Every Morning Quarterback » Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger Has Career Day

David Kindervater — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:58:41 +0000

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s game winning touchdown pass to receiver Mike Wallace in a frantic 37-36 win over the Green Bay Packers this afternoon looked very similar to the one he threw to Santonio Holmes to win Super Bowl XLIII over ten months ago. The stakes weren’t quite as high today, but the throw and catch did keep Pittsburgh’s slim playoff hopes alive as the Steelers broke a five-game losing streak to improve their record to 7-7.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was upbeat and optimistic afterward:

“Not dead yet. The guys hung together, fought, made enough plays to win. We haven’t won in a while so it feels good. To keep it in perspective, we’ve got a little pulse here. Good to stay in the fight, good to win one for our fans, we’ve got the greatest fans in the world. Good to perform for them and get them something to be excited about here at Heinz Field. Today, I’m just as excited about that as I am getting that five-week monkey off our back.”

Ben was 29-of-46 passing for 503 yards and three touchdowns. Yes, 503 yards passing—a team record. It would be tiring to throw a football for 503 yards without being chased and harassed. But as long as the Steelers defensive secondary continues to struggle without injured safety Troy Polamalu, Ben will need to carry the team with more performances similar to this one.

Source: Steelers.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger Has Career Day

Troy Polamalu Doesn’t Know if He’ll Be Back

David Kindervater — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:04:27 +0000

Maybe Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu sees the handwriting on the wall. Because with the Steelers on the outside looking in at the AFC Wild Card playoff race with a record of 6-6, it’s believed that he has played his last football this season. In fact, Troy couldn’t offer a definitive date for his return when asked today about getting back on the field. And that’s probably because he’s basing his return on the Steelers’ chances of making the playoffs and not what his injured knee feels like.

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Pittsburgh plays at Cleveland on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football this week. And Troy has already been ruled out for that game. So his next opportunity to participate in a game will be December 20 when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers. I believe as long as the Steelers still have a reasonable chance of making the playoffs (and that will be equal parts winning and having other teams lose), Troy will be back. But one thing seems certain. If the Steelers drop Thursday night’s game to the Browns, any hope of a Pittsburgh postseason will probably be gone. And any hope of Troy’s return, I’m sure, will disappear with it.

Source: NBC Sports

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Troy Polamalu Doesn’t Know if He’ll Be Back

Dennis Dixon Gets His Opportunity

David Kindervater — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:00:42 +0000

As a third-string quarterback in the National Football League, it isn’t likely you’re doing to see any action on Sundays. And other than scout team work, you’re not likely to get any reps in practice, either. That’s what makes Pittsburgh Steelers QB Dennis Dixon’s opportunity so unique. Not only was starter Ben Roethlisberger injured in last Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. So was backup Charlie Batch. Enter D2.

Dennis Dixon, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

And it doesn’t matter if he throws three touchdown passes and runs for two more with a perfect QB rating against the Baltimore Ravens tonight—he’s not wrestling the job away from Big Ben. But this is a golden opportunity for Dennis to showcase his skills for another team or to stake his claim for the backup role in Pittsburgh. Because one team’s trash (so to speak) could be another team’s treasure. And if Dennis can come close to the kind of performances that made him a Heisman trophy candidate at Oregon a couple years ago, he might find himself as a worthy prospect for promotion.

Source: Steelers.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dennis Dixon Gets His Opportunity

Ben Roethlisberger Injured, Steelers Lose

David Kindervater — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:13:44 +0000

The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t playing their best football. But they still had an opportunity to put the Kansas City Chiefs away in overtime. That was until quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a knee to his head, forcing him from the game and forcing the Steelers to limp away with a surprising 27-24 loss. Ben was injured on the Steelers’ fourth play from scrimmage in OT.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Head coach Mike Tomlin talked about Ben’s injury after the game:

“He took a blow, needless to say it was a concussion-oriented thing. I doubted that he was going to come back in the football game. I don’t have, of course, a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We’ll have more information as we proceed.”

This type of injuey was bound to happen. Big Ben has already been sacked 30 times this season. And I don’t think it’s possible to calculate how many sacks Ben has avoided. He’s one of the best in the National Football League at shedding would-be tacklers. But this offensive deficiency is not the only reason the Steelers have lost four games. Their special teams hasn’t been very special at all, having given up a kick return for a score in eight consecutive games. Until they get a couple of these areas cleaned up, the Steelers will be lucky to make the playoffs.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger Injured, Steelers Lose

Troy Polamalu Head & Shoulders Commercial

David Kindervater — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:54:22 +0000

Here’s a behind-the-scenes from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu’s Head & Shoulders commercial. Troy talks about why he partnered with H&S and Operation Once in a Lifetime. And yes, I know firsthand he really is this soft-spoken and nice in-person—having done an interview with him a couple years ago. In fact, Troy’s been spending his down time (recovering from an MCL sprain) handing out food and 20 dollar bills to the homeless under the 9th Street Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh. Actually, he’s been doing this for some time and will probably continue to do so. He plans an October 11 return to the Steelers’ defensive secondary.

Sources: HeadandShoulders.com, Real Talk Xpress

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Troy Polamalu Head & Shoulders Commercial

Troy Polamalu Out 3-6 Weeks With MCL Injury

David Kindervater — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:56:08 +0000

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have beaten the Tennessee Titans to open NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend last night. But they lost a key member of their defense in the process. At least for a while. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will be out an estimated 3-6 weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Troy suffered the injury in the first half when he was trying to pick up and run with a fumble. He ended up doing a split when Titans tight end Alge Crumpler dropped all 262 pounds (and that’s being kind) on top of his knee. Ouch. Veteran safety Tyrone Carter will have to pick up the slack in Troy’s absence but those are very big shoes to fill in the Steelers defensive secondary.

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Sources: Steelers.com, NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Troy Polamalu Out 3-6 Weeks With MCL Injury

Steelers, Titans Kickoff 2009 NFL Season

David Kindervater — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:19:24 +0000

America’s favorite sport is back in action tonight (NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET) in the first game of NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend. This year, two 2008 division winners are featured as the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans. The Titans had an NFL-best 13-3 record and were AFC South champions last year. The game is the first meeting between the teams since the Titans defeated the Steelers 31-14 on December 21, 2008. Tennessee was the last team to beat the Steelers before they went on to win Super Bowl XLIII. This will mark only the fifth time in NFL history that the defending champs play the last team that defeated them from the previous season on Kickoff Weekend.

Tonight’s festivities will get started with “NFL Opening Kickoff 2009 Presented by EA Sports,” a free concert open to the public in Pittsburgh’s Point State Park that will feature three-time Grammy Award-winning artists Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas. There will be simulcast coverage of the 30-minute pregame show which will air from 8-8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network.

Also, on the eve of the eighth anniversary of 9/11, the NFL and Steelers will pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day. Members of 40 families who lost loved ones on Flight 93, which crashed in nearby western Pennsylvania, will be on the field for the tribute. They will wear number 93 Steelers jerseys with the name of their loved ones on the back. In addition, the Steelers will salute their Super Bowl XLIII team with a special on-field moment. Steelers great and recent Hall of Fame inductee Rod Woodson will participate in the coin toss ceremony. And Harry Connick Jr. will sing the national anthem from Heinz Field.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Steelers, Titans Kickoff 2009 NFL Season

Ben Roethlisberger Responds

David Kindervater — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:06:17 +0000

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held a roughly one minute press conference today to offer his word on the allegations of sexual assault brought against him in a civil case by Las Vegas resident Andrea McNulty.

Source: SportsNetworkChannel

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger Responds

Allegations Surround Ben Roethlisberger

David Kindervater — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:22:00 +0000

I’m finally breaking my silence on Ben Roethlisberger’s alleged (and I emphasize the word alleged) sexual assault case because I feel like it’s my job to say something. To recap the story, a woman has filed a civil lawsuit in Reno, Nevada, accusing Ben of sexually assaulting her last summer—yes, last summer—in his penthouse room at a Harrah’s casino in Lake Tahoe during a celebrity golf tournament. One year after the alleged incident, she’s suing for sexual assault and battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

From what I’ve gathered from a number of sources, there doesn’t seem to be any validity to the woman’s accusations as she appears to be rather unstable. In saying that, let it be known I would be the first person to hope a guilty athlete gets what he or she deserves in terms of just punishment for any crime. I don’t put any of these guys (or gals) up on a pedestal because of who they are. And I’m tired of prima donna (in the “I’m untouchable” sense) ball players getting away with murder—literally in some instances.

But back to this particular case. First of all, no criminal charges have been filed. So local authorities won’t open a criminal investigation into the matter unless the woman files a complaint—which she has not done because she’s apparently afraid of losing her job. So, I’m wondering why she waited a year before making this information public knowledge?

Ben’s agent, David Cornwell, made the following statement yesterday:

“Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone. The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated.”

I was hesitant to write anything about this “case” because it seems like another example of someone trying to get national attention at the expense of a famous athlete. ESPN hasn’t even reported on the story because they feel it doesn’t meet their standard of reporting. They’re concerned about damaging Ben’s otherwise good reputation and I can’t say I blame them.

That’s really a big part of the problem here. Anyone can come out and accuse an athlete of a crime he or she didn’t commit. That information, in turn, gets into the media and the next thing you know, everyone has an incorrect assumption about a person. Take Buffalo Bills fullback Corey McIntyre as a recent example. Some woman accused him of indecent exposure (etc.) in Florida and the next thing you know, everyone thinks Corey is some kind of freak. As it turns out, Corey was cleared of all charges after being wrongfully arrested. But his reputation and name took a nasty hit in the process.

Now, I can’t help but think Ben Roethlisberger’s situation could’ve been averted had he simply not (allegedly) slept with someone he obviously didn’t know very well. It’s just unfortunate desperate people try to become famous (and/or rich) at the expense of a well-known athlete. The media—in general—”takes the bait” because there’s money to be made with a shocking headline. The result is the potential ruination of an athlete’s reputation. Some people try to take advantage and their stories—no matter how far from the truth—end up as “front page news.”

Sources: NFL.com, TMZ.com, TMZ.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Allegations Surround Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers Sign James Harrison to $51.7M Deal

David Kindervater — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:58:38 +0000

It wasn’t that long ago that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was an undrafted and pretty much confused football player. He was cut four times and his NFL career was on the verge of ending before it even got started. But two years ago, he got a second chance with the Steelers and broke into their starting lineup. Yesterday, he broke the bank. The Steelers signed the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player-of-the-Year to a six-year, $51.7 million contract ($20 million guaranteed).

James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers / Photo: Newscom

Aside from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ($102 million for eight years, $36 million guaranteed), this was the largest contract ever given to a Steelers player — and the largest ever to an NFL linebacker. It’s surprising in the sense that James has only been a starter for two years. But it’s hard to argue with his production — over 100 tackles and 16 sacks last season alone. Plus the famed 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Cardinals that helped win Super Bowl XLIII. With all this new money in his bank account, I wonder what what he’ll do for an encore?

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Steelers Sign James Harrison to $51.7M Deal