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Mike Tomlin sets the tone. Both Mike and LeBeau (the Dean of NFL Coordinators) are both chill dudes. I don't think that Haley will be nearly as combustible as so many think he will be. This is a very different situation than where he has been before.
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I think there is a lot of truth to this...
Previously, Haley worked for Bill Parcells in NY and in Dallas...in-between, he worked for Dick Jauron in Chicago...
Did anyone ever hear about Haley in Chicago? Nope. All you heard was that Marty Booker (MARTY BOOKER!!!) made the Pro Bowl...
Then, he came to the circus in Dallas, having to deal with Terrell Owens, with attention whore Jerry Jones setting the tone for the team...
Then, to Arizona, where he worked for 1st time HC Whisenhunt after working for Parcells...
Then, to Kansas City, working for another attention whore named Scott Pioli...
Not only is Tomlin an experienced, SB winning HC, the entire Steelers culture is different from the Rooneys down through Colbert and Tomlin...and to the team...
Also, if I were Haley, I'd keep it under control so I didn't embarrass my dad...
Actually, my post was NOT about you...but, if the shoe fits, feel free to lace that &!+€# up and wear it.Comment
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I don't care what Crash says or thinks, Ben is a really good guy...
Roethlisberger Sends Special Video Message To A Colorado Steelers Fan Fighting Cancer
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012 by Dave Bryan
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently sent a very special video message to a Steelers fan who lives in Brighton, Colorado that is battling breast cancer, according to his official website.
Word apparently got to Roethlisberger about the time that he was hosting his annual football camp in late June that Julia Pollock, 38, had been battling her illness since 2010. Roethlisberger sent Pollock a video message, which you can watch below, to offer up his support and prayers. Pollock was videoed in the hospital while receiving the message, and that too has also been posted to Youtube.
Pollock sent Roethlisberger a thank you letter telling the Steelers quarterback that the doctors informed her that the cancer is now in her spine and affecting her brain, but that she continues to fight through it. In the letter she states that the video email she received from him meant the world to her and that after 52 days of being bed ridden in the hospital, she is back at home with her family and getting stronger everyday.
Pollock also writes that her sister has secured tickets for the two of them to the opening Sunday night game against the Denver Broncos and that she will be in attendance wearing her No. 7 Roethlisberger jersey to cheer them on.
You can read the letter that Pollock wrote to Roethlisberger in its entirety here and this certainly is a touching story that shows the good that professional athletes do that is not often publicized.
Keep fighting Julia, Steeler Nation is behind you.
Letter posted on [URL]http://bigben7.com:[/URL]
Hello my name is Julia Pollock.
I battled breast cancer in 2010. In January 2011 I thought I had won the battle, but unfortunately I had not. The cancer is now in my spine and affecting my brain. They say it is terminal. I’m 38 hrs old and refuse to accept that. I still have so much I need to do.
I want Ben to know that his video email meant the world to me not just because I bleed black and gold and watching him every Sunday makes my week but because I’ve ALWAYS known him to be a man with a good heart. When I received the message I was in the hospital and I swear that was the moment I realized I had to fight like I was playing those dumb Ravens in a playoff game. Lol. After 52 days bed ridden in the hospital I am home with my family in Brighton,CO. I’m getting stronger everyday. I guess you could say this is my training camp.
I worked at a hardware store in Steamboat Springs, CO. We employee 45 or so employees. When they all saw the video message they reacted as I did with one exception. They all turned to Steeler Nation or better yet Ben Nation. Every Saturday at work I dress in my jersey for pre-game day. I’ve done this for 6 years. I have had to endure a lot from all my friends and customers. I never would have thought that one genuine and heart felt message could change all of their minds and that they are using words like classy, stand up, awesome and great guy when using Ben in a sentence. Thank you sooo much for your gift. I will treasure it forever.
I know your busy getting ready for the season which is why I’m taken back by your act of kindness. My sister was able to get tickets for her and I to go see you play the Broncos on Sunday night opener. Even though she was only able to get the 2 tickets and my whole family can’t go I’m beyond excited. I’ll be the one yelling and cheering you guys on to a victory in a hostile Bronco crowd wearing my Big Ben jersey with pride. The least I can do after you cheered me on. Thank you with all my heart. I do truly do believe the Lord works in mysterious ways and miracles happen. I have to, I’m a Steeler fan, right?
[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/roethlisberger_sends_special_video_message_to_a_co lorado_steelers_fan_fighting_cancer/11198440[/URL]Comment
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These aren’t your dad’s Pittsburgh Steelers
Posted by Bob Diodati
July 15, 2012
Tough nosed, no complaints, hard hitting, gritty, do whatever it takes to win; we know that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers mantra. Maybe in years past it was. This year, they don’t like the playbook, don’t like their contracts, and they’re old. We have heard Ben Roethlisberger complain about the coordinator change and how hard it is to switch playbooks. Mike Wallace is holding out for Larry Fitzgerald money. The mix of young and old is pointing towards a transition, and yes “a rebuilding year”. Rebuilding has not been in the Steelers vocabulary for the past 20 years, but this year it is appropriate.
The good thing for Steelers fans is that rebuilding in Pittsburgh means 8-8 or 9-7. The schedule isn’t easy this year, the Steelers can hope for four wins against the Bengals and Browns, and hopefully two more against the Raiders and Chiefs. Winning two or three out of the other 10 games shouldn’t be very hard. It’s not something any Steelers fan wants to hear, but here is why the season is going to turn out that way.
The offense is uncertain. Roethlisberger isn’t adapting well to the change in coordinators. Some quarterbacks roll with the punches, but Ben isn’t one of them. It will be a transition. Mendenhall is out for at least the first part of the season, and while Isaac Redman performed well last year, he needs some help in the backfield. All that is behind Redman are unproven commodities. Also, expect Mike Wallace to hold out deep into the preseason. This will delay him being effective as he could be until about week 6. Jericho Crotchery, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are certainly capable, but they need to be supported by a number one wide receiver like Wallace. The Steelers picked up two highly touted linemen in the draft, Guard David DeCastro and Tackle Mike Adams, but it generally takes a year for linemen to perfect their craft. Until the two new guys get familiar with the NFL, and Tackle Marcus Gilbert gets another year under this belt, don’t expect this line to be much better than last year.
The defensive line (Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel) are getting old and the two picks spent on Cameron Heyward and Ziggy Hood aren’t producing as expected. Unless those two guys step up their play this year, there won’t be much room for the linebackers to roam the field. The linebackers are solid, but Harrison is showing his age. Woodley is still dominant on the outside, but without James Farrior the inside is weaker. The secondary is Ike Taylor and………. Well….. whoever steps up. William Gay proved he is a nickel corner at best, and there are many young guys positioning themselves to take over the second starting corner spot. The safeties are the strong point of the team, Polamalu is older but still capable, and Ryan Clark has shown no signs of slowing down.
The outlook isn’t very bright unless you’re drinking the black and gold kool –aid. The good news is Roethlisberger is the ultimate competitor and I would expect he gets over the coordinator change fairly quickly. He wants to win. Wallace is an elite wide receiver and should return to form by mid season. If the offensive line can somehow put together some solid protection, this passing offense could flourish. Maybe DeCastro and Adams can make an impact right away. This could be the year that Heyward and Hood step up, and a young corner emerges. The Steelers won’t be out of the playoff race early, they are talented, but everything pointing towards a transition year. This is a team that lost to the Broncos in the wild card round last year, and don’t look any better this year. This year may be the building block to the next run of Lombardi trophies in Pittsburgh.
[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/these_arent_your_dads_pittsburgh_steelers/11222944[/URL]Comment
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Who the f**k is Bob Deodati?Actually, my post was NOT about you...but, if the shoe fits, feel free to lace that &!+€# up and wear it.Comment
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Bob missed the Gay memo.Originally posted by Bob DiodatiComment
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Cook: Let's not forget, Ben Roethlisberger is still a Steeler
July 22, 2012 12:00 am
By Ron Cook / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It's become popular to write off the Steelers in the 2012 season even before they report to training camp Wednesday in Latrobe. ESPN analysts have said the window is closing quickly for the current players. SI.com says this could be the year the team takes a big step back. Others are saying much worse.
Concerns are everywhere, according to the critics. A new offense and new offensive coordinator. A young offensive line that could start two rookies, a second-year man and a third-year pro. A new featured running back. An old defense. A serious void in leadership.
The Baltimore Ravens beat the Steelers twice last season. Why can't they do it again? The Cincinnati Bengals made the playoffs last season behind a rookie quarterback. They will be better.
On and on, it goes.
I just have one question.
Does Ben Roethlisberger still play for the Steelers?
No window is closing.
The Steelers do have a new offense with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley. They could have an exceptionally young offensive line with rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams, second-year man Marcus Gilbert and third-year pro Maurkice Pouncey. They will have a new featured back, Ike Redman. The defense is old in spots. Team leaders Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, Chris Hoke and, especially, James Farrior are gone.
It's all true.
But none of the issues is insurmountable.
Really, how much different will Haley's offense be? As Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after hiring Haley, "Much of football is universal." The young linemen are extremely talented and quickly could become the best line the team has had in years. Redman, when last seen in January, was running for 121 yards against the Denver Broncos. The defense still has plenty of fight left and just needs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley to stay healthy. Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton, Larry Foote and Troy Polamalu, and Roethlisberger and Pouncey remain as strong locker-room leaders.
Beyond all of that, I can't get past the edge that Roethlisberger gives the Steelers.
"He's as good as there's ever been," former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was saying over the telephone the other day. "He doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. You hear about [Peyton] Manning and [Tom] Brady and [Aaron] Rodgers ... Rodgers hasn't touched what Ben has done."
OK, so Arians is biased. He spent the past eight seasons working with Roethlisberger, the past five as his offensive coordinator. But that doesn't change the fact Roethlisberger is the best quarterback in the AFC North Division. He's better than the Ravens' Joe Flacco despite Flacco's silly assertion during the winter that he's the NFL's best. He's better than the Bengals' Andy Dalton, who had a fine rookie year last season.
No step back is going to happen as long as Roethlisberger stays healthy.
Many of us spent much of the offseason agonizing over a potential conflict between Roethlisberger and Haley. That's more a reflection of us than of those two. Agonizing over every little thing about the Steelers is how we spend our winter, spring and much of the summer. That's especially true when the team gets bounced early from the playoffs, as it did in January in Denver. Getting Tebowed still hurts, doesn't it?
In most cases, we waste our time.
We fret over nothing.
I suspect it will be that way with Roethlisberger and Haley.
Yes, Roethlisberger loved playing for Arians. Yes, Haley has the reputation of being a much tougher-love coach than Arians. Yes, Roethlisberger is troubled by the uncertainty that goes with change, just as many of us are. And yes, he has whined about the intricacies of Haley's offense, probably too much.
But Roethlisberger is no fool. Beyond that, he's an incredible competitor who will do anything to win. He has talked openly of adding Super Bowl rings to his collection. He would love to add three more, which would give him five, one more than Steelers Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. I think, in the end, Roethlisberger will be remembered as the better quarterback, but five rings would leave no doubt.
"Ben is going to be good no matter who is calling the plays," Arians said when asked how he expects Roethlisberger to adjust to Haley. "He has that will to win, that passion. He's a Steeler. He's not going to let his teammates down."
I don't care if Arians is biased.
I couldn't agree with him more.
How can anyone count out the Steelers as long as Roethlisberger is the quarterback?
It's not as if the Ravens don't have flaws. They will play much -- if not most -- of the season without NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs (torn Achilles tendon). It's not as if the Bengals can't be the team that takes the step back. They have had 13 winning seasons in their 44-year existence. They have not had consecutive winning seasons since 1981 and 1982.
I know, it's July 22, still three days before the start of training camp.
Much can happen between now and January.
But if other pundits can opine that the window is closing on these Steelers, I can say that they are the team to beat in the AFC North.
Just stay healthy, No. 7.
[URL="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/ron-cook/cook-lets-not-forget-ben-roethlisberger-is-still-a-steeler-645715/?print=1"]http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...45715/?print=1[/URL]Comment
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Pittsburgh Steelers Run Game Will Take a Backseat to Ben Roethlisberger in 2012
By Joseph Bruno (Featured Columnist) on July 21, 2012
The Pittsburgh Steelers had the 14th ranked rushing game last season and it didn’t even seem like it was that high during the year.
The Steelers did not have a 100-yard rusher in 13 of their games last season, and in six of those games they didn’t even accumulate 100 yards as a team. Now that the offensive line has been improved this offseason, it’s not expected that the running game will continue to be so poor.
That being said, the Steelers will definitely be known as a passing team with the focus obviously being on QB Ben Roethlisberger. Ben is an elite quarterback in this league and should be considered the No. 1 QB in the NFL with the way he plays.
He can literally throw defenders off of him, which he has had to do regularly with the Steelers offensive line, and he can sit in the pocket and pick apart a defense.
With the departures of Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker, and the ineptitude that was Bruce Arians, the Steelers run game hasn’t looked right for a few years.
Although Rashard Mendenhall looked like he was poised to continue the rushing tradition for the Steelers, he is coming off a terrible year along with his knee injury that will most likely keep him out for most of this season.
Even with the change in offensive coordinators, the Steelers’ offense is still centered around Ben and the passing game no matter who the running back is.
I have full confidence that the combination of Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Baron Batch and Chris Rainey will do a great job this upcoming season, however, the offense still goes as far as Ben takes it.
Ben is in his prime and I expect nothing short of a great season from him and the rest of the Steelers team in 2012.
[URL]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1267090-pittsburgh-steelers-run-game-will-take-a-backseat-to-ben-roethlisberger-in-2012[/URL]Comment
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