Tag: Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger, Jerome Bettis claiming Patriots cheated in 2004 AFC title game sounds like sour grapes

This was so weak from two Steelers legends.

The New England Patriots’ dynasty earlier this century is well and truly over. But that isn’t stopping some of the teams they stomped on over the years from throwing out their gripes.

In a new podcast episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback reminisced with old teammate Jerome Bettis about their glory days together. After a humorous sequence about who cost who a trip to Super Bowl 39, Roethlisberger veered the conversation to an all-too-predictable place. He claimed that the Patriots cheated during the 2004 AFC title game.

Bettis, of course, agreed with the sentiment. But this is how losers of a big game almost always feel:

Look, I’m not going to discount the Patriots’ reputation for apparently cheating. “Spygate” and “Deflategate” were big deals for a team that sat at the top of the NFL for roughly 20 years. But the Patriots flat-out smacked the Steelers in that AFC title game. A 41-27 final score is not nearly indicative of how much better New England was. The way Roethlisberger and Bettis seemingly describe it is that the Steelers were maybe a few plays here or there from shifting the tide. And that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Their claim here feels like sour grapes because they didn’t get a chance at the Super Bowl. But maybe we’d all be in denial if we lost that kind of golden opportunity.

On this day in Steelers history: Ben Roethlisberger changed the face of the franchise

In 2004, Ben Roethlisberger took the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time and forever changed the history of the franchise.

On Sept. 19, 2004, Ben Roethlisberger forever changed the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise.

In Week 2, the Steelers were trailing the rival Baltimore Ravens 20 to zip with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. QB Tommy Maddox sustained an elbow injury that forced Roethlisberger to come off the bench and play in his first pro game. Despite two picks, he showed a veteran’s poise and finished the game with two touchdowns, 176 yards, and an 83 percent passer rating. Pittsburgh lost to Baltimore by a score of 30-13, but it wouldn’t lose again until the conference championship game 15 games later.

Roethlisberger would quickly go from game manager to Super Bowl winner, helping the team to three and winning two.

The six-time Pro Bowler hung up his cleats on January 27, 2022, with 64,008 yards, 438 total touchdowns, 1,373 rushing yards and a quarterback record of 165-81-1 in 249 games (247 starts). His storied career will — without question — earn him a gold jacket, likely with his first shot in 2027.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Around the North: Big Ben originally didn’t want Kenny Pickett to succeed

Roethlisberger admits it was selfish to feel that way.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

Ben Roethlisberger on a recent episode of his podcast admitted that part of him hoped that Kenny Pickett would fail as his successor with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He admitted it was tough for him to see someone other than himself play quarterback for the Steelers. In the same breath, however, he admitted that he feels bad to have ever felt like that and he no longer has those feelings.

Roethlisberger admitted that he felt that way mainly because he didn’t want people to forget him if Pickett balled out. It has been an adjustment for the man that destroyed the Browns for all those years but it sounds like he is all behind Pickett now.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Ben Roethlisberger apologized to Kenny Pickett for initially hoping he’d stink

“Like, I hope he doesn’t come ball out. Because then it’s like, ‘Ben, who?'”

Ben Roethlisberger didn’t want Kenny Pickett to fill his shoes — at least not at first.

The two-time Super Bowl champion walked into retirement after the 2021 season not due to falling out of love with the game but because, at age 39, he could no longer make the throws that defined his early success in the NFL. So when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted hometown product Pickett with the 20th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger’s first instinct was that the young gun would be a threat to his legacy. If Pickett walked into the starting lineup and instantly clicked, how would that reflect on Big Ben’s work in the Steel City?

But with the benefit of hindsight, Roethlisberger realizes that concern was selfish. So when he had Pickett on his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast, he used the opportunity to apologize to his replacement.

 

“I’ll be completely honest,” Roethlisberger told Pickett. “I’ll be super transparent here and I’m gonna get blasted. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I mean, who cares at this point?

“I wouldn’t say that I wanted Kenny to necessarily fail, but when someone comes to replace you and I still feel like I had it. Like, I hope he doesn’t come ball out. Because then it’s like, ‘Ben, who?’

“As you started playing, I found myself rooting more and more for you. You know what I’m saying? We sat down here and watched games and we were high-fiving, going nuts when you were leading the team and doing things.

“I feel bad. I know I came on this show … apologized to you for not knowing how good he was gonna be. I had no idea. I’m glad that I was wrong … I think you’re the future of this team. I really do.”

It was an earnest reflection from a player whose football-related honesty occasionally landed him in trouble with the Steelers (and whose off-field exploits leave him with a complicated, often disappointing, legacy). Roethlisberger ascended to legendary status in Pittsburgh, and his on-field production means Pickett can’t erase him no matter how good he may be. But his concern about being erased is relatable and refreshing, particularly for someone in the midst of a professional crossroad.

[affiliatewidget_deal1]

Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger talks about Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger talked about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

On the day when it was announced that Odell Beckham Jr. agreed in principle to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback recorded the podcast “Footbahlin“.  The topic of Beckham was brought up, and the former Ravens rival has some interesting things to say about quarterback Lamar Jackson.

During the Beckham to Baltimore conversation, Roethlisberger had some controversial things to say about Jackson and his play style. The former Steelers quarterback said that “you don’t really fear him sitting in the pocket and picking you apart”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby9dgr2e1eyts4 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

NFL fans roasted Ben Roethlisberger for his absurd take on Lamar Jackson’s passing abilities

NFL fans let Ben Roethlisberger have it over his hot take about Lamar Jackson’s abilities as a passer.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tossed out a very stale take on his podcast Footbahlin this week.

While talking about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Roethlisberger said that NFL teams do not fear Jackson as a passer. No, really, that’s what he said.

“You don’t really fear Lamar’s arm, his accuracy, all the time,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s got a huge arm; he can make things happen when he scrambles … you don’t fear him just sitting in the pocket and picking you apart.”

As you can imagine, Roethlisberger’s take did not go over well with the grander football community. Folks were quick to call shenanigans on Big Ben’s scorching hot take about his former AFC North foe.

 

In fact, Jackson has actually posted a better pocket passer rating than Roethlisberger did in throughout most of his career.

Ben Roethlisberger has big praise for Bengals QB Joe Burrow

Big Ben has notable praise for Joe Burrow as Bengals make playoff push.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a way of making fans of almost anyone.

That would apparently include former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

While Burrow and the Bengals make another playoff push, Big Ben appeared on his “footbahlinwithben” show and said the following about Burrow (starts at 42:53):

“To sit there and actually watch Joe, Joe is one of the elites in the league. Like he is good. His pocket presence. He can run enough. He’s a sneaky good runner. Great decision-making, great throws…I’m telling you what, I don’t think it’s too long until he is in MVP talks, I really believe that. So I can’t say enough about Joe and it hurts me to say that about a division opponent, but I’m not in the division anymore.”

Big Ben had prefaced the statement by saying he doesn’t like to make judgments about quarterbacks until after their third year — and he’s floored by what he’s seen from Burrow since entering the league, and especially after coming back from the knee injury.

Burrow was a big part of the conversation, but Big Ben also noted the Bengals top to bottom look great, too. If nothing else, it’s noteworthy praise from a guy who spent his entire career lining up against the Bengals in heated matchups.

[listicle id=155393]

Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca opens up about epilepsy and the Steelers under Mike Tomlin

Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca spent a Q-&-A to raise epilepsy awareness with STEPS Toward Zero, and shared thoughts on Mike Tomlin.

If you need to clear a path, ask Alan Faneca.

The Hall of Fame guard opened up numerous running lanes for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998-2007 and later for the New York Jets (2008-09) and Arizona Cardinals (2010).

Faneca, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, is partnering with SK Life Science to open up the lanes of awareness about epilepsy with the STEPS (Seize the Truth about Epilepsy Perceptions Survey) Toward Zero campaign.

The six-time All-Pro sat down with Touchdown Wire to answer questions about his experience with epilepsy and also shared insights on the Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin.

Ravens announce uniform combination for Week 14 matchup vs. Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens release the uniform combinations for Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Baltimore Ravens head into Week 14 for a matchup against their division rival in the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This is the first game of the season between the two, and the starting quarterback combination won’t be the same as they’ve been in the past. Ben Roethlisberger retired from the NFL following the 2021 season, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is trending in the wrong direction after not practicing for two days with a knee injury. Kenny Pickett and Tyler Huntley looks like the matchup that could be on display on Sunday.

The Ravens announced the uniform combinations for Week 14, going with white tops and purple pants.  So far this season the Ravens are 1-1 with this combination, in a win against Tampa Bay and a last minute loss in Jacksonville.  Overall, the team is 12-5 when wearing this uniform set, according to Ravens Uniform Tracker.

The Ravens look to get to 9-4 on the 2022 season, with their Week 14 matchup with the Steelers looming large. Huntley has the game experience to step in and perform, but it won’t be easy, especially with the talent that Pittsburgh has on the defensive side of the ball.

A lot has changed since the last Saints-Steelers game

A lot has changed since the last Saints-Steelers game. Gone are the Hall of Fame quarterbacks, and many of the stars who became household names:

It’s only been four years since the New Orleans Saints last crossed paths with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it feels like a lifetime. Neither team resembles itself after stumbling out of the gate and into 6-loss starts to their season. The 2-6 Steelers and 3-6 Saints are just hoping to avoid a seventh result in the loss column here. It’s been quite a fall from grace; just look at when they last met late in the 2018 season, where it looked like a possible Super Bowl preview.

The 12-2 Saints were hosting the 8-5-1 Steelers, who had just taken down Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in a dramatic 17-10 win to cut off their 3-game losing streak. Pittsburgh had the playoffs in sight and seemed to be moving the ball at will with Ben Roethlisberger’s arm — he finished the season with 34 touchdown passes and 5,129 passing yards, thriving with wide receivers Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster at the height of their powers. Both receivers caught double-digit passes and gained 100-plus yards against the Saints in this game.

Roethlisberger probably gets into the Hall of Fame someday given his consistent above-average performances, and with his teams having won a pair of Super Bowls early in his career. Drew Brees, his opponent that Sunday afternoon, is a first-ballot lock after winning Super Bowl XLIV and owning every major passing record at some point in his career. He completed multiple passes to the likes of Keith Kirkwood and Josh Hill in this game, with Michael Thomas (109 receiving yards, 1 touchdown reception) and Alvin Kamara (97 scrimmage yards, 2 touchdown runs) doing their best to support him in the win.

Now look at them. The Saints made a quarterback change in the wake of Jameis Winston’s injury earlier this season, leaning on Andy Dalton and a carousel of wide receivers while their defense has struggled to find its footing. The Steelers were hopeful Mitchell Trubisky could bridge the gap post-Roethlisberger, but it took just a couple of weeks for Kenny Pickett to unseat him, even if he hasn’t looked any better after taking the wheel.

New Orleans owns the all-time record over the Steelers at 9-7, having won each of their last three meetings. They’re the only team that Mike Tomlin has never beaten as a head coach in the NFL. But that was with Sean Payton at the helm. Now that the Saints have hitched their fortunes to Dennis Allen, it’s possible Tomlin finally gets that win over the black and gold, though Allen beat Tomlin’s Steelers twice when he was coaching the then-Oakland Raiders. We’ll see if he can pull it off in front of an anxious crowd with their yellow towels overhead, spinning like a helicopter.

[listicle id=118169]