Roethlisberger: 'I'll Take A Championship Over An MVP Every Time'
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan)- Coming off another big performance, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined "The Cook and Poni Show" for the weekly "#1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger Show" in which he talked about the offense continuing its hot streak.
Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns, including a 72-yarder to Sammie Coates on their first offensive series. A large part for his success had to do with the protection he has received from the offensive line.
"We went into the game with the mindset that we were going to get the ball out quick," Ben said. "As the game went on, and as the boys were doing better and better blocking, and when I say 'better and better' I mean more time, we were able to take some big drops, some play-action, seven-step."
Ben shed light on the film room as the team reviewed the tape from the victory, saying they reached their goal each game, which is to score 30 points.
"Obviously, goal number one is to win, we won the game, that's a great thing. And we scored our 30-point goal, a great thing. But, we do watch the film and say, 'Boy, coulda-woulda-shoulda,' you know, but you can't live in the Monday morning film study. We learn from those things, but we move on and see where can we maybe not make those mistakes next time?"
One of those areas they could have probably had more success was in the dropped pass department. The most guilty player in that department was also the team's most successful receiver on Sunday - Coates.
Ben talked about the way he played through some pain after receiving stitches in his one hand at halftime.
"He won't make excuses for himself, but to have stitches on his hand and said he couldn't feel his finger, he still had a great game, and he knows he left a lot out there. He could have had a monster day. He still had a really good day, but could have had a monster day. It's not easy to go do those things, but we're not going to make excuses for the drops, he's still got to make the plays," Ben said.
Having thrown nine touchdowns in his last two games, while having an overall stellar start to the season, Ben was asked if he thinks he's playing the best football of his career.
"I feel like I'm seeing things really well," Ben said. "I'm seeing the field, I think I'm understanding our offense, understanding defense. I will always say that the way that the line plays always will help me be as good as I can be, so all those things kind of put together, then I would say I'm playing pretty well right now."
Given his high level of play, Ben's name is obviously coming up in early MVP talks and it was pointed out that he has never won that award before.
"No, but I've been lucky enough to win two championships and that's all that matters to me. I'll take a championship over an MVP every time," he said.
Part of what helps put Ben in the MVP talk is having receivers like Antonio Brown, who had another touchdown this week.
Ben was asked about Brown and the Muhammad Ali spikes he wore this week, which the NFL forced him to remove, and if any of these things can become a distraction for the team.
"It really depends on does he make it a distraction? Is he whining, is he griping, is he throwing a fit and then everyone is looking and then everyone is distracted? Then, it can be. If he just sat down on the bench and changed his shoes, then I don't see it as a distraction," Ben said.
Ben also talked about the topic every Pittsburgh sports fan has been discussing, Sidney Crosby's concussion. Ben is familiar with what goes in to getting a concussion, He discussed what it takes to recover from one and the mindframe it puts you in.
"I would assume that he should and will take the same approach that I did last year in Seattle, which is, you gotta take care of your brain. I've said to you guys and others many times, 'You can replace a lot of things on your body, you can't get a new brain.' What kind of way of life do you want to have when you're done playing, because we're not doing this forever. Football for me is what I do, it's not who I am. I'm sure hockey is what he does, not who he is. You have to be very careful with the brain, it's a very sensitive organ," he said.
Click the link below to hear the full interview with Ben as he also talked about the success he has had at home and what it will be like going back down to play in Miami after the hurricane they played through there last time.