Ben turns 34 today

[The Man of Steel]

I know that Father Time eventually catches up to all of us so if we can get maybe 3 or 4 more good years out of Ben that would be great but I'm really starting to feel like time is running out on opportunities to get that 7th Lombardi.

[Oviedo]

34 is the new 28!!!

As long as we have a smart offensive plan where Ben gets rid of the ball quicker to a group of talented receivers then Ben has another 3-4 years in him.

[SidSmythe]

You go til the Wheels fall off. Unless you have the next Rodgers or Luck awaiting.
I fear the days of Tomczak and Jim Miller again.

[Oviedo]

You go til the Wheels fall off. Unless you have the next Rodgers or Luck awaiting.
I fear the days of Tomczak and Jim Miller again.

Don't forget Mark Malone, Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, etc.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Roethlisberger dropping weight on “high-cardio” workout plan
Posted by Josh Alper on April 5, 2016, 10:16 AM EDT

There’s slightly less of Big Ben to go around this offseason.

At 6’5″ and somewhere north of the 240 pounds he weighed at the Combine in 2004, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has worn that nickname well over the years. This offseason has seen him take a different approach to his workouts, however, and agent Ryan Tollner said that a “high-cardio” plan devised by the team’s trainers has resulted in Roethlisberger losing at least 15 pounds.

“He couldn’t really work out because he kept getting hurt,” Tollner said, via ESPN.com. “I think he said after the season, you know what, I’m going to lose weight to alleviate potential pain in my joints.”

Anything Roethlisberger can do to remain on the field is a good thing for the Steelers, although it’s not clear how much the various injuries he suffered in 2015 would have been alleviated by a smaller frame. Roethlisberger hurt his knee, foot and shoulder at various points and dealt with a concussion, and his habit of taking hits in exchange for hanging in the pocket long enough to make a play would seem to leave him vulnerable to aches and pains at any weight.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/05/roethlisberger-dropping-weight-on-high-cardio-workout-plan/[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Kevin Colbert believes Ben Roethlisberger has 3-4 more seasons in his prime
Posted by Curtis Crabtree on March 31, 2016, 12:19 AM EDT

Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL over the last decade.

He’s thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of the last four seasons in which he started at least 15 games. He passed for 4,952 yards with 32 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in 2014, and came 62 yards shy of hitting 4,000 yards again last season despite missing four games for Pittsburgh.

Roethlisberger is now 34 years old and among the older starting quarterbacks in the league now. Nevertheless, the Steelers believe that Big Ben has three to four more peak seasons left in the tank.

“Ben’s a franchise quarterback,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “There are a few that have two [or more Super Bowls since 2004], but he’s one of those few. We’re very fortunate. We still have, you know, we think three to four more good years in his prime. We’re excited to see what he can do in that time period and what we can do to help him be successful.”

And even without Martavis Bryant (who was suspended for the 2016 season), the Steelers’ offense has weapons everywhere. Le’Veon Bell will be back from injury and is a massive threat as a runner and out of the backfield in the passing game. Antonio Brown is still there. So is Markus Wheaton. And while they will miss Heath Miller, the addition of Ladarius Green should help minimize the loss.

With such a strong receiving corps to work with, there is no reason to expect Roethlisberger to slow down in the near future. The only concern would be due to injuries and he’s missed 13 games since the start of the 2010 season.

Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and even Matt Hasselbeck played until at least age 40. Tom Brady will likely do so as well. Roethlisberger could reach the plateau as well before calling hanging up the cleats for good.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/31/kevin-colbert-believes-ben-roethlisberger-has-3-4-more-seasons-in-his-prime/[/URL]

[Eich]

The guy has to be an old 34. I'm still amazed at the punishment he's taken and come back from. I think he'll be a lot more sore at 40 than Brady will be.

Watched a little NFL network last night and Ladainian Tomlinson was giving Ben a little grief about the cardio and weight loss this off-season. He was saying, "Really Ben, you're just figuring this out now that it'll help you?!". It was kind've tongue-in-cheek but I think there was some seriousness to it as well.

[Oviedo]

The guy has to be an old 34. I'm still amazed at the punishment he's taken and come back from. I think he'll be a lot more sore at 40 than Brady will be.

Watched a little NFL network last night and Ladainian Tomlinson was giving Ben a little grief about the cardio and weight loss this off-season. He was saying, "Really Ben, you're just figuring this out now that it'll help you?!". It was kind've tongue-in-cheek but I think there was some seriousness to it as well.

Better late than never I say. Besides, Ben has put together a Hall of Fame resume without it. The way I see it the extra weight was just a little armor plating when we had years of bad OL play. Doesn't need that now.

[feltdizz]

The guy has to be an old 34. I'm still amazed at the punishment he's taken and come back from. I think he'll be a lot more sore at 40 than Brady will be.

Watched a little NFL network last night and Ladainian Tomlinson was giving Ben a little grief about the cardio and weight loss this off-season. He was saying, "Really Ben, you're just figuring this out now that it'll help you?!". It was kind've tongue-in-cheek but I think there was some seriousness to it as well.

I almost typed the same thing...lol.

Ben has enough money he could hire a chef to help him lose 10 pounds. Glad he did it but I kinda wonder why he didn't do it earlier. Some suggested it was due to injuries but he isn't losing 15 pounds from exercising.

[Shoe]

The guy has to be an old 34. I'm still amazed at the punishment he's taken and come back from. I think he'll be a lot more sore at 40 than Brady will be.

Watched a little NFL network last night and Ladainian Tomlinson was giving Ben a little grief about the cardio and weight loss this off-season. He was saying, "Really Ben, you're just figuring this out now that it'll help you?!". It was kind've tongue-in-cheek but I think there was some seriousness to it as well.

No doubt. I think 3-4 years is wishful thinking. And I'm also not sure why it took Ben so long to realize that dropping some weight is a good idea for a professional athlete (I'm mildly disappointed every time I see his dumpy body. I'm not saying a QB needs to be ripped and have big arms at all mind you. Just be in "good" physical shape.)

I think we'll get another year of Ben playing as he has, though I'm going to say that he's probably already sliding. In "3-4 years", he'll be like Elway that last year for him.

[Slapstick]

Out of curiosity, what signs of sliding has he shown?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Out of curiosity, what signs of sliding has he shown?