Big Ben Apologizes to Brown
Pittsburgh, PA – After months of silence, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger decided to open up about the team’s turbulent offseason, specifically about his issues with former Wide Reciever Antonio Brown, who was traded to the Oakland Raiders in early March.
In an interview with KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani, Big Ben told his side of the story, months after Brown told his on social media and national sports shows which included HBO Sports, and ESPN. When asked why he was so silent in the offseason, Big Ben Replied: “Well, in the offseason, I like to like to just be with family and be away and stay away from the craziness because the media is my life during football season, So when I can get a break from it, I try to get a break from it.”
Ben Roethlisberger spoke about being back on the field, working with new members of the team, and more after today's OTA. pic.twitter.com/yWj06M2V6s
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 21, 2019
In a season that saw the Steelers miss the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record, it was obvious that Brown was unhappy with alleged complaints that he wasn’t getting the ball enough, (despite a stellar Pro Bowl season of 104 catches 1,297 yards and an NFL-Leading 15 touchdowns) jealous that fellow Reciever JuJu Smith-Shuster-not he, won the Steelers Team MVP award (Brown won 3 during his time with the Steelers) and issues about money, despite the Steelers moving restructuring his contract, essentially giving him a raise.
Throughout the offseason, Brown began to point his issues at Big Ben, who made a comment during his weekly radio show last season on 93.7 FM The Fan in which he said he wished he’d thrown to Smith-Shuster 4 times in the down and-goal situation to end the game, and he faulted Antonio Brown for “drifting” in the end zone on his INT in their 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos.
JuJu Smith-Schuster discusses team chemistry, an expanded leadership role in 2019, and more following our second OTA. pic.twitter.com/ipOiEAftsO
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 22, 2019
Big Ben took a lot of criticism for making those remarks from media and fans alike stating that he threw his star target under the bus and not taking responsibility for the ill-fated pass that landed in the hands of Broncos Defensive Lineman Shelby Harris in middle of the end-zone, instead of Brown, who was covered.
When Pompeani asked him about this, Big Ben replied “It’s a fine line to walk sometimes of giving information out. Giving some cool things for the fans to be a part of and maybe saying too much. I know that I took some heat and deservedly so for some of the comments I made on that show and especially towards him. And I genuinely feel bad about that and I’m sorry. Did I go too far after that Denver game? Probably.”
On LeBron James’ HBO show “The Shop.” Brown made it known that he was unhappy about Big Ben’s comments and made comments that ‘all year the dude called me out. We lose a game, he’s like, yeah, AB should have ran a better route, That’s the type of guy he is. He feels like he the owner.”
It seems that every few weeks #BenRoethlisberger comments on the past friction between him and former @steelers WR @AB84 and @LeVeonBell. His determination to stay in the spotlight has only lead to more annoyance from FSR's @howaboutafresca and company!https://t.co/Glg3ESowhj
— Steven Bortstein (@TCRBortstein) May 22, 2019
Big Ben also clarified his comments about that play vs. Denver “I can see where that comment was perceived to be negative towards AB, but it wasn’t meant that way, It was more, you know,
just like everything during the season, it’s a compliment to AB because he’s doubled every single play and that’s why … it’s still so amazing that he was able to do it through all the adversity of double and triple teams. It was more meant that I should have gone to JuJu because he was single covered. I regretted it.
That’s the thing about media and social media and things like that, as soon as you say it, sorry only goes so far. You can’t take it back and I wish I could because if that’s what ruined our friendship and our relationship, then I am truly am genuinely sorry about that.”
The 5️⃣ key things Ben said following our first OTA. pic.twitter.com/S726CSw5eX
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 22, 2019
Big Ben also said this about criticism of his leadership: “It was hurtful. They were hurtful. You know, and it was hurtful to me. It was hurtful for my family. Leadership ultimately is about winning football games, and I didn’t do a good enough job of being a leader because we didn’t make the playoffs. So, I need to reevaluate myself and how can I be a better leader.”
Big Ben also said this about Brown: “AB made me who I am. He was the greatest wide receiver I ever played with. The things that he did in this league and that we did together are among the best of all time. And you’re right, there was some great things and then suddenly it just kind of, it disappeared and I’m not sure really where it went. We always worked through it; you know?”
It was just a matter of time before Brown responded, and on Twitter, he said this about his former QB “Two-Faced.”
But Pro-Bowl DE Cam Heyward quickly came to his QB’s defense via Twitter by saying “I love the 2019-2020 STEELERS and where we are headed… anyone got anything to say about my teammates say it to me. We are all focused on is this season and if you can’t get down with that…. MOVE ON!”
Pittsburgh @steelers day two of OTA's was much like the first. @_BigBen7 was precise on his throws to @TeamJuJu and @JamesWashington. @247Sports #NFL #Steelers pic.twitter.com/91pYOuQfMp
— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) May 22, 2019
Notes: The Steelers OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) will be Tuesday May 21st, Tuesday May 28th and Monday June 3rd, followed by the Rookie and Veteran Mini-Camp which will begin Tuesday June 13th. All practices will be held at the UMPC Rooney Sports Complex.
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Sources: KDKA-TV
