The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a time in which there's a "changing of the guard." However, according to former Steelers' long-time franchise quarterback and future first ballot Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger, there seems to be a change all across the league with players in general.
Roethlisberger played his heart out and gave it his all for 18 seasons with the franchise, but even he has regret while looking back on his playing days.
Steelers.com
Roethlisberger stepped away from the game and called it a career after last season. In an article published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday, Roethlisberger recently spoke with Ron Cook about many topics including a culture change that has happened within the organization and the NFL as a whole.
“I feel like the game has changed," Roethlisberger stated in the conversation. "I feel like the people have changed in a sense. Maybe it’s because I got spoiled when I came in. The team was so important. It was all about the team. Now, it’s about me and this, that and the other."
There's a lot of factors playing into the shift that Roethlisberger references. Players have more eyes on them now, than ever before. Especially with people criticizing every move a player makes. Social media can be such a great place to stay connected to old friends and share moments with family and friends, but it also has its faults. Players in the NFL can get sucked into the vortex that is social media and it can become a huge distraction for a team trying to accomplish a goal of winning a Super Bowl.
Ben Roethlisberger drops back to pass against New England in 2004. PHOTO/STEELERS.COM
“I might be standing on a soapbox a little bit, but that’s my biggest takeaway from when I started to the end," Roethlisberger continued. "It turned from a team-first to a me-type attitude. It was hard. It’s hard for these young guys, too. Social media. They’re treated so well in college. Now, this new NIL stuff, which is unbelievable. They’re treated so special. They’re coddled at a young age because college coaches need them to win, too. I know coach [Terry] Hoeppner never coddled me [at Miami of Ohio]. Neither did [Bill] Cowher.”
A lot of people have glorified the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreement, which offers players a chance to make deals with companies in order to get paid for various things. It doesn't seem like Roethlisberger agrees with what it can create. It's becoming an uphill battle for players coming from college to the NFL. You can't coddle players and expect them to become Super Bowl champions. The circumstances have changed since Roethlisberger came into the league in 2004. Social media was a thing back then, I assure you, but it didn't play as prominent of a role as it does now.
Ben Roethlisberger completed 5 of 7 passes for 84 yards on the Steelers’ winning drive during Super Bowl XLIII. Credit-Doug Mills/The New York Times
Times have changed, but so has the NFL and the players coming into it. Roethlisberger spoke about other topics in the conversation with Cook, including last season's farewell tour.
Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
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