Steelers football blog

Roethlisberger: Steelers can contend for Super Bowl

Ben Roethlisberger is taking a break from football and going fishing. The Steelers quarterback made it clear, however, that no matter what he catches next week, his focus is ultimately on reeling in something much bigger. "Hopefully, we win the Super Bowl," Roethlisberger said Tuesday while working at the youth camp that bears his name at Mars High School's football field. "That's my goal this year and I think we've got the personnel for it." Continue

Roethlisberger praises Penguins

Ben Roethlisberger could empathize with the Penguins a day after their season ended with a 3-2 loss in the sixth game of the Stanley Cup final. As a rookie quarterback, he helped the Steelers to a 15-1 record in the 2004 regular season, but Pittsburgh lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.

"I'm sure they're feeling not too great right now, but they have to know that they're a young team, and they've got a lot of potential," Roethlisberger said Thursday after the Steelers' final practice of the week. "They made it further this year than they did last year, and there's nowhere to go but up from here. I think they've got all the potential in the world." Continue

Draft pleases Steelers' Roethlisberger

Asked to assess new Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave a thumb up in approval. "I like the draft. We did a good job all around," Roethlisberger said Wednesday after a press conference announcing that his foundation will distribute nearly $100,000 in grants to Pittsburgh area police and fire department canine units.

Roethlisberger downplayed any influence he had in the Steelers' selection of Sweed. Prior to last weekend's draft, Roethlisberger had said he wanted the team to draft a tall receiver. Continue

Now, Big Ben has to earn that mammoth salary

There never was any doubt that the Ben Roethlisberger contract would be done. Teams don't allow a franchise quarterback to leave in today's NFL. They are too precious. Look at what the Dallas Cowboys did with Tony Romo. They rushed to sign him to a mega-deal in October even though he had made just 17 regular-season starts and hadn't won a playoff game.

Of course, Big Ben was staying. He's one of the most accomplished young quarterbacks in NFL history, having won a Super Bowl and played in another AFC championship game in his first four seasons. The kid didn't even turn 26 until Sunday. Continue

Roethlisberger agrees to $102 million deal

Ben Roethlisberger became not only the highest-paid Steelers player ever, he's now among the highest-paid players in the NFL, and arguments can be made that he's No. 1.

Roethlisberger today signed a contract that will pay him $102 million over eight seasons. It includes so-called "guaranteed money" of slightly more than $36 million and a $25 million signing bonus. "This is about being a Pittsburgh Steeler for as long as I can be,'' Roethlisberger said. "I don't want to go anywhere.'' Said Dan Rooney, the Steelers chairman, "He's a Steeler, he'll always be a Steeler.'' Continue

Roethlisberger, Steelers close on contract extension

A deal on a contract extension for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger appears to be imminent, as his agents are in Pittsburgh and meeting with the Steelers. "All I can say at this point is it's very close," said Ryan Tollner, who along with his brother, Bruce, represents Roethlisberger. "We're hopefully here to finish it."

Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, has said he wants to retire as a Steeler.He has two years left on the deal he signed after the Steelers took Roethlisberger with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Continue

Seven reasons to extend Big Ben's contract

Ben Roethlisberger is celebrating his 26th birthday today, and for a guy who seemingly has everything -- fame, money, a Super Bowl ring -- there is one belated present that the Steelers quarterback would love to get: a contract extension.

Locking up Roethlisberger, who still has two years left on his current deal, for a couple of presidential terms is one of the Steelers' top offseason priorities. Director of football operations Kevin Colbert recently said that talks between the Steelers and Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, are going well. And there isn't any reason to think the Steelers and Roethlisberger won't reach an agreement on an extension before the start of training camp. Continue

Roethlisberger tosses TD in AFC Pro bowl loss

Adrian Peterson stood in front of the car he'd just won as MVP of the Pro Bowl. He wiggled the keys, leaned against the red roof and soaked in the acclaim. Quite a way to finish off a rookie season. Peterson ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Terrell Owens made up for early sloppiness with two TD receptions in the NFC's 42-30 comeback victory over the AFC on Sunday.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 5-of-9 passes for 42 yards and one touchdown. He also led the AFC in rushing, with one carry for 18 yards. Continue

Roethlisberger dismisses 'rift' with Ward

Ben Roethlisberger spoke at a new conference Wednesday to promote the Pro Bowl. Afterward, he tried to defuse a controversy sparked by his comments that he'd like the Steelers to add a tall wide receiver to their roster. Hines Ward appeared to take umbrage at what Roethlisberger said, but the Steelers quarterback said that was never the case.

"People made it way bigger than it really was, so there's no rift between Hines and I," Roethlisberger said at the Phoenix Convention Center. "We actually talked and laughed about it and joked. Hines and I have no problem."Roethlisberger said his comments that he wants a taller wide receiver -- no wideout on the Steelers' 53-man roster is listed as taller than 6-foot-1 -- were taken out of context. Continue

Big Ben says first year under Tomlin proof NFL offensive trends aren't passing Steelers by

Ben Roethlisberger likely would be on a beach somewhere by now with the Steelers' season ended. Instead, he continues to work out at their UPMC facility on the South Side. That's what happens when you still have to play one more football game. Roethlisberger continues to prepare for his first Pro Bowl, which will be played Feb. 10 in Honolulu. He has recovered from the arm soreness and sprained ankle that bothered him late in the season.

"I feel great, which is awesome, as good as I've ever felt," Roethlisberger said. He said he hopes 2007 turns out to be a defining season in his career and that of his offense. "This year was a solid year for us offensively -- not great, not bad, solid. It was kind of a turning point for us." Continue

Roethlisberger wants to stick with Steelers

If Ben Roethlisberger gets his wish, the next NFL move he'll make will be to Canton, Ohio, following a long and distinguished career with the Steelers. "I would love to retire here," Roethlisberger said on Tuesday. "I would love to go the Hall of Fame in a Steelers jersey. That would be an ultimate goal. I want to do what (Dan) Marino, (Jim) Kelly, (John) Elway and all those guys did -- play with one team their whole career."

Roethlisberger is hoping to move one step closer toward realizing that goal this offseason by agreeing to a long-term contract extension with the Steelers. "I'm sure we'll talk to him soon," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said. Continue

Roethlisberger will seek contract extension

The Steelers face a busy offseason on their labor front, starting with the biggest of them all, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger has two years left on his contract, precisely the time when the Steelers extended their two previous starting quarterbacks, Tommy Maddox and Kordell Stewart. The quarterback and his agent, Ryan Tollner, had hoped to negotiate an extension a year ago, but were told at the time the Steelers wanted to wait until 2008.

Talks are not likely to start immediately, but the sides likely will at least schedule some times for them to begin. Roethlisberger is due a roster bonus of $2.95 million early in March. That number could be wrapped into a signing bonus and spread out for salary cap purposes if a contract is signed before then. If not, it will count as hard numbers against their 2008 salary cap, although that is not seen as an impediment to a long-term extension. Continue

It's the playoffs: Big Ben's time to shine

t's January. It's Pittsburgh. It's playoff football. That means run, run and run some more. Or does it? The Steelers' running offense again ranked among the best in the National Football League at No. 3. Since the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, no team has come close to running as often with as much success as the Steelers.

The Steelers have 82,217 rushing yards since the NFL merger. Dallas is next with 77,061. Therefore, don't be surprised Saturday night if the Steelers come out throwing, putting their fate against Jacksonville on the right arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "It would be nice," Roethlisberger said. "We'll see what happens." Continue

Steelers' Big Ben becomes a Bengals booster

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. Continue

Steelers' Roethlisberger makes first Pro Bowl

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- make that Pro Bowl quarterback -- promised Tuesday to take his offensive line to Hawaii for the NFL's all-star game in February. "It's kind of a unit honor," said Roethlisberger, who set the Steelers single-season record for touchdown passes Sunday against Jacksonville. "If they go, I'm going to take the entire O-line and their wives or significant others.''

One player Roethlisberger won't have to take is left guard Alan Faneca, who earned his seventh consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl. Faneca was chosen as a starter for the AFC team. Continue

Steelers' Roethlisberger to play

Ben Roethlisberger will play today for the Steelers. Roethlisberger didn't appear to have any problems with his right shoulder as he warmed up a couple of hours before today's 1 p.m. game, and he is not on the Steelers' inactive list. Roethlisberger missed practice last Wednesday and Thursday because of a sore shoulder and had been listed as questionable for the game. The Steelers (9-4) clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Jaguars (9-4). Continue

Steelers' Roethlisberger returns to practice

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced Friday after missing the first two practices this week and is listed as questionable on the official injury report for Sunday's game against Jacksonville at Heinz Field. "Questionable" officially means Roethlisberger has a 50-50 chance of playing.

Roethlisberger injured his 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. Continue

Big Ben misses practice again

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed practice for the second consecutive day with what is being called a sore right shoulder. His status for the game Sunday with Jacksonville is, at least for now, a mystery. Though there are some indications Roethlisberger will play Sunday, his status likely will remain unannounced at least until today and possibly up to game time. No one in the organization was forthcoming with information yesterday.

Coach Mike Tomlin, through a Steelers spokesman, said the team is monitoring the shoulder and will re-evaluate it after practice today and tomorrow before making any decisions about Sunday. Roethlisberger was not available for comment. Continue

Jags to see Steelers' new Roethlisberger

The Jaguars blitzed Ben Roethlisberger early and often when the Steelers visited Jacksonville last September, and it's not hard to figure out why. Roethlisberger was only a couple of weeks removed from an emergency appendectomy when the Steelers played the Jaguars, and he was making his first start of the season. To say the Jaguars wanted to see if the Steelers quarterback could take a hit or 10, given what he had been through, might be an understatement. Continue

Steelers scheme to keep Big Ben upright

The Steelers had a problem getting Ben Roethlisberger outside the pocket when plays broke down against the Jets. Rather than rectify it in advance of Monday night's game against Miami, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would prefer that his team find a way to avoid the issue.

"We don't call plays with the intent of them breaking down and him showing those skills," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger's trademark ability to escape and improvise. "It's an added bonus that he has those skills. "But that's the case with football. Very rarely do plays unfold the way you diagram them. That's what separates some players from other players." Continue

Big Ben's legend grows

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin calls Ben Roethlisberger a "sick competitor." Roethlisberger's late-game heroics support the notion. Elias Sports Bureau uses a statistic called "game-winning drives," and Roethlisberger has more of them (12) than any quarterback in the NFL since the beginning of the 2004 season, his rookie year. A game-winning drive, as defined by Elias, occurs in the fourth quarter or overtime and either brings a team from behind or breaks a tie. It can be a misleading stat, because, ideally, a team won't be in that situation late in a game. Continue

Arians says Roethlisberger has been flawless

Ben Roethlisberger has earned praise for what he has been doing with his arm and his legs of late, but it's the Steelers' quarterback's decision-making that has impressed offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. "He was excellent," Arians said of Roethlisberger in Sunday's 31-28 victory over Cleveland. "He has been for a month or so.

"I think he might have had one bad read in that whole ball game. I remember looking at it (Thursday) morning. It surprised me that he even had one." Roethlisberger completed 23-of-34 attempts against Cleveland for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 40 yards and another score against the Browns. Continue

Big Ben emerges as elite QB

The comparisons with Eli Manning have been inevitable since the two quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Comparisons with the other, and often otherworldly, Manning -- well, that would have been unthinkable as recently as a month ago.

But Ben Roethlisberger's transcendent play has turned the Steelers into Super Bowl contenders and thrust him into the discussion of determining the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Truth be told, it might be a bit of a disservice to Roethlisberger to compare him to Peyton Manning right now. That is how well he is playing. Continue

Is Big Ben just getting started?

Five touchdown passes in 28:09 would seemingly speak for themselves. But upon further review, Ben Roethlisberger's career game on Monday night was as revealing for the manner in which it was achieved as it was the heights the Steelers' quarterback reached. Roethlisberger dropped back to pass 19 times against Baltimore. On two occasions he threw flanker screens, getting rid of the football almost immediately upon receiving it. On the other 17 attempts, he was sacked three times and flushed from the pocket six times. In other words, the protection broke down more than half the time it was needed, and still Roethlisberger thrived. Continue

Big Ben set to take run at records

The old guy who came down from the TV booth Monday night drew the loudest ovation when the all-time team of the Steelers 75th Season was introduced at Heinz Field. The reaction from the crowd might have been louder had there been two quarterbacks selected to the all-time team instead of one. Ben Roethlisberger would have given Terry Bradshaw a run for his money.In fact, he is. Roethlisberger's record-tying five touchdown passes Monday, all in the first half, lifted his total to a career-high 20 halfway through the season. That puts him on pace to shatter Bradshaw's Steelers record of 28 set during their third Super Bowl season of 1978.

Roethlisberger, who has a bruised hip that won't keep him out of the game Sunday against Cleveland, has the second-best passer rating in the NFL at 111.9, behind Tom Brady's 131.8. His 20 touchdown passes are second to Brady's 33. A generation after Bradshaw's retirement, the Steelers finally have a worthy successor at quarterback. Continue

Elusive Big Ben makes big plays

Among Brett Keisel's chores as a starting defensive end is to rush the quarterback. He's happy to say he does not have to chase after Ben Roethlisberger other than in practice. That's like trying to tackle Secretariat. "Gosh, he's incredible," Keisel spouted. "I don't think there's a quarterback in the league who does what he does as far as feeling the rush come and getting out."

Roethlisberger used that routine to great advantage in the Steelers' 24-13 victory in Cincinnati Sunday. Twice, he completed passes to Santonio Holmes on third down -- once with a player hanging on him and once after he broke a tackle. He scrambled on another third down for 9 yards and a first down. At 6 feet 5, 240 pounds, Roethlisberger is a big man who can move. He showed that in his rookie season when he often threw on the run out of the pocket. Many of those were by design; the ones in Cincinnati occurred out of necessity when he came under attack. Continue

Big Ben's elusiveness frazzles defenses

One play in 2006 epitomized the kind of hard-knock season Ben Roethlisberger endured. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott blitzed from Roethlisberger's blind side in a late November game and blasted the Steelers' quarterback.

Scott had such an unimpeded path to the quarterback that after the Steelers were drilled, 27-0, Roethlisberger publicly thanked Scott for not delivering the kind of hit that could have sidelined him indefinitely. Scott and a Ravens defense that bullied the Steelers last season will visit Heinz Field on Monday night for an AFC North showdown.Their presence is far from the only reason why Roethlisberger figures to do his share of running in the nationally televised game. Roethlisberger's ability to escape trouble and keep plays alive has added another dimension to the Steelers' offense. Continue

Roethlisberger leads by taking responsibility

Ben Roethlisberger took the blame, much in the way he washes his face and brushes his teeth. He recited an all-too-familiar occurrence: making a key mistake in the red zone. Roethlisberger knows that being an NFL quarterback means always being willing to say you're sorry. "When I let go of it, I thought it was a touchdown. I thought he was gone," Roethlisberger said of safety Adrian Wilson's end-zone interception in the third quarter of the Steelers' 21-14 loss to Arizona. Continue

Big Ben, not 'tough' camp, likely trigger for 3-0 start

Deserved or not, critics blamed the traditionally slow starts by Bill Cowher's Steelers on easy training camps. Then along came Mike Tomlin with a 3-0 start, and people linked it to the "tough" training camp he held in Latrobe this summer.

It sounds good, except for one thing. Tomlin's training camps were easier than those run by Cowher. At least, that's what guard Alan Faneca believes. "The only thing I would say training camp-wise, it was a little lighter than what we've done in the past," Faneca said yesterday. And here most everyone thought they were more difficult. "That was y'all guys," Faneca told the media gathered around him. Continue

Roethlisberger regaining his top form

Memories play tricks when it comes to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger because his 2006 season generally is regarded as one big bust. Tackle Willie Colon wasn't with the Steelers when Roethlisberger shot through the NFL with the best first two seasons in the league for a quarterback, when he went 13-0 as a rookie and became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his second year.

All he saw was Roethlisberger's 2006 season, Colon's rookie year, and some of the portions he witnessed were enough to convince him that Roethlisberger was a winner. Continue

Steelers' Roethlisberger, Arians on same page

It was time to go for the jugular, and Ben Roethlisberger told his teammates as much in the huddle. "When it's a home run shot and we're really going for it, I tell them, 'Hey guys, line, give me some time,' " Roethlisberger said. "And I told Santonio, 'Hey, this is coming to you, so make a play.' "

Roethlisberger got the time he needed and wide receiver Santonio Holmes did his part Sunday, getting behind the Cleveland secondary and hauling in a perfect, 40-yard strike from Roethlisberger that put the Steelers up, 17-0, late in the first quarter. It was a play that Roethlisberger had pushed for in the days leading up to the Browns game during his chats with offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Continue

Big Ben calling few protections

Because the Steelers did not use their no-huddle offense, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he did not have to call any line protections in Cleveland and changed only a "handful" of protections on plays called by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Apparently, everything went smoothly because Roethlisberger was sacked only once in an easy, 34-7 victory against the Browns. "That's the thing people don't understand, Bruce calls the protections and, if something needs to be changed, I changed it," Roethlisberger said.

Coach Mike Tomlin said too much is being made of Roethlisberger's involvement and control of the offense. But Roethlisberger, who threw a career-best four touchdowns against the Browns, said, "Bruce is giving me a lot more freedom to do stuff. [Tomlin] wasn't here last year to know what was going on. I'm not going to take all the credit by any means ... but I'm able to do a lot more than I ever have." Continue

Steelers' Big Ben sets career TD high

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high four touchdown passes to four receivers and incorporated six pass-catchers. Roethlisberger would have done better than 12 for 23 for 161 yards and a passer rating of 114.3 had running back Najeh Davenport not dropped two passes and receiver Santonio Holmes and running back Willie Parker one each. Continue

Game plan goes through Steelers' Roethlisberger

Add "veto power" to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's new responsibilities. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said on Thursday if Roethlisberger doesn't like a particular aspect of the game plan this season, it'll be scrapped in advance of game day -- no questions asked. "I think it's a smart thing to do," Roethlisberger said. "I think it's done a lot of places, and that's the way it should be done. "It hasn't been done here."  Continue

Big Ben's mantra: No repeat of 2006

Told this promised to be a better season opener for him than last year's, Ben Roethlisberger asked, "Who did we play last year in the opener?" The Steelers beat Miami with Roethlisberger watching from the sideline as he recovered from an appendectomy. How quickly he forgot. "Oh," Roethlisberger said, laughing. "I guess it will be a better one, hopefully -- we have a couple of days yet."

Roethlisberger, 25, enters his fourth NFL season determined not to repeat last year in any way, shape or form, from the multiple trauma of his motorcycle accident to his appendectomy to what he said were poor decisions that led to his worst pro season, and an 8-8 record for the defending Super Bowl champions. Continue

Steelers' Big Ben ready for more no-huddle

Ben Roethlisberger said he and the rest of the starters could have done a better job with the no-huddle offense the Steelers unveiled Saturday night. One thing that will help them run it more smoothly, Roethlisberger said, is simply more of an opportunity to do so. After playing a total of three series in the Steelers' first two preseason games, Roethlisberger said he expects to get more playing time Saturday when the Steelers visit the Washington Redskins for an 8 p.m. game. Continue

Starting QBs not likely to play long tonight

Fans looking forward to watching Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre duel in tonight's 7:30 exhibition game will be left wanting for more. Roethlisberger will be in the game for no more than 15 plays, and Packers coach Mike McCarthy says Brett Favre will be under center for 12 to 15 plays. The Packers are playing their first exhibition game, which is why Favre will make only a cameo appearance at Heinz Field. Continue

Big Ben hasn't been perfect, but he's been close

Ben Roethlisberger's first interception of training camp didn't occur until Wednesday morning, as good an indication as any of the type of training camp Roethlisberger has been having. "He's been amazing," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "Feelin' good," Roethlisberger said. So good that he was able to laugh off an ill-advised toss to tight end Heath Miller that wound up in the hands of strong safety Troy Polamalu. Continue

Steelers' Big Ben could be back in big way

Healthy, motivated and arguably in the best shape of his life, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger appears poised for a big season. Early signs may point to a new and improved Roethlisberger, but offensive tackle Max Starks isn't quite buying into Roethlisberger 2.0. "I think he'll come back to normalcy more than having a big year," Starks said Tuesday.

Translation: Roethlisberger will play like the quarterback who won 27 of his first 31 starts and stamped himself as a rising star, not the one who threw the most interceptions in the NFL last season. Continue

This year's offense is a Big Ben production

It's not easy to think of Ben Roethlisberger as a writer, a Big Pen, if you will. He had the most successful start of any quarterback in the history of the National Football League his first two seasons, with a 13-0 record as a rookie starter and a Super Bowl victory in his second season. Toss in the near-death experience of a motorcycle crash and there's meat for an autobiography that Roethlisberger has not yet produced.

The Steelers' quarterback, however, helped write what could be a more profound script this year and it will make its debut in summer stock this week at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Roethlisberger helped rewrite the Steelers' offensive playbook, in collaboration with Bruce Arians, the Steelers' new coordinator. Tomorrow they start rehearsals for the first time in pads when the Steelers conduct their first training camp practice in Latrobe. Players are to report by 4 p.m. today. Continue

Roethlisberger's former coach Hoeppner dies at 59

Terry Hoeppner, hired from Miami (Ohio) to revive Indiana's foundering football program, died Tuesday of complications from a brain tumor, just two seasons into a rebuilding program that energized fans. He was 59. Hoeppner, who had two brain surgeries in 18 months, spent the past four months on medical leave. He died at 6:50 a.m. at Bloomington Hospital with his family at his side, school spokesman J.D. Campbell said.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played for Hoeppner at Miami, said Hoeppner "has inspired me to be who I am today. He has been a second father, a teacher and a friend. He believed in me, and I owe everything to him for where I am in life. Continue

Roethlisberger marks crash anniversary

This time, he wore a helmet. Upon removing it after a Steelers practice Tuesday afternoon, Ben Roethlisberger confirmed that the significance of the date had not escaped him. "Yeah, I knew," the Steelers' quarterback said. "This is the (one-) year anniversary. This is the day last year that, you know, I almost lost my life."

Roethlisberger endured seven-plus hours of facial reconstructive surgery after being involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle June 12, 2006. He was riding along Second Avenue when a car driven by Martha Fleishman of Squirrel Hill turned left in front of Roethlisberger's motorcycle at the 10th Street Bridge intersection. In the collision, Roethlisberger was launched into the car's windshield, sustaining facial injuries that included a broken jaw. Continue

Big Ben pleased with Steelers receivers

The Steelers' draft generated its share of questions, ranging from how they will use linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley and tight end Matt Spaeth to how much punter Daniel Sepulveda will improve special-teams play.

One that will go unanswered is this: What would the Steelers have done if the Carolina Panthers hadn't picked wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett immediately before them in the second round? It's a made-for-barstool-chatter question. Yet the person that would have been most impacted by the selection of Jarrett, a big, playmaking wideout from Southern Cal, probably couldn't be drawn into such a debate. Continue

Will Roethlisberger be cashing in early?

Ben Roethlisberger politely passed word that he had no time for an interview yesterday after Steelers practice; he had to hurry to meet his golf partner, Mario Lemieux.Roethlisberger will not top Lemieux on the golf course, but he might soon surpass him in another area. No athlete in the history of Pittsburgh pro sports earned more money than the Penguins' Hall of Famer. Roethlisberger could be the one to do that.

The Steelers and Roethlisberger's agent have had early talks about a contract extension for the young quarterback. While it appears nothing will be done this season, the machinery is gearing up for what should be the largest contract in the organization's history. "We've had some discussions with them," agent Ryan Tollner said. "I'm not sure what they're planning, other than certainly they're considering they want to do a deal. If they would want to start [serious negotiations] before the season, we'd have to start soon. It'll be a complicated contract. If not before this season, we're open to discussion, but I definitely expect it to happen following this season." Continue

Roethlisberger says no romance with Sopranos actress

As "The Sopranos" enters its final stages as a series on HBO, could Ben Roethlisberger be ready to pick up the slack for Meadow Soprano? Following up on a rumor, someone asked the Steelers' quarterback yesterday if he were dating actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who plays mobster Tony Soprano's daughter on the TV show. "No," Roethlisberger said. "She's got a boyfriend. We just did a photo shoot together."

He did not elaborate. Roethlisberger also did not leap at the chance to pull a touche on teammate Alan Faneca. The six-time Pro Bowl guard once reacted incredulously to a question posed to him after quarterback Tommy Maddox's right elbow was injured in the second game of the 2004 season. Continue

Big Ben's utterances deserve our attention

It is purely reflexive, in this town, to dissect Ben Roethlisberger's every utterance as if it were a Barry Bonds urine sample. So let's get to it. Roethlisberger went deep on various issues Wednesday in an interview with ESPN Radio's Mark Madden -- and put the rest of us in perfect position to play Friday Morning Quarterback.

Quote: On a recent comment that his relationship with Bill Cowher wasn't all that cozy, Roethlisberger said: "The big thing is, that kind of got misprinted. I wouldn't say we had a bad relationship. I'd just say we weren't on a friendly term. It wasn't something where I really wanted to go into his office and just sit down and b.s. with him, you know?"

Analysis: Next time Ben tries to douse a fire, he should use something other than gasoline. Continue

Big Ben, offense playing catch-up

A Steelers practice in baseball caps abbreviated by 30 minutes ended coach Mike Tomlin's first minicamp with whoops and pats on the back, including a big one from Ben Roethlisberger yesterday. Players broke the huddle around their new coach but the weekend did not end before Roethlisberger gathered the offense around him for a few final words.

"Guys, don't get frustrated because the defense is probably better than us [right now] but this is their stuff they've been doing for a long time and for us, this is all new," their quarterback told them. "I think we came a long way in these couple of days. We still have a long way to go, but we all know that and that's what's important, that we know we can still get better and I think we will." Continue

Big Ben, Cowher had problems

Ben Roethlisberger blurted the worst-kept secret around the Steelers into the open yesterday: He and coach Bill Cowher did not quite see eye to eye. "Our relationship wasn't great because he was here before I got here and I was just a young kid," Roethlisberger said yesterday.

The most glaring instance of the strain on that relationship came in 2005 when Cowher became aware that his young quarterback was riding a motorcycle without wearing a helmet. Cowher talked to him and advised him to be responsible and wear one. That same day, Roethlisberger told the media he would continue to ride without a helmet. Continue

Big Ben happy with new Steelers coach Tomlin

Ben Roethlisberger rarely calls it like he sees it. As the Steelers quarterback, Roethlisberger would do well to run for political office. He normally keeps his spirals tight and his comments safe. That's why Roethlisberger's candid opinion Friday about his relationship with former coach Bill Cowher seemed so out of character. But necessary.

In a rare moment of candor, on the first day of the Steelers' voluntary minicamp, Roethlisberger all but said he's glad that Cowher -- his coach for the first three years of his NFL career, the coach who stuck with him in 2006 during a tumultuous, anticlimatic, nightmarish 8-8 campaign -- is gone. You be the judge. Continue

Roethlisberger impressing new Steelers coach

Earlier this month, Ben Roethlisberger talked at length about how committed he was to turning things around after a miserable 2006 season. Roethlisberger has made at least one believer in his quest to return to the form that made him one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, and it is rather a significant one.

"Ben has been a breath of fresh air," new Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at the NFL owners' meetings. "I love his attitude right now. He's focused. He's committed." Getting Roethlisberger right had to be high atop Tomlin's to-do list after he took over as the Steelers' coach in late January. Continue

Big Ben stands tall, has no alibi for off year

It was not the motorcycle accident, nor the appendectomy, nor the concussion. Ben Roethlisberger yesterday took issue with the excuses his former offensive coordinator provided for him recently, but said nothing was to blame for his poor 2006 season other than his play.

"You know what? I might have still had the same year," if there had been no trauma, Roethlisberger said. "Who knows? I'm not going to look back and say, wow, this is what caused this and this is what caused that. There's no need for that. It's a bad year. It's going to happen. That's just the way it goes." Continue

Steelers Big Ben takes steps to regain top form

Go ahead and say he stunk in some games last season. Blame him for the Steelers not making the playoffs a year after they rampaged through them. But question his dedication, and that's when Ben Roethlisberger starts firing back. That's when he talks about how he signed a couple of football helmets in exchange for a free gym pass so he could work out last week while he was in Las Vegas. Or how he calls Bruce Arians almost daily with a question even though the new Steelers offensive coordinator has told Roethlisberger the playbook he has been studying is only a first draft.

Challenge the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl to become an elite quarterback, as first-year Steelers coach Mike Tomlin almost certainly did when the two had dinner recently, but don't raise eyebrows or doubts over his assertion that he is willing to do what it takes to succeed. Continue

Steelers' Big Ben dines with enthusiastic Tomlin

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently had dinner together. To hear Roethlisberger tell it, they shared a pleasant conservation. That bodes well for the one relationship that must work if the Steelers are to thrive under Tomlin.

Roethlisberger, who is participating in "ESPN The Weekend" festivities this weekend at Walt Disney World, declined to discuss specifics about their conversation but said he and Tomlin were frank about their expectations for one another. "It was kind of one of those things where we sat down and there were no holds barred for a while," Roethlisberger said Friday. "I told him where I was, what the team was kind of feeling, and I think that was good. I think it kind of surprised him that I did that, but it was good." Continue

Whisenhunt / He, Steelers misread Big Ben's signals

Long after his broken jaw, orbital bone and nose healed from a near-fatal motorcycle accident, Ben Roethlisberger felt the effects of the trauma on the football field, his former offensive coordinator said.Ken Whisenhunt, now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, believes -- in hindsight -- that Roethlisberger's June 12 accident coupled with his Sept. 3 appendectomy caused the quarterback to become gun-shy for most of last season.

"I just saw physically in the pocket there were some things you could just sense he wasn't as confident [about] as he was the year before," said Whisenhunt, speaking yesterday at the NFL's annual Combine workout session for 326 college prospects. "A lot of that I think was because of recovering from the injuries and having some doubts of whether he was 100 percent healthy or not." Continue

Tomlin, Big Ben already talking — but not about motorcycles

Mike Tomlin is starting only his fourth week as the Pittsburgh Steelers' coach, and he has yet to talk to every player. One player he is talking to, and quite often, is Ben Roethlisberger. Tomlin has spent considerable time watching game tapes, but wasn't ready Monday to say what he thought went wrong with a quarterback who was good enough to win the Super Bowl in his second season but slumped badly in his third.

To Tomlin, the 2006 season is over and won't be revisited, either by the coach or his quarterback. "A lot of times the quarterback gets too much credit for winning and too much blame for losing," Tomlin said. "I'm not rushing to judgment about Ben and what happened. I'm more focused on having quality play in 2007 than trying to get something rectified when I wasn't around." Continue

New coaching staff must get Big Ben back in high gear

The primary job of the Steelers' new coaching staff? Resurrect the Ben Roethlisberger of 2004 and '05, when he was the best young quarterback in the NFL. Roethlisberger will have a new center and perhaps as many as three different offensive linemen since last season. What he needs most is the kind of protection even the best of blockers cannot bring him -- one that prevents traffic accidents and emergency surgeries.

"We have an elite quarterback -- or someone who can be elite -- and we need to get him to that level," said Bruce Arians, who was promoted to replace Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator. It's the most important job that Arians and new quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson have, and it starts in March when the players begin their offseason program. Continue

Roethlisberger to appear on ESPN

Ben Roethlisberger will serve as a guest analyst on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Steelers quarterback will be on the show that precedes the two NFL playoff games Sunday with Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski. He is expected to talk about the Steelers' coaching search and Bill Cowher's resignation among other things.

Steelers best with a bit of Ben

Ben Roethlisberger's completion rate the last two games is a pedestrian 50 percent. But the Steelers appear to be at their best when Roethlisberger plays like he did in leading them to wins over the Buccaneers and the Browns. Or, put another way, when he is not throwing the ball all over the place as if he were playing in a backyard football game. Roethlisberger has thrown a combined 46 passes the last two games - he had 54 pass attempts against Denver last month -- and he was nothing if not efficient in victories that pushed the Steelers' record 6-7. Roethlisberger's numbers weren't gaudy in either game, but a closer look at them is revealing. Continue

Steelers' Roethlisberger getting weekly pummeling

Nothing in Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's first two NFL seasons prepared him for this. Roethlisberger is getting tossed around like a tackling dummy nearly every week, absorbing big hit after big hit as what traditionally is one of the NFL's best offensive lines fails to provide much protection.

In Atlanta, Roethlisberger sustained a concussion while being steamrollered by three defenders on a single play. In Oakland, he was under such constant pressure that he rushed to get passes off and wound up throwing four interceptions. And no Steelers quarterback of recent vintage took the pummeling he did during a 27-0 loss Sunday in Baltimore, when he was sacked nine times. That tied a team record for the most sacks allowed since the NFL began recognizing the statistic in 1982. Continue

Ben returns to site of his debut

Ben Roethlisberger's first trip to Baltimore was more monumental than memorable in retrospect. "I don't really remember much," Roethlisberger said of the NFL baptism he endured on Sept. 19, 2004. "I just remember thinking I was only going in for about a play or two, then maybe a series." Instead, Roethlisberger became the Steelers' quarterback of the immediate and foreseeable future after taking over for an injured Tommy Maddox. The Steelers trailed, 20-0, when Roethlisberger was summoned from the bench midway through the third quarter, and they wound up losing, 30-13.

Still, Big Ben showed them something. More accurately, he confirmed what many had already come to suspect of and expect from the Steelers' No. 1 draft pick. "Everybody knows what this kid can do," Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress said following the game. "He's going to be the future of this team eventually."It wouldn't be a bad time for him to go out and start." Continue

Roethlisberger on pace to set Steelers records

One of the seven or so players who stood up at the Steelers' Saturday morning meeting was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. It should come as no surprise considering that he stood up to everything thrown at him all year, from emergency medical procedures to calls for his benching.

Now it's Roethlisberger's turn to do the throwing, and he has done a much better job of it lately. In the past five games, he has compiled a more Big Ben-like passer rating of 101.4 compared to his overall 78.1. During that time, he has 1,474 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and completed 70 percent of his throws. Clouded by the team's record and his high interception total, Roethlisberger is on target to produce the most prolific season by a passer in club history. Continue

Bradshaw can relate to pressure on Big Ben

As an NFL analyst, Terry Bradshaw can only speculate how it must feel to have been in a head-rattling motorcycle accident, require an emergency appendectomy and get knocked out of game with a concussion -- all within a span of four-and-a-half months. As a former player, he knows that a quarterback doesn't fumble kicks, miss tackles, fail in coverage or get flagged for excessive celebrations or other stupid penalties in an un-Super season.

But as the only other starting quarterback not named Ben Roethlisberger to win the Lombardi Trophy with the Steelers, he also knows first-hand that the quarterback of a football team in a football town attracts more scrutiny than anything else when its record conjures up images of chumps rather than champs. Continue

Big Ben needs to stop forcing passes

Most NFL quarterbacks run more early in their careers because they aren't comfortable with what they are doing, and it's the natural thing to do when pressured. It takes time to know when to throw the ball away and when it's OK to take a sack. But Ben Roethlisberger's drop in running attempts has been much more severe than what can be expected of a maturing quarterback. As a rookie, he ran 56 times for 144 yards. Last year, he dropped down to 31 rushes for 69 yards. And, this year, he has just 10 rushes for 11 yards. Last season, in the playoffs alone, he ran 19 times.

It's obvious he is reluctant to take off with the ball. Not that you can blame him with all he's been through this year, but, at times, he's giving up the chance to run, instead trying to make a bigger play by throwing the ball. He's trying to do too much. And his play will improve when he decides to stop it. • Big Ben is as resilient as they come, and it takes something major to make him miss any playing time. Continue

Pulling chain of star QB like Big Ben full of risks

Lyrics to an old song by Jim Croce: You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger ... And you don't mess around with your franchise quarterback. Bill Cowher delivered that message Tuesday with one booming word and a long glare when he was asked if he thought of pulling Ben Roethlisberger from the game in Oakland last Sunday, or if he were on a shorter leash.

"No!"Roethlisberger, by virtue of his personal production and team accomplishments over the past two seasons, has joined a category of NFL quarterbacks who are virtually untouchable when it comes to benching them. That list would include Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck and Marc Bulger. Continue