PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the last few seasons, Ben Roethlisberger told the Steelers he would take it year by year based on how he felt following the season. This season, when questions arose if the team would want him back, he had a quick answer.
"I had more in the tank," Roethlisberger said. "Felt disappointed about the way the season ended and hate to go out that way. Sort of let them know if they wanted me back. I felt like I could give them everything I got."
Then Roethlisberger sweetened the pot by suggesting a pay cut and eventually took $5 million less to return.
"I didn't play well enough at the end of the season," Roethlisberger said. "It's no secret. I will be the first to point the thumb at myself. When the ball is in your hand every play. You have to make plays and play better football."
"If the quarterback is not playing good football, especially late in the season, it's directly related to winning and losing. I will take that play and those games on me."
"Feeling worn down and not playing good enough football at the end of the season."
Part of that wear came from his first year back from nearly missing an entire season due to elbow surgery. He thinks some of the missed time of 2019 started showing its effects later in 2020.
"You know I had total reconstruction in on my elbow," Roethlisberger said. "Might have something to do with it."
"No excuses. My arm was healed, obviously I played. Anybody who has a big surgery, that first year back, you're back. But are you really back and feeling great?"
Roethlisberger said he threw more than he typically did, not only during the 2020 season (608 attempts in 15 games), but leading up to it with all of the rehab work. The 39-year-old said, despite being at most of the voluntary practices this year, he's actually thrown less this off-season. He also took a long period of time off from throwing and believes that will pay dividends.
With the injury, losing most of his close friends on the team, approaching 40 years of age. Will this be Roethlisberger's final season?
"I approach this like I do every season, like it's my last," Roethlisberger said. "I think that's the approach you have to take. You don't approach it that way because it could be your last. You approach it because every single play in football could be your last. Every game could be your last game."
"That just means I'm going out to give everything I have. I've never looked to the future, I've looked to the right here and now and that's what's important to me for this season is to give everything I have right here and right now for this group of guys."
