Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Infuriated With The Media For Attacking Him

The Pittsburgh Steelers are enduring a brutal December, with losses to the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and the Indianapolis Colts, all of which were painful to watch. What was once a promising playoff outlook has now shifted to a near-impossible chance of making it to the postseason. It now appears that the Steelers may not secure another victory in the 2023 season.

Former Steelers star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expressed his beliefs on his podcast, Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger and he thinks that the Steeler way may have been lost, and he observed this decline during his final seasons in Pittsburgh. However, when Roethlisberger made this valid and reasonable statement about his experiences and echoed sentiments shared by other former Steelers, the national media swiftly attacked him. 

Notable figures like Skip Bayless, Chuck Pagano, and Stephen A. Smith criticized Roethlisberger's comments. Bayless accused Roethlisberger of having nothing else to do but criticize his former team, while Pagano asserted that Roethlisberger hadn't been around the team enough to make such statements. Smith blamed Roethlisberger for being a part of the problem and overstaying his welcome, contributing to the Steelers' current issues.

Roethlisberger addressed the negative attention he received from the media while live-streaming during the Steelers' loss to the Colts, a game that Mike Tomlin stated was being treated like a playoff game.

"I think the frustrating part when the national media and people pick it up is I wish that they would listen to the whole show so they can get some context. But even understand that don't just take a headline and run with that. Because again, I just asked a question...and then some national media getting on me talking about how it's my fault. I should have helped pass it on. Well, I am very positive that in that episode I said I had Cam [Heyward] and Vince [Williams] over to explain to them about the music in the locker room."

Roethlisberger pointed out that it wasn't just him who had voiced concerns about the team not being the same as the Steelers teams we loved over the last few decades. Respected former Steelers players like Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Brett Keisel and Chris Hoke have all expressed similar sentiments.

"Troy Polamalu said it's changed. Ryan Clark has said it's changed. Brett Keisel. Chris Hoke this week on the radio. There are a lot of people who have said things have changed, but yet I'm the one who gets really, really… they've kind of pounded me for it.”

Roethlisberger also addressed former Colts head coach Pagano's criticism, emphasizing that Pagano had suggested he needed to be present at the facility more often to make proper judgments instead of forming opinions after attending just one game.

"There was an ex-coach who I respect greatly who came on the Pat McAfee Show who disagreed with me wholeheartedly. Excuse me, he didn't disagree with what I said, but disagreed with how I said it or something? It just didn't make any sense to me. I was like 'C'mon coach, you're better than that, don't do that?"

Steelers' Troubles And Media Bias

The Steelers' issues are undeniable, and the 2023 season appears to be lost. These are dark days for Steelers fans, but Roethlisberger feels like he has become a scapegoat. The national media seems intent on protecting Tomlin, who has never had a losing season, and appears to have an unfair bias against Roethlisberger. Clark made similar statements to Roethlisberger's, but they didn't receive the same level of scrutiny. When Roethlisberger, based on his personal experience, states the obvious, it becomes a major issue.

The 2023 season for the Steelers has quickly turned into a nightmare, with playoff hopes basically gone. The only glimmer of hope is the potential return of Kenny Pickett, who may be back sooner than expected. However, aside from that, the Steelers face an uphill battle to make the playoffs and no longer control their own destiny. While the solutions to their problems remain uncertain, one thing is clear. Roethlisberger should not be attacked for speaking candidly and sharing his personal thoughts about the Steelers' changing culture.

Roethlisberger has proven to be a valuable source of insight for Steelers fans through his podcast. He has been a great ambassador for the team post-retirement and remains a true fan of his former franchise. Steelers fans appreciate the opportunity to follow Roethlisberger in his post-football career and value the insights he brings to his podcast.

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