben cards, pictures… there's pictures everywhere in the house of Ben."

But the excitement goes both ways.

Ben says kids like Joseph are his inspiration as well.

"You sit there and think about how sore am I today and complain about practice," said Roethlisberger. "He's a hero to me."

Being a fighter and beating the odds is something Joseph lives everyday and he has some advice for his idol as he heads to St. Louis to take on the Rams this Thursday.

"Be brave and keep fighting," said Joseph.

Joseph has come a long way in his recovery. At one point, the cancer was attacking his entire body; but since his chemotherapy began in June, he now has just one spot on his hip.

*To see the video from their meeting, click here.

Also Today:

I have added an article from the Associated Press about Ben's Pro Bowl selection. To read it, click here.

To view a video of Ben's interview with NFL Network yesterday, click here.

Screen captures are here.

December 18, 2007

Ben Selected To 2008 Pro Bowl

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed five players including two starters on the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl team announced today by the NFL.

Ben Roethlisberger will make his first trip to the Pro Bowl (as a reserve along with Peyton Manning), becoming only the third Steelers quarterback since 1980 to earn that distinction. Through 14 games, he has already set a new Steelers record with 29 touchdown passes in a season and could become the first quarterback in Steelers history to finish the season with a passer-rating of 100.0 or better. Roethlisberger has completed 249-of-385 passes for 2,897 yards, 29 TDs, 11 interceptions and a 100.5 passer-rating.

In Week 9 against Baltimore, Roethlisberger tossed a career-high five touchdown passes to tie a team record previously shared by Terry Bradshaw and Mark Malone. In Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins, Roethlisberger completed 15 consecutive passes to tie a team record for consecutive completions set by Bubby Brister. Roethlisberger needs 103 yards to tie Terry Bradshaw and Kordell Stewart for the most 3,000-yard passing seasons in team history with two.

Today, he's third in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with a 100.5 passer rating and has thrown just 11 interceptions vs. a team-record 29 touchdown passes.

"It's a tremendous honor," Roethlisberger said after coach Mike Tomlin informed the team collectively of their five Pro Bowl players. "It's kind of a unit honor. It's always a goal to be recognized as one of the best, but not my biggest goal."

"A lot of people wrote me off as a two-year kind of hit wonder," Roethlisberger said. "So it's good to be able to bounce back."

Other Steelers earning Pro Bowl recognition include: offensive guard Alan Faneca and linebacker James Harrison, who will both start for the AFC squad, and running back Willie Parker, safety Troy Polamalu and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Pro Bowl squads were selected by a combined voting of fans, players and coaches.

Pro Bowl Notes: The Steelers will send a linebacker to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in the past eight seasons and for the 14th time in the past 18 years….This season marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that at least one Steelers player has made his first appearance in the Pro Bowl...The Steelers are sending multiple players to the Pro Bowl for the seventh straight season and the 16th time in the last 19 seasons.

To see the complete list of Pro Bowl selections, click here.

(information compiled from multiple news sources)

December 16, 2007

Ben Sets Steelers Record

From ESPN.com:

Ben Roethlisberger showed terrific leadership, played another great game and inspired the Steelers, but it was not enough. Jacksonville’s offensive line deserves the game ball after helping the Jaguars grind out a win in harsh conditions on the road, including an overpowering 20-play drive to open the second half that saw the Jags convert two fourth-down opportunities.

The massive line gave David Garrard time to throw and imposed its will on the ground even against eight-man fronts.

Big Ben threw three touchdown passes and broke Terry Bradshaw's single-season record in that category but his late-game heroics did not include a game-winning drive after Fred Taylor had a 12-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers missed injured LDE Aaron Smith up front and were worn down over the course of the game by the exceptional 1-2 punch of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.

And despite Roethlisberger’s impressive game he was under pressure most of the game and took a lot of hits from the Jacksonville defense.

The Steelers made a valiant comeback effort, tying the game late in the fourth quarter, but Jacksonville came right back down the field and scored, defeating the Steelers 29-22 at Heinz Field.

The loss drops the Steelers to 9-5 on the season and has them tied with the Cleveland Browns, although they hold the edge in the AFC North because of head-to-head competition.

What They Said:

"Ben Roethlisberger completed 16-of-33 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns in Week 15 against the Jaguars. In what has become standard issue for Roethlisberger, he dove for a couple of first downs and fought his way out of defenders' arms keeping several plays alive. He deserved a better fate on a day in which the Jaguars were constantly pressuring him while he continued to battle on every play.

Though playing through a shoulder injury, Roethlisberger put plenty of zip on his passes and threw three perfect touchdown strikes." -- Rotoworld Fantasy Sports News

"As much as I hate to agree with Dan Dierdorf, I do agree when he said that Ben Roethlisberger was giving it his all out there. He’s done that a lot this season and I believe he is really emerging as a leader. He has nearly single-handedly won some games this season and almost led them on another one today.

Also, congratulations to Ben on throwing 29 touchdown passes this season, which breaks Terry Bradshaw’s record of 28. He’s having a heck of a season and he appears on pace to be one of the all-time greats, even if few outside of Steelers Nation give him the respect he deserves." -- Jason Grabulis, The Blitzburgh Report

"Ben Roethlisberger: Wow, what a competitor! The numbers were ugly in the first half..real ugly. But he hung in there, despite being battered and bruised by the Jags interior linemen for much of the day. Plenty of QBs would have taken themselves out of that game in the 2nd half. Not Ben. He just kept fighting, and almost single-handedly saved the defense from humiliation. It wasn't meant to be yesterday, but it was only further proof that we have a special competitive talent playing the most important position on the football field for us. Priority #1 this offseason: locking him up for the better part of the next decade." -- From Behind the Steel Curtain

"[Coach Tomlin] came in at halftime and said, 'We gotta stop letting Ben get sacked'. It didn't show. It continued to happen. He was forced out of the pocket too many times and forced to throw the ball away half the time and not where he wanted to put it." -- Santonio Holmes' post game comment

"Great comeback, a lot of heart, but a loss is a loss." -- Ben Roethlisberger's post game comment

To see photos from today's game, click here.

December 14, 2007

News, Notes & Quotes...

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this afternoon:

Roethlisberger practices, listed as 'questionable' -

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced Friday after missing the first two practices this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville at Heinz Field.

"Questionable" means Roethlisberger has a 50-50 chance of starting.

Roethlisberger suffered a sore right throwing shoulder in the Steelers loss at New England. He sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, raising the possibility that he might be too injured to play in the team's final home game of the season.

Yesterday, Roethlisberger sounded like he expected to play against Jacksonville.

"I feel great," he said.

Asked if one hit caused his shoulder discomfort, Roethlisberger smiled.

"I got hit a couple of times."

Roethlisberger said the hit on his shoulder that caused him to miss two practices occured "later in the game."

Roethlisberger said it was important for him to practice yesterday. Starters who miss the final practice of the week usually don't play on Sunday.

"That's why I wanted to get out there, get some plays in, get some reps, get the feel for it," Roethlisberger said. "I think it was good."

Backup Charlie Batch practiced with the first team Wednesday and Thursday and will start if Roethlisberger doesn't play.

Roethlisberger was asked if he "aired it out" in practice to test his arm strength.

"You have to ask Coach (Mike) Tomlin," Roethlisberger said.

Tomlin didn't speak with reporters yesterday.

Also Today:

Ben and Coach Tomlin filming a Super Bowl commercial?

I received this in an email from a fan today:

"So I work at PNC Park and all this week a very large film crew has been there. Well today we finally got the story. It is a Fox Super Bowl commercial for American Idol. They completely gutted the visitors clubhouse at PNC and turned it into the 'Steelers locker room'. By looking at the story boards, it seems as if Tomlin will be addressing the team and someone, presumably Roethlisberger, stands up and begins singing for his 'audition'. Ben and Tomlin are doing the filming on Friday."

*Now, 1. I cannot confirm the validity of this information and 2. If it is true, they obviously did not hear Ben's rendition of "Are you ready for some football" on CMT's Tribute to Hank Williams, Jr. (see November 19th news) or they would never have suggested that he sing!

And Tonight:

Ben and Brett Keisel stopped by the