Roethlisberger Apologizes In TV Interviews

Whatever. Some funny quotes here:

"From the bottom of my heart, I know I haven't been the best person, the best quarterback for the Steelers. I'm not just talking on the field, I'm talking off the field. I try my best and hardest to be a good role model with the kids and do things in the community, but I know I can be even better. That's what I want to do."

Really? Ben can be an even better role model than he's been so far? For the sake of women everywhere, I certainly hope this is true. 

"I used the analogy of the Superman, Clark Kent," Roethlisberger said during his interview with KDKA regarding his incredible rookie season of 2004. "All of a sudden this Big Ben was formed as the year was going, it just kept building up. It was something that I didn't know how to deal with it. I had never experienced anything like it before. I'm this Superman on the field and I want to be that guy, but off the field I was still able to be Ben Roethlisberger, the person that my parents raised me to be, the faith, the friends and all that stuff that's still there."

Roethlisberger said after he won the Super Bowl in his second season, the persona of Big Ben just kept taking over his life.

"I think it ended up coming off the field," he told KDKA. "As the years kept going it just kept taking over Ben Roethlisberger. Superman kept taking over Clark Kent and you just never saw who Ben Roethlisberger was anymore. Looking back on it I can see that. At the time I didn't really see it."

 

I'm not sure how much I want to pursue this, for fear of appearing to let Roethlisberger off the hook, but there's something interesting in here about the nature of celebrity, about how we can delude ourselves by elevating athletes to the status of gods. They are men and women, and often they are not fully mature, and their fame surely prevents some of them from keeping their heads on straight. It's worth thinking about, and Roethlisberger may well be right that the transition from "Ben Roethlisberger" to "Big Ben" the comic-book hero has something to do with the person he's become. Ultimately, though, the responsibility lies with him.

Details From Georgia DVDs Released

The Post-Gazette has lots of details about the DVDs recently released by Georgia authorities. There’s enough lurid details here to keep this story going for weeks. Frankly, I feel kind of gross even reading them.

Roethlisberger To Do Interviews On Pittsburgh TV

The Post-Gazette reports that Roethlisberger is doing interviews today for two local TV stations that will be broadcast tomorrow:

Roethlisberger, consulting with the Steelers and also an outside public relations firm, was interviewed by Pompeani over the span of two days this week. KDKA will broadcast that interview Thursday on their newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., and on Friday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Sports anchor Bob Pompeani of KDKA and newswoman Sally Wiggin of WTAE will conduct the separate interviews.

Nothing like a PR firm-recommended interview to clear the air.

Georgia Investigators To Release DVDs

Georgia investigators will release dozens of DVDs relating to the Roethlisberger case:

The DVDs contain interviews and photographs from the investigation, including police interviews with the 20-year-old woman who accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her inside a bar in Milledgeville.

Even though Roethlisberger was not charged in the case, Georgia law requires authorities to release evidence if requested.

Sounds like this story isn’t going away anytime soon.

Ben Roethlisberger Grateful For "Second Chance"

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger met with the press Thursday following practice after ducking media attention the previous day. He answered only a couple of questions before exiting but expressed optimism going forward:

I appreciate you guys, I know you guys have been waiting a long time to talk to me, as I have to you. I wanted to let you guys know how great it is to be back on the field. It’s been a long time away, it’s been hard. I put a lot of time and effort into working hard on and off the field while I’ve been gone. It’s not the same. I love football to death. But I think it’s meant more to be out here with my teammates, my brothers, my family, if you will, that’s what has really been neat about getting back out here.

I’ve put a lot of thought into my life, the decisions I’ve made in the past. I’ve been sitting at home thinking about things. I’ve been working closely with the commissioner about ways to make corrections, changes. So I’m looking forward to the second chance, and the second opportunity. Not just in football — because I think everyone knows what you’re going to get in football — but in life. I think that’s what’s more important.

Clearly, the nature of Roethlisberger's predicament necessitates that he speak in a roundabout, somewhat vague manner, but this statement - which was unprepared, expository - does not really say much at all.

But still, here is what I can glean from it all.

Roethlisberger thinks this is his second chance. I guess he forgot about this. And this. But no matter.

The big takeaway (apparently) is that this whole ordeal has been "hard" on Roethlisberger. It is strange how quickly the media has performed a complete about-face here - from flaying the quarterback to pitying him and insisting everyone just get back to "focusing on football" and "winning games." 

Sure, that is what successful teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers do. But it is a tough pill to swallow so soon, when the disgust at his behavior in Georgia still lingers, at least for me and countless other fans. My only hope is that perhaps Roethlisberger has hit "rock bottom" in terms of screwing up (after all, this is the first time he has ever had to miss time on the field as a result of his off-field idiocy) and maybe he will finally learn that he needs to get his act together.

Mike Tomlin Comments On Roethlisberger's Return

Mike Tomlin notes that the craziness surrounding Roethlisberger’s return doesn’t bother him, and that Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch will see fewer snaps as the Steelers return Big Ben to the first-team offense:

“What we want to do is give Ben quality reps so he can get re-acclimated and improve and work on his game,” Tomlin said. “And we want to continue to give Dennis reps because he is a young guy. When you’re talking about working with four quarterbacks, of course reps are going to be scarce in some instances. For the purposes of this week, if there is going to be a reduction in reps it is going to be at the expense of Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch”…

“I don’t mind the circus atmosphere, because I can’t control it … Ultimately, we’ll be measured by our ability to win football games. That’s what this is about. This is a distraction if we lose, if we don’t it’s not. I’m committed to making sure that it’s not, as I’m sure everyone else is.”

Ben Roethlisberger Had A Good First Practice Back With Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers this afternoon after being suspended earlier in the offseason.

Even though the quarterback was unable to practice with his teammates while undergoing NFL-mandated clinical evaluations, ESPN's James Walker reports that Roethlisberger didn't miss a beat.

Roethlisberger looked happy and excited to be back, and so were his teammates. He worked with the first-team offense. He also joked with players and even head-butted his offensive linemen before team drills.

Add to the fact that Roethlisberger made several great throws rarely seen this offseason with Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch running the offense, and it was a good day overall for the embattled quarterback.

I don't know how much of an accomplishment it is to outshine the likes of Leftwich, Dixon and Batch, but it certainly can't hurt that reports are indicating that he is just as good as he was before all of this began.

Roethlisberger Practices With Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger Can Return To The Steelers Next Week, Goodell Says

Ben Roethlisberger is back.  At least to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice field, anyway.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has told Roethlisberger that he can return to team activities next week according to NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello.

Commissioner's decision based on reports & recommendations of medical experts working with Ben. Commish w/continue to monitor his progres[s] and commissoner w/meet w/Ben against at appropriate time. No decision has been made on any modification to length of his suspension.

Roethlisberger has been excluded from all football related activities while the results of his NFL-mandated behavioral evaluations were being, well, evaluated.

While this is certainly a step in the right direction as far as getting his NFL career back on track, Roethlisberger is still suspended for at least the first four NFL regular season games.

The quarterback will have his first chance to rejoin his teammates on the football field for their OTA on Tuesday.