<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Roethlisberger back on the fieldLATROBE, Pa. (July 29, 2006) -- Maybe he was running with a couple of linemen, but he was running. There was no look of pain or discomfort, or any sign that he didn't belong on a football field so soon after surviving an accident he says could have killed him.Ben Roethlisberger easily completed the series of wind sprints that every non-injured Pittsburgh Steelers player is required to run when training camp opens. That June 12 motorcycle accident that gave his teammates, his fans -- and, yes, he himself -- such a major scare was not on his mind.Even if it is every morning of his life, and likely will be for a long time to come."When my guys here still see me, they shake their heads, the coaches shake their heads," said Roethlisberger, sweat dripping off his face minutes after running. "I shake my head every morning when I look in the mirror. I do feel blessed to be out here and to be able to take this test and play football."Players dislike the running tests and are glad they occur only once per camp, but Roethlisberger almost seemed to be looking forward to them. Maybe it was because the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl still feels as if he had something to prove less than six months since winning an NFL championship.To prove to the Steelers that the accident might have given him the scare of a lifetime won't affect only the second quarterback in team history to win a Super Bowl."It was important for me. A lot of guys were asking me, 'Are you really going to run? You don't have to go out and prove anything to us.' But it was important for me to get out there and show the guys and the coaches that I'm out here and I'm going to give it my all," he said.That's why Roethlisberger plans on throwing passes with the starters July 30, just as if there never had been a crash that caused him to fly off his motorcycle and smack his head into a windshield with such force it left an imprint of his skull in the shattered glass.Despite bleeding badly, he came out of the accident far better than could have been expected, with a broken jaw and orbital bones, cuts and a concussion. He wasn't wearing a helmet during the crash, but plans to try two of them during camp -- his regular helmet, plus another with more padding."I've said it once and I'll say it again, the best protection isn't the newest technology in helmets or shoulder pads, it's my offensive line," Roethlisberger said. "Those guys are the best in the business, so I'm a lucky guy."Coach Bill Cowher already has reminded him of that. Cowher could be seen laughing with Roethlisberger several times during the 80-minute run test, in which each player must run 14 40-yard sprints in a certain time depending on position.Because he hasn't been able to run much since the accident, Roethlisberger ran with tackle Marvel Smith and rookie defensive end Orien Harris. Until now, he has been limited mostly to riding a stationary bicycle and swimming."It's just a blessing considering what could have been and when you looked at what took place. He's a very, very fortunate young man," Cowher said. "It has had a way of putting things back into the proper perspective. He has a greater appreciation for life now. Anybody who looks at something like that, it's a life-changing experience, and I don't think it's any different for him."Roethlisberger's jaw was broken in four places, so he couldn't eat all types of solid food and has lost weight -- he's at 236 pounds, lower than he was at the end of last season and within his season-opening target range of 235-240.What's uncertain now is if there will be any problems related to his head injuries that might develop once he starts getting hit in real games. But he is not required by his doctors to undergo any more neurological tests."If I go out there and feel lightheaded or dizzy, which would be news to me, then that's different. But, as of right now, I plan on going out there, being with the first group and going strong," he said.Cowher also said it will be a normal camp for Roethlisberger, as long as nothing unexpected occurs. It hasn't been decided yet if he will play in the first preseason game Aug. 12 against Arizona."We'll monitor things as we go. I think that's the best way to approach this," Cowher said. "There's no more apprehension."AP NEWSThe Associated Press News ServiceCopyright 2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved</div>http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/PIT/9577556
On SC? That doesn't sound too good... he's gotten slower? Did anyone else notice he looks like his eyes are popping out now...?
Yah but he looked like he was struggling. And Carson Palmer seems SCARED of getting hit... anyone hear him talk? He was about to cry (I would've too lol)
He was just saying how he has butterflies everytime he sees a lineman and that he will need to take huge hits in preseason to get over his major fear.
Hhaahh he says he needs to take hits yet he's running away from them for his life? The hit he got wasn't even huge it was like Von Oelhoffen bumping into his leg when he was on the ground.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Steelers | Roethlisberger easing back into thingsMon, 31 Jul 2006 08:46:17 -0700Mike Prisuta, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is back in practice and easing into the training camp routine. He went 2-for-6 during 7-on-7 drills with one interception. He threw another interception during 11-on-11 drills going 3-for-6. "This is the first time I've thrown in months, so I have to ease my arm into it a little bit," Roethlisberger said. "But I didn't hold back or anything. I didn't feel any different than I normally do on a first practice."</div>http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nflGood news to hear from him, I'm glad he doesn't feel like something is holding him back from being the player he was before the accident.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Roethlisberger says he's ready for preseasonAssociated PressLATROBE, Pa. -- Ben Roethlisberger pronounced himself fit for the Steelers' first preseason game and said Thursday that coach Bill Cowher would have to "hold me back" from playing nine days from now in Arizona.It was a departure from Roethlisberger's comment following Sunday's camp-opening practice that his playing is "always Coach's call."The turning point for Roethlisberger was Wednesday night's practice at a high-school stadium in downtown Latrobe. In front of a record crowd at Memorial Stadium, he looked like the Roethlisberger of old."Yeah, he's the same quarterback," said offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt after the impressive showing."To be in comeback form like he was last night, so soon after the accident, speaks volumes about who he is," receiver Hines Ward said. "He didn't lose a beat. He looked good."Roethlisberger improved with his arm strength, and flashed the ability to throw on the run and across his body that marked his first two seasons in the league. Roethlisberger's most impressive pass came off a scramble when he zipped the ball to Ward on the sideline. He also feathered a deep pass between linebacker Larry Foote and Troy Polamalu into the arms of Quincy Morgan."Everything feels pretty good," Roethlisberger said. "My arm feels good. I feel like it's coming along well. It's better than it has been in previous camps."Teammates in the spring had hoped that another year of experience would further the development of a quarterback with a 27-4 record in his two regular seasons in the league, but a June 12 motorcycle accident put those hopes on hold.The Wednesday night performance eased any fears."He made some great throws," Whisenhunt said. "He made some strong throws down the field so it was exciting.""The only thing now is if he gets hit. What happens then?" Ward said. "But Ben's a competitor, a warrior."Cowher said his decision on the Aug. 12 starting quarterback won't be made until next week. Whisenhunt said if it was up to him, Roethlisberger would start."Everything is normal again so I would expect him to play," Whisenhunt said. "He's the same quarterback. Obviously, not having worked out in four or five weeks dropped his conditioning back, so sometimes he gets tired in practice and with his throws he can't drive with his legs as much, but that's normal. That's not anything that's out of the ordinary with a quarterback."Roethlisberger may be even more mobile than he was last season, when he weighed close to 250 pounds. He's down to 235 and is using the added quickness to his advantage.At Thursday's practice, however, he scrambled right and threw back across his body to the other side of the field, where linebacker James Harrison intercepted the pass intended for Willie Parker."That's nothing," said tight end Heath Miller. "I know his arm has taken a little while to get back in shape, and I'm sure he's still working on it. I think maybe (Wednesday) night was a good stage for a lot of folks to see him and say, 'Oh, OK, he's the same guy, he's still number seven, he's still going to do the same stuff."'</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2538830What a miraculous recovery he has had, my hat goes off to him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gopackers4 @ Aug 6 2006, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And everyone thought he would be out for the season...</div>He escaped death by a minute or something like that... who wouldn't think so?
