Ben Roethlisberger says retirement remains an option after 2017

[polamalubeast]

Ed Bouchette

Ben Roethlisberger will tie Terry Bradshaw for the longest tenure as a Steelers quarterback when he embarks on his 14th season.

The question now becomes, will it be his last?

Roethlisberger, 35, told the Post-Gazette Friday that retirement remains an option for him after this season, and that his wife, Ashley, would like to see him give up football.

In past years, he’s talked about playing a lot longer, but he mentioned the possibility of retiring two days after the Steelers season ended with their loss to New England in the AFC championship. He ultimately decided to come back this year but will not commit beyond it.

Why the change of heart from the past?

“Age,” Roethlisberger said, then laughed. “It’s just, it’s 14 years; that’s a long time. I think the average life expectancy in the NFL is 3 years, maybe 3½ now.


read more


http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...ime=1501257863

[Rotorhead]

I guess we will see what all this retirement talk does to his competitiveness this season . . . will it drive him to go out on a winning note or will he be complacent?

[AtlantaDan]

I guess we will see what all this retirement talk does to his competitiveness this season . . . will it drive him to go out on a winning note or will he be complacent?

I will not truly appreciate how much Ben's talent will be missed until he is gone, but I will not miss the drama that is not part of the deal you get for most top shelf QBs

[86WARD]

STFU Ben. You retire when we get the next Ben. Until then, win Super Bowls!!

[polamalubeast]

Not always true.

Just to watch the last season of David Ortiz in the MLB ...

[Nadroj 20]

I mentioned this in another thread, but I hope we compete this year. Nothing to me suggests that we aren't going to, but if for some reason we don't and Ben takes a typical beating, I can see him calling it quits.

Also, I don't think his performance will be effected. I think once he made the decision to play this year, he was fully committed and he will play well. Even if he has a below average year I will maintain that it is not because he considered retiring. He is a professional and he wouldn't have continued playing if he wasn't ready to give it is best effort.

[Mojouw]

Athlete gives honest answer to question from reporter - fans freak out.

Athlete dodges question and gives bogus answer - fans freak out.

Athlete ignores question and doesn't answer - fans freak out.

Thinking about retirement, is a long way from actually doing it.

[polamalubeast]

Roethlisberger talks retirement, Super Bowls, Bradshaw, legacy.


“Let’s just say the Super Bowl is the plan,” Roethlisberger said today in a one-on-one interview with Steelers.com. “Let’s try and get that first and we’ll go from there.”

Pouncey is hoping Roethlisberger will play at least three or four more years.

Roethlisberger, 35, isn’t ready to commit to anything beyond 2017.

“I’m going to take it one year at a time,” he said. “In five years could we be having this same conversation? Yes. Could it be next year? I don’t know, and that’s why I’m not going to look past this year.”

Roethlisberger has thought about “all kinds of things” in terms of what he’d do next, but none with any degree of certainty.

read more


http://www.steelers.com/news/article...b-0c9e2110d9f5

[AtlantaDan]

Athlete gives honest answer to question from reporter - fans freak out.

Athlete dodges question and gives bogus answer - fans freak out.

Athlete ignores question and doesn't answer - fans freak out.

Thinking about retirement, is a long way from actually doing it.

Why not just think about it rather than play Hamlet and act it out for the media

The question naturally was going to be raised at camp after Ben raised it in his radio show after the Pats loss last January and then strung out that drama for several months

He is a great QB but the constant sideshows, going back to his "broken toes" after his AFC championship loss his rookie season, are tiresome - of course Ben and his dramas are far preferable to no drama QBs such as Mark Malone, Neil O'Donnell and Mike Tomczak

[Mojouw]

Why not just think about it rather than play Hamlet and act it out for the media

The question naturally was going to be raised at camp after Ben raised it in his radio show after the Pats loss last January and then strung out that drama for several months

He is a great QB but the constant sideshows, going back to his "broken toes" after his AFC championship loss his rookie season, are tiresome - of course Ben and his dramas are far preferable to no drama QBs such as Mark Malone, Neil O'Donnell and Mike Tomczak

I, and this is just me, think this stuff is only a "drama" and a "sideshow" if you pay attention to it/give a crap. I personally ignore 75-90% of what the players and coaches say in interviews. It is all just noise anyways. That then gets repeated and amped up through a media megaphone.

Any 14 year vet in the NFL who isn't thinking about retirement and willing to say so is a liar anyways.

[BlackAndGold]

Not to sound like an ass or anything, cause I hope he has a healthy post football life, but it's probably too late for the CTE talk.

[AtlantaDan]

Not to sound like an ass or anything, cause I hope he has a healthy post football life, but it's probably too late for the CTE talk.

Yep - that is like preventing cancer by giving up smoking after a 2 pack a day habit for 25 years or starting to use sunscreen in your 50s

[tube517]

Yep - that is like preventing cancer by giving up smoking after a 2 pack a day habit for 25 years or starting to use sunscreen in your 50s

Hmmmm, I turn 50 next year and just bought a bottle.

[steelerdude15]

Not to sound like an ass or anything, cause I hope he has a healthy post football life, but it's probably too late for the CTE talk.

It's not guaranteed he'll get CTE. There are many formers athletes who do not have it.

[AtlantaDan]

Hmmmm, I turn 50 next year and just bought a bottle.

Hope you have better luck than me - I grew up when you needed to get that first good sunburn to toughen up for the summer and now am a steady customer getting procedures at the dermatologist

For purposes of clarification I am not trying to make any sort of joke about major illnesses - Kaye Cowher among others lost her life to melanoma and CTE is a mortal threat to football along with those who play it for any period of time

[teegre]

Hope you have better luck than me - I grew up when you needed to get that first good sunburn to toughen up for the summer and now am a steady customer getting procedures at the dermatologist

I'm certain that my nose will have cancer on it. It used to peel until it bled. Who knew about skin cancer back then???

Of course, living in San Diego, it might not make a difference. My last ten days have been: bike ride along the coast, waterpark, body surfing, rest day (pool), surreying along the boardwalk, water gun fight in the pool, paddleboarding, sandcastle building, water-filled bounce-house...

[GBMelBlount]

I'm certain that my nose will have cancer on it. It used to peel until it bled. Who knew about skin cancer back then???

Of course, living in San Diego, it might not make a difference.

My last ten days have been:

bike ride along the coast,

waterpark,

body surfing,

rest day (pool),

surreying along the boardwalk,

water gun fight in the pool,

paddleboarding,

sandcastle building,

water-filled bounce-house...

You are quite the beach extravert Teegre!

[teegre]

You are quite the beach extravert Teegre!

My power comes from my pink banana hammock.

[tube517]

You are quite the beach extravert Teegre!

Is that Cliff Claven? Wait, Teegre is Clifford Claven?

[teegre]

Is that Cliff Claven? Wait, Teegre is Clifford Claven?

It's a little-known fact...

[AtlantaDan]

Ben makes PTI - mission accomplished

http://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/20185808

Tony Kornheiser - Antonio Brown showed up at Steelers camp as Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy

[st33lersguy]

Of course it's an option, 35 years old, 14th year in the league, has taken quite the beating, considered retiring this offseason.

[ALLD]

He is one knee injury away from hanging it up. He will get to a point to where he doesn't care about the money or the game. He is grinding it out. Maybe have a good #2 finish out the 4th quarters more often.

[Hawkman]

At least we will have a QB THIS season.......the Ratbirds are looking for a new center, who just retired at 26.

[DesertSteel]

When the time comes I'd rather he just do it. I really don't want to hear about it constantly. Didn't read the article and am not interested.

[BlackAndGold]

I'll just say, he better have one hell of a year, if he struggles with the talent around him, the media is going to rip him a new one.

Wish he just kept this retirement talk to himself, I'd hate to see his last year being called a quitter, or not giving 100%.

[ALLD]

He should be talking more about going out like John Elway or The Bus, rather than whining about being forced to play a game for millions of dollars.

[86WARD]

It's not like he called a press,conference to make this announcement. He was asked the question. What would you guys rather have him do other than answer the question? Just say no comment and lead to more speculation? Just stand here silent like a dope?

[polamalubeast]

I'll just say, he better have one hell of a year, if he struggles with the talent around him, the media is going to rip him a new one.

Wish he just kept this retirement talk to himself, I'd hate to see his last year being called a quitter, or not giving 100%.

I'm not worried about that...In his career, Roethlisberger has never been a quitter, so I expect that Ben gives his best once again.

[BlackAndGold]

It's not like he called a press,conference to make this announcement. He was asked the question. What would you guys rather have him do other than answer the question? Just say no comment and lead to more speculation? Just stand here silent like a dope?

He should have said that he still loves playing football, and still he feels good. That would have ended any speculation.


(Albeit I forgot how the question was asked)

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not worried about that...In his career, Roethlisberger has never been a quitter, so I expect that Ben gives his best once again.

Oh I expect Ben to give everything he's got, I actually think he has a MVP caliber season. I was just saying the media can be overly harsh when/if a player struggles, especially if he's talking retirement.