Ben speaks

[rooneytunes]

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/05 ... 8P9GPIlTAc

[tbsteel]

Pretty good overall. Glad he owned up to the Broncos game comments, which were really his only poor look.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Magnanimous, apologetic, gracious, and he took the high road. If only AB and Bell had some of that.

More at 11pm.

[RemoAZ]

And AB with the dick comments because that's who he is. He got everything he wanted and still isn't satisfied.

[Ice]

Pretty much shows all involved for who and what they are.

[Jobu]

Am I the only one that thinks/wishes that Ben should’ve/would’ve just kept his mouth shut, and let all this shit go away?
Get ready for two more weeks worth of all the talking heads taking their shots...

[steelmann58]

AB still wants to play the Marytr

[Ice]

True, but if he wanted to get it off his chest, he's within his rights to do so. Not much inflammatory stuff in his comments. Comes off as well reasoned, contrite and ready to move forward.

[steelmann58]

AB CAN GO FUCK OFF IN OAKLAND

[swissvale72]

Am I the only one that thinks/wishes that Ben should’ve/would’ve just kept his mouth shut, and let all this shit go away?
Get ready for two more weeks worth of all the talking heads taking their shots...

Am I the only one that wishes Ben had kept his mouth shut....from the beginning, like after the Denver game....and maybe AB would still be a Pittsburgh Steeler??

Yeah....I think I'm the only one.

[Ice]

You are. And she'll look just fine in the Juju jersey.

[steelmann58]

the issue still would have came down to money still with AB don't fool yourself on that. I see that Edmunnds like AB post.

[Jobu]

Am I the only one that thinks/wishes that Ben should’ve/would’ve just kept his mouth shut, and let all this shit go away?
Get ready for two more weeks worth of all the talking heads taking their shots...

Am I the only one that wishes Ben had kept his mouth shut....from the beginning, like after the Denver game....and maybe AB would still be a Pittsburgh Steeler??

Yeah....I think I'm the only one.

You’re delusional if you believe that’s the reason AB orchestrated his exit from Pittsburgh.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Terrell Edmunds liked AB’s Two Face tweet. That will go over well.

Ben is kind of two faced though...a much milder form of Harvey Dent. Pre-motorcycle accident Ben and post-motorcycle accident Ben. Nose and teeth never the same.

[RemoAZ]

Rather him do the interview now than right before the season. He had to say something sooner or later. Might as well let it blow over way before camp starts.

[Legacy User]

Am I the only one that thinks/wishes that Ben should’ve/would’ve just kept his mouth shut, and let all this shit go away?
Get ready for two more weeks worth of all the talking heads taking their shots...

Am I the only one that wishes Ben had kept his mouth shut....from the beginning, like after the Denver game....and maybe AB would still be a Pittsburgh Steeler??

Yeah....I think I'm the only one.

Do you really not think it was all about AB getting more money??????

[Steelafan77]

If you somehow missed its promos the past two days, KDKA-TV scored an exclusive interview with Ben Roethlisberger.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback made his first public comments since the 2018 season ended short of the NFL postseason, after almost five months of silence.

What KDKA billed as “The Interview: Ben Roethlisberger” was a pre-emptive move by Big Ben to share his side of the story before the Steelers open voluntary organized team activities on Tuesday morning at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.

Bob Pompeani went one-on-one with Roethlisberger, with the first part of the interview airing during Monday’s 6 p.m. newscast and focusing on his relationship with Antonio Brown.

The All-Pro wide receiver took shots at Roethlisberger in talking his way into a trade to the Oakland Raiders – saying on HBO that Roethlisberger “feels like he’s the owner” – but Pompeani said Brown didn’t respond to KDKA’s requests for an interview.

The second part is expected to focus on the two-year contract extension worth $68 million, with a $37.5 million signing bonus, that Roethlisberger signed last month.

Big Ben missed the mark, only causing more questions.

1. What took so long?: That was Pompeani’s first query, and Roethlisberger’s response was weak.

“Well, in the offseason I like to be with family and just be away and stay away from the craziness because the media is my life during the football season,” he said. “So when I can get a break from it, I try to get a break from it.”

Roethlisberger has a weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, talks to the local media Wednesday mornings and after every game. His media obligations are hardly cumbersome and he’s well compensated, so treating it as a burden was bogus – especially when his leadership was questioned by former teammates and NFL analysts alike this offseason.

2. What happened to Wi-Fi?: Pompeani pointed out the productivity of Roethlisberger and Brown, who connected for 74 touchdown passes.

KDKA also showed clips of Brown saying, “Ben’s my guy, man – I love him” and comparing their early-season inconsistency to a Wi-Fi connection.

This is where Roethlisberger played possum.

“I’ll start with saying you’re right. AB made me who I am. He was the greatest wide receiver I ever played with. The things that he did in this league and that we did together are amongst the best of all time,” Roethlisberger said.

“And you’re right, there were some great things and then, all of a sudden, it just kind of disappeared. And I’m not really sure where it went. We always worked through it. We always came out the other side smiling and hugged it out and enjoyed it and moved on. This time, I don’t know.”

Oh, Ben. We all know exactly what happened.

3. A fine line: Pompeani nailed the follow-up question, noting that Roethlisberger called out Brown on his radio show after the loss at Denver and asking if he took the public criticism of his teammates too far.

Roethlisberger called it a “fine line” and apologized for “saying too much.”

“I know I took some heat, and deservedly so,” Roethlisberger said. “I genuinely feel bad about that. And I’m sorry. Did I go too far after that Denver game? Yeah, probably.”

This is where Roethlisberger tried to explain himself, and did so awkwardly. He should have accepted responsibility for throwing the game-ending interception to a nose tackle in the end zone instead of blaming Brown’s route running.

But Roethlisberger attempted to explain his comment about wishing he’d thrown four consecutive passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster instead of forcing it to Brown.

“I can see where that comment was perceived to be negative toward AB but it wasn’t meant that way,” Roethlisberger said. “Just like everything during the season, it’s a compliment to AB because he’s doubled every single play. That’s why it’s still so amazing is he was able to do it through all the adversity of double and triple teams.

“It was more meant that I should’ve gone to JuJu because he was single-covered. And I regretted it. That’s the thing about the media and social media and things like that. As soon as you say (it), sorry only goes so far. You can’t take it back. I wish I could because if that’s what ruined our friendship and our relationship, then I’m truly and genuinely sorry about that.”

Finally, Big Ben was the bigger man.

That’s all he had to say. What’s a shame is that he didn’t say it last season, before the damage was done.

4. Lacking leadership?: That brought us to the big question, about how Roethlisberger is affected by claims that he’s not the leader that he should be.

“They were hurtful. It was hurtful to myself. It was hurtful to my family,” Roethlisberger said. “I always want to get better. I always strive to be the best that I can be, and last year we weren’t good enough. We lost six games. We didn’t make the playoffs.

“I need to, as a leader of that football team – because leadership ultimately is about winning football games – I didn’t do a good enough job because we didn’t make the playoffs.”

Leadership isn’t just about winning football games. It’s also about setting an example in practice and film sessions, accepting responsibility following losses and building relationships inside and outside the locker room.

But that’s not what bothered me most.

5. Fading friendship: As much as Roethlisberger seems to regret the trouble his comments caused, he said he still considers Brown “a good friend of mine.”

And we couldn’t care less.

Brown plays for the Oakland Raiders and Le’Veon Bell for the New York Jets but Roethlisberger is still a Steeler.

Instead of talking about what he’s learned about leadership throughout this offseason and what he’s trying to do better, Roethlisberger tried to share the role.

“There’s more than one leader in that locker room,” he said. “We’re lucky to have them – Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward, just to name a few.”

There’s only one quarterback. Roethlisberger is the team’s most important player, not to mention its highest-paid and highest-profile player – even if he spent the offseason in silence while stories spun about him on social media.

Do the Steelers need Big Ben to be a better leader if they want to be a better team, one that makes the playoffs and wins another Super Bowl without Antonio Brown?

No question. https://triblive.com/sports/kevin-gorma ... interview/

Questions going into 2019...
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-t ... -into-2019

[Jobu]

Regardless of what he says, it’s pretty obvious that BR loves talking to the media, but he’s very bad at it. No matter what he says, it never comes out right.
I’ve always said that nothing constructive happens when you stick a microphone in front of an athletes face...

[zeke5123]

If you somehow missed its promos the past two days, KDKA-TV scored an exclusive interview with Ben Roethlisberger.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback made his first public comments since the 2018 season ended short of the NFL postseason, after almost five months of silence.

What KDKA billed as “The Interview: Ben Roethlisberger” was a pre-emptive move by Big Ben to share his side of the story before the Steelers open voluntary organized team activities on Tuesday morning at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.

Bob Pompeani went one-on-one with Roethlisberger, with the first part of the interview airing during Monday’s 6 p.m. newscast and focusing on his relationship with Antonio Brown.

The All-Pro wide receiver took shots at Roethlisberger in talking his way into a trade to the Oakland Raiders – saying on HBO that Roethlisberger “feels like he’s the owner” – but Pompeani said Brown didn’t respond to KDKA’s requests for an interview.

The second part is expected to focus on the two-year contract extension worth $68 million, with a $37.5 million signing bonus, that Roethlisberger signed last month.

Big Ben missed the mark, only causing more questions.

1. What took so long?: That was Pompeani’s first query, and Roethlisberger’s response was weak.

“Well, in the offseason I like to be with family and just be away and stay away from the craziness because the media is my life during the football season,” he said. “So when I can get a break from it, I try to get a break from it.”

Roethlisberger has a weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, talks to the local media Wednesday mornings and after every game. His media obligations are hardly cumbersome and he’s well compensated, so treating it as a burden was bogus – especially when his leadership was questioned by former teammates and NFL analysts alike this offseason.

2. What happened to Wi-Fi?: Pompeani pointed out the productivity of Roethlisberger and Brown, who connected for 74 touchdown passes.

KDKA also showed clips of Brown saying, “Ben’s my guy, man – I love him” and comparing their early-season inconsistency to a Wi-Fi connection.

This is where Roethlisberger played possum.

“I’ll start with saying you’re right. AB made me who I am. He was the greatest wide receiver I ever played with. The things that he did in this league and that we did together are amongst the best of all time,” Roethlisberger said.

“And you’re right, there were some great things and then, all of a sudden, it just kind of disappeared. And I’m not really sure where it went. We always worked through it. We always came out the other side smiling and hugged it out and enjoyed it and moved on. This time, I don’t know.”

Oh, Ben. We all know exactly what happened.

3. A fine line: Pompeani nailed the follow-up question, noting that Roethlisberger called out Brown on his radio show after the loss at Denver and asking if he took the public criticism of his teammates too far.

Roethlisberger called it a “fine line” and apologized for “saying too much.”

“I know I took some heat, and deservedly so,” Roethlisberger said. “I genuinely feel bad about that. And I’m sorry. Did I go too far after that Denver game? Yeah, probably.”

This is where Roethlisberger tried to explain himself, and did so awkwardly. He should have accepted responsibility for throwing the game-ending interception to a nose tackle in the end zone instead of blaming Brown’s route running.

But Roethlisberger attempted to explain his comment about wishing he’d thrown four consecutive passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster instead of forcing it to Brown.

“I can see where that comment was perceived to be negative toward AB but it wasn’t meant that way,” Roethlisberger said. “Just like everything during the season, it’s a compliment to AB because he’s doubled every single play. That’s why it’s still so amazing is he was able to do it through all the adversity of double and triple teams.

“It was more meant that I should’ve gone to JuJu because he was single-covered. And I regretted it. That’s the thing about the media and social media and things like that. As soon as you say (it), sorry only goes so far. You can’t take it back. I wish I could because if that’s what ruined our friendship and our relationship, then I’m truly and genuinely sorry about that.”

Finally, Big Ben was the bigger man.

That’s all he had to say. What’s a shame is that he didn’t say it last season, before the damage was done.

4. Lacking leadership?: That brought us to the big question, about how Roethlisberger is affected by claims that he’s not the leader that he should be.

“They were hurtful. It was hurtful to myself. It was hurtful to my family,” Roethlisberger said. “I always want to get better. I always strive to be the best that I can be, and last year we weren’t good enough. We lost six games. We didn’t make the playoffs.

“I need to, as a leader of that football team – because leadership ultimately is about winning football games – I didn’t do a good enough job because we didn’t make the playoffs.”

Leadership isn’t just about winning football games. It’s also about setting an example in practice and film sessions, accepting responsibility following losses and building relationships inside and outside the locker room.

But that’s not what bothered me most.

5. Fading friendship: As much as Roethlisberger seems to regret the trouble his comments caused, he said he still considers Brown “a good friend of mine.”

And we couldn’t care less.

Brown plays for the Oakland Raiders and Le’Veon Bell for the New York Jets but Roethlisberger is still a Steeler.

Instead of talking about what he’s learned about leadership throughout this offseason and what he’s trying to do better, Roethlisberger tried to share the role.

“There’s more than one leader in that locker room,” he said. “We’re lucky to have them – Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward, just to name a few.”

There’s only one quarterback. Roethlisberger is the team’s most important player, not to mention its highest-paid and highest-profile player – even if he spent the offseason in silence while stories spun about him on social media.

Do the Steelers need Big Ben to be a better leader if they want to be a better team, one that makes the playoffs and wins another Super Bowl without Antonio Brown?

No question. https://triblive.com/sports/kevin-gorma ... interview/

Questions going into 2019...
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-t ... -into-2019

Bad article. First, trying to apply reason to AB is trying to get inside a crazy man’s head using logic. Who knows when AB got fed up — he was beefing before the Denver call out.

Second, and this is something Brown — for whatever reason — significantly upped the ante with very charged language. You blame the person who escalated.

[franco>madden]

I usually like to take the high road; the reasoned, intellectual approach so that Lit and the guys will like me ... and I usually like what the Trib dishes out re: Pirates and Stillers ...

... but Kevin Gorman can seriously fuck himself. That was a really stupid analysis. In the grand Steelers scheme of things, criticizing Ben's "vague" rationales for not publicly commenting --- and how his comments possibly hurt the feelings of our (yes, Swiss, I know) incredibly valuable, but increasingly-out-of-control-as-time-went-on-freaking-lunatic-and-destructive-headcase AB --- is way, way down the list of stuff for Steeler fans to be bitching about. Especially with our same joke of a strategist still sitting in the head coach's seat, as another season of (hopefully not but probably will be) wasted opportunities approaches in the distance ...

OK, back to my off-season football coma and returning to the martyr's section at PNC Park

[Stallworth16]

My take is that AB’s leaving the Steelers and all the trouble from AB in the last year is one person’s fault, and that’s AB. He got what he wanted, More money and another team. Goodbye AB.

Having said that, Ben’s radio show has caused a lot of unnecessary problems with the team. Ben has a tendency to talk about his teammates and anything negative will cause resentment. Ditch the radio show, for good.

[Steel Ubaldo]

Am I the only one that thinks/wishes that Ben should’ve/would’ve just kept his mouth shut, and let all this shit go away?
Get ready for two more weeks worth of all the talking heads taking their shots...

No. You are not alone there. Wish Ben just would have kept his mouth shut...but he has always been this way. He is a Drama Queen. But he is our Drama Queen.

[Steelafan77]

Said he hasn't made up his mind about the radio show. I think he should reconsider and walk away. There will be plenty of time after his career to have talk shows. I'm sure he may even be targeted to be on one of the football networks as an 'analyst' at some point. Just focus on the rest of your short career and win more championships, please!

[Jobu]

Said he hasn't made up his mind about the radio show. I think he should reconsider and walk away. There will be plenty of time after his career to have talk shows. I'm sure he may even be targeted to be on one of the football networks as an 'analyst' at some point. Just focus on the rest of your short career and win more championships, please!

I agree about the radio show, and championships. As for the TV gig, I’m not so sure. Ben seems more Witten than Romo to me. Although I’m sure he’d jump at the chance.

[Steelafan77]

If Michael Irvin, Steve Smith, Joe Theismann, Booger McFarland and Ray Lewis were offered analysts gigs why not Ben then? Those I've listed are the worst I've ever seen FYI. I'm sure there were more before them. Just can't come up with the names off the top of my head right now.

[Legacy User]

You’re delusional if you believe that’s the reason AB orchestrated his exit from Pittsburgh.

I don't know Jobus.

I am perfectly willing to believe that AB is such a giant pussy / ego maniac combo, that Ben "disrespecting him" and not "giving AB his due propers" really did send him over the rails.

[Jobu]

If Michael Irvin, Steve Smith, Joe Theismann, Booger McFarland and Ray Lewis were offered analysts gigs why not Ben then? Those I've listed are the worst I've ever seen FYI. I'm sure there were more before them. Just can't come up with the names off the top of my head right now.

You forgot Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis... I’m not saying he won’t get an offer, I just don’t think he’d be very good at it...I could be wrong, of course.

And let’s not ignore the fact that in the eye of fans and media around the league, Ben is public enemy number one. Pure evil is a tough sell...

[Jobu]

You’re delusional if you believe that’s the reason AB orchestrated his exit from Pittsburgh.

I don't know Jobus.

I am perfectly willing to believe that AB is such a giant pussy / ego maniac combo, that Ben "disrespecting him" and not "giving AB his due propers" really did send him over the rails.

Naah...it was $$$, and JuJu getting more love. All the bullshit was just a smokescreen.

[Legacy User]

You’re delusional if you believe that’s the reason AB orchestrated his exit from Pittsburgh.

I don't know Jobus.

I am perfectly willing to believe that AB is such a giant pussy / ego maniac combo, that Ben "disrespecting him" and not "giving AB his due propers" really did send him over the rails.

Naah...it was $$$, and JuJu getting more love. All the bullshit was just a smokescreen.

Oh, I'm perfectly willing to believe this, too. But I think so little of AB, I am prepared to believe the other option. It would not cause surprise in me. What I am saying is that I think it real possibility that Ben's comments caused AB to go on a "respect finding mission." No doubt JuJu getting voted MVP was simply too much to take. The injustice of it!

[K_C_]

Pretty good overall. Glad he owned up to the Broncos game comments, which were really his only poor look.

I didn't see it as a poor look at all.

Brown ran a shitty route. Why not say that?

Roethlisberger has heaped more praise on Brown than anybody on earth ever deserves.

Why can't he mention Brown ran a shitty route and regret he didn't throw the ball to JuJu on the play?

Brown's ego couldn't take the truth?