PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It became a big story on college football championship Saturday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted to his 8.8 million followers that Ben Roethlisberger had told people within the Steelers organization and his former teammates this would be his last year.
Second question in Roethlisberger’s post-game news conference after his fifth comeback win this season and crucial victory against the Ravens, was about the story.
“Honestly, we just got done with this game,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m exhausted. My focus is on Minnesota and what we have to do to get ready. I will address any of that stuff after the season. I’ve been a one game at a time, one season at a time type of person.”
Those last two lines are consistent with what Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh media for the last couple of years. He will see about his health, consult with his family and decide after every year. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t had discussions about it, as Cam Heyward told us after the game.
“He said a little bit,” Heyward said about conversations with Roethlisberger about this being his last year. “That’s between me and him. I’m just happy with the way he played tonight and to pick up a critical W for us. Our quarterback came through in the end, we will leave it at that.”
Roethlisberger did get the game ball after the 20-19 win Sunday, which could be read into. It is December and a potential last home game against your biggest rival.
“It caught me off guard,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t think I deserve it, I think a lot of guys deserve it and we deserve it as a group. It’s always humbling when you play this team at home and Coach recognizes you like that. It’s kind of cool.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger’s future is not an issue. He said this after a question about the last handful of games being Roethlisberger’s ‘farewell tour’.
“There is nothing to manage,” Tomlin said. “Ben doesn’t allow it to become an issue. Ben has been pretty solid in terms of his expressions that he is singularly focused on what it is that we are doing now.”
“He will deal with those things on the other side of this journey. I’m with him on it. It’s not a distraction. I thought it was funny that it was seemingly a story this weekend to be quite honest with you.”
Roethlisberger finished 21-31 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and a QB rating of 111.8 Sunday.
“He plays good all the time in my opinion,” said receiver Diontae Johnson. “He’s going to throw picks here and there, but at the end of the day he’s a great quarterback. Hall of Famer in my eyes and I’m sure everyone else’s eyes.”
“Huge win,” Roethlisberger said. “Anytime you play that team, that rivalry. It’s a battle. That’s what that game is. That was kind of the perfect Ravens-Steelers game if you will. Huge win for us especially at home and after last week.”
Does Roethlisberger at least step back and cherish a win like this more than he would earlier in his career?
“You should always savor moments like this,” Roethlisberger said. “I try and reiterate that with guys whether you are in your first year, your fifth year or twentieth year. You should always appreciate this moment. God has blessed me in an amazing way that I can throw a football like not many people in the world can.”
“We should always count our blessings that we can do this. You never know when it is going to be taken from you, as unfortunately we have seen. I just think that we should all take advantage of these opportunities-win, lose or draw-to be appreciative of the opportunities out here to play football.”
Is that the talk of a man who is going to retire after this season? Roethlisberger said he hasn’t made up his mind completely, but seems like discussions have indeed happened, even if its only that he will decide after the season.
Until then the Steelers got a big win over the Ravens and now just a half game behind the Bengals and a game and a half behind Baltimore in the AFC North.