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How Ben Roethlisberger gave the Steelers some 'perspective' this week
https://How Ben Roethlisberger gave ... opportunity?”
GERRY DULAC
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
gdulac@post-gazette.com
OCT 2, 2019 1:44 PM
It wasn’t a classic moment that will find its way into sports lore. It did not elicit the same emotional response as Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” pregame speech. It did not tug on the emotional heartstrings in the manner Lou Gehrig did with his “luckiest man on the face of the earth” address. Nor was it the life-changing moment speech by Herb Brooks to his U.S. “Miracle on Ice” hockey team.
But before Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers received a locker-room speech from a person who didn’t even play in the game that many players said was heartfelt and inspiring.
The person was Ben Roethlisberger.
“He just talked about the opportunity and not taking for granted being able to play,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “Coming from Ben, knowing he played such a long time and see how much he misses it, how much he wants to be out there, it puts it in perspective for a lot of guys.”
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“For a player like Ben Roethlisberger, who was born to play football, it says something about the man,” said left tackle Alejandro Villanueva. “It opens the eyes and hearts of those players who, maybe in the back of their minds, take it for granted.”
Roethlisberger was on the sideline for Monday night’s 27-3 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, one week after having elbow surgery on his throwing arm Sept. 23 in Los Angeles. It was his first time he joined his teammates for a game since he injured his elbow in the second quarter of the Sept. 16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field.
For most of the second half against the Seahawks, Roethlisberger stood by himself on the sidelines, upset and concerned about his injury, perhaps that it could be the end of his sterling career. It was a different Roethlisberger this time when he joined his teammates on the sideline against the Bengals.
“That’s our leader, so his presence was definitely felt,” said running back James Conner. “Just having our leader there was huge for us and having him on the sideline, communicating, relaying messages to Mason (Rudolph), him telling us what he sees. He did everything he could except play.”
Roethlisberger usually leads his teammates in a pre-game prayer in the locker room, which he did Monday night. But according to several Steelers players, he also stood up and addressed the team, telling them to appreciate their opportunity, the chance to perform on national television in front of their peers, and understand it can all be taken away in an instant.
Nobody said it was the reason for their dominating victory that ended their three-game losing streak. But safety Terrell Edmunds was one of several players who said Roethlisberger’s speech was “uplifting.”
“I think it resonated with a lot of guys,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “It’s up to us to pick up the slack. He’s done a lot for us over the years. It sucks not having him this year. Maybe one day we can return the favor.”
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Heyward, who is in his ninth season, can understand Roethlisberger’s speech more than most. He sustained a season-ending chest injury that caused him to miss the final 10 games of 2016, including the entire postseason.
“You don’t know how much of your life is dedicated to this game, all the little things you go through to get ready for a single game, let alone a whole season,” Heyward said. “You take that away, it’s kind of tough.”
When he was with the Cleveland Browns, Haden missed 11 games in 2015 because of recurring concussions. He, too, understood Roethlisberger’s message to the team and embraced it as much as any other, even as a 10-year veteran.
Roethlisberger’s pre-game speech will not be the stuff of a network documentary. But it was passionate enough to drive home a point to his teammates.
“Know that this game can be taken away from you so fast and, no matter what, the game will continue to go on,” Haden said. “If I’m not in this locker room, somebody else is going to wear 23 for the Steelers.
“The league is so much bigger than us, and just being able to understand that, being able to understand what a blessing it is to be in here, why wouldn’t you try your hardest every week and try to maximize your opportunity?”
https://How Ben Roethlisberger gave ... opportunity?”
GERRY DULAC
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
gdulac@post-gazette.com
OCT 2, 2019 1:44 PM
It wasn’t a classic moment that will find its way into sports lore. It did not elicit the same emotional response as Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” pregame speech. It did not tug on the emotional heartstrings in the manner Lou Gehrig did with his “luckiest man on the face of the earth” address. Nor was it the life-changing moment speech by Herb Brooks to his U.S. “Miracle on Ice” hockey team.
But before Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers received a locker-room speech from a person who didn’t even play in the game that many players said was heartfelt and inspiring.
The person was Ben Roethlisberger.
“He just talked about the opportunity and not taking for granted being able to play,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “Coming from Ben, knowing he played such a long time and see how much he misses it, how much he wants to be out there, it puts it in perspective for a lot of guys.”
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“For a player like Ben Roethlisberger, who was born to play football, it says something about the man,” said left tackle Alejandro Villanueva. “It opens the eyes and hearts of those players who, maybe in the back of their minds, take it for granted.”
Roethlisberger was on the sideline for Monday night’s 27-3 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, one week after having elbow surgery on his throwing arm Sept. 23 in Los Angeles. It was his first time he joined his teammates for a game since he injured his elbow in the second quarter of the Sept. 16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field.
For most of the second half against the Seahawks, Roethlisberger stood by himself on the sidelines, upset and concerned about his injury, perhaps that it could be the end of his sterling career. It was a different Roethlisberger this time when he joined his teammates on the sideline against the Bengals.
“That’s our leader, so his presence was definitely felt,” said running back James Conner. “Just having our leader there was huge for us and having him on the sideline, communicating, relaying messages to Mason (Rudolph), him telling us what he sees. He did everything he could except play.”
Roethlisberger usually leads his teammates in a pre-game prayer in the locker room, which he did Monday night. But according to several Steelers players, he also stood up and addressed the team, telling them to appreciate their opportunity, the chance to perform on national television in front of their peers, and understand it can all be taken away in an instant.
Nobody said it was the reason for their dominating victory that ended their three-game losing streak. But safety Terrell Edmunds was one of several players who said Roethlisberger’s speech was “uplifting.”
“I think it resonated with a lot of guys,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “It’s up to us to pick up the slack. He’s done a lot for us over the years. It sucks not having him this year. Maybe one day we can return the favor.”
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Heyward, who is in his ninth season, can understand Roethlisberger’s speech more than most. He sustained a season-ending chest injury that caused him to miss the final 10 games of 2016, including the entire postseason.
“You don’t know how much of your life is dedicated to this game, all the little things you go through to get ready for a single game, let alone a whole season,” Heyward said. “You take that away, it’s kind of tough.”
When he was with the Cleveland Browns, Haden missed 11 games in 2015 because of recurring concussions. He, too, understood Roethlisberger’s message to the team and embraced it as much as any other, even as a 10-year veteran.
Roethlisberger’s pre-game speech will not be the stuff of a network documentary. But it was passionate enough to drive home a point to his teammates.
“Know that this game can be taken away from you so fast and, no matter what, the game will continue to go on,” Haden said. “If I’m not in this locker room, somebody else is going to wear 23 for the Steelers.
“The league is so much bigger than us, and just being able to understand that, being able to understand what a blessing it is to be in here, why wouldn’t you try your hardest every week and try to maximize your opportunity?”
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