Roethlisberger still questioned about answer
PITTSBURGH â Ben Roethlisberger said he was able to put Sundayâs loss behind him by Monday, but here he was still talking about it on Wednesday and answering questions with a saltiness that may have surprised even him.
Roethlisberger on Wednesday appeared intent on cooperating with the media, but became combative when asked how much soul-searching he had done.
âNone,â he said tersely.
Roethlisberger did break down football questions, but the interview returned to a third continuing week of melodramas when he was asked about anthems, smacked Gatorade coolers and unintended post-game commentary.
âWould you guys ask me about football?â Roethlisberger asked. âItâs on you guys, isnât it?â
But media didnât throw the cooler.
âBut you guys asked the questions,â he said.
How do you block that stuff out?
âStop having interviews like this.â
Was the post-game comment made out of frustration?
âYeah. Itâs post-game. To me thatâs the hardest thing about having a bad game is letting the fans down, letting my teammates down. Thatâs what bothers me the most. Itâs frustrating.â
Did he realize it could open a Pandoraâs box?
âI donât question myself. The ones closest to me donât question me. Thatâs what matters. No offense to any of you guys, but it doesnât really matter to me how you guys question me or not, or the quote/unquote âprofessional talking headsâ on the other sports networks out there that are supposed experts and things like that.â
What does Roethlisberger do about outside conversations?
âIgnore them, especially your network (ESPN). No offense to you, though.â
Does he desire to practice today?
âNext question please. Or that could be it,â Roethlisberger said before breaking the huddle with âBreakfast time!â
ONLY ONE BALL
Roethlisberger did dive into football talk when asked about his playmakersâ desire for more work during games.
âEveryone wants the ball,â Roethlisberger said. âThatâs what got people to this level, their desire, their abilities. As guys grow in their roles and understand the NFL and understanding defenses and looks and reads and things like that, I think guys understand when itâs a good look, when itâs not. Last week they had eight and nine guys in the box; not a good week to run the ball. You could try and force it at times, but itâs just not there.
Sometimes the way the gameâs flowing dictates how a ball is distributed and whatnot. Iâm not really worried about guys complaining about wanting the ball. Weâve got a lot of guys who can make plays for us. We just need to make them.â
Roethlisberger wouldâve enjoyed the old story about Terry Bradshawâs receivers, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, and how they waited on him hand and foot in order to gain game-day favor. The great Frank Lewis, who was too humble and gracious to force himself upon Bradshaw in such a manner, was traded by Chuck Noll.
THE OLâ SPORTSWRITER
While Kansas City Coach Andy Reid believes the Steelers will come to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday at a high emotional pitch, in light of their embarrassing home loss this past Sunday, but Reid wouldnât admit to his own teamâs motivation that comes with losing at home in the playoffs last season to the Steelers.
Reid wouldnât even acknowledge the playoff game, so the question was rephrased, and again unanswered.
âWeâre just trying to get ready for this crew,â Reid said. âAnything that gets in the way of that thinking is a problem.â
Reid, of course, is a polished professional when it comes to saying nothing before a game.
But Reid did show a humorous side when asked, as a former sportswriter, what angle he would put on this weekâs pre-game story.
âThat the head coach for Kansas City is a boring guy,â he said to howls of laughter from the Pittsburgh media.
GILBERT RETURNS, PREDICTS TURNING POINT
Marcus Gilbert returned to practice â as he had the last two Wednesdays â but this time he promised heâll be back at Thursdayâs practice and will play in Sundayâs game.
â(The hamstring) didnât respond the way that I wanted it to,â he said of last weekâs aborted plan to play. âI didnât want to push the issue and have a major setback. I think I took the right approach.â
Gilbert would be the final piece to a completely healthy starting lineup. Even Roethlisberger practiced Wednesday, while only a handful of veterans took the day off.
âI think this week is going to be a turning point for a lot of the guys out there,â said Gilbert, who explained that âWe have a demeanor about ourselves. The games that weâre supposed to win, we didnât do so and I think the guys are a little on edge. I have a little bit of urgency, and really fresh legs, and Iâm ready to be out there with my guys.â
âContinuity builds everything, especially on the offensive line,â he added. âOnce you get out of sync, once you get out of rhythm, it slows things down. Being back and having all our guys working in their normal spots, I think that gives us a leg up, especially with moving Chris Hubbard around. Heâs done a great job. Theyâve been moving him around to the tight end position and itâs helped us big time, just to move those big bodies out there. Itâs critical. It helped us last year and I think itâs going to help us this year.â