Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger launched his first episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger last Thursday on his YouTube channel, Channel Seven. He discussed a variety of things including his favorite (and not so favorite) beers, quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, and much more.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger talks beer and football in his basement during his first episode of "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" on September 1, 2022. | YouTube / Channel Seven
During the episode, Roethlisberger was asked by his long-time friend and co-host, Spencer, what it was like dealing with the cut process each year, and how that ultimately affected the way the 18-year veteran developed relationships with his teammates:
"Honestly, I'll be honest. I had a lot of like, early in my career especially, a lot of guys that I was really good friends with that got cut. And it made it harder to be closer to guys. Because it felt like every time you got close with somebody, they got cut. And that's hard.""And so then, I definitely took some heat at times for not being as close to guys, but I was like, 'I've been here for 10 years, and I've seen so many guys go.' And it's not just like anybody, it's like your buddies go. Like, your friend, the guy that you got close to. Your roommate on the road, whatever it was. And it's like, it's so hard to do."
"And so it's hard to get close to guys. You have to just, sometimes you just have to say, listen, I'm going to fight through this, and I'm going to do it anyway. But that was my... it just wasn't easy to always be close to guys because of that."
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster (#19) celebrates with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. . (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Roethlisberger also expressed how he occasionally disagreed with the front office and their decisions on who to cut and who to keep for the roster:
"Every once in awhile, you'll be like, 'Alright, he's gone.' And sometimes it's just as simple as ok, you look, you count numbers. It's like ok, there's... you're only going to keep three running backs.""Sometimes... there are the shockers. You're like, 'Ok, that guy's going to make it.' And he doesn't. You're like, 'What? Why would they cut [him]?' ...It would blow your mind. And you're like, 'What are they doing? I'm out there, I'm playing, I know what this guy is capable of doing.' ...And they're like, you know, the GM is sitting up in his office watching. I'm like you... sometimes you just got to scratch your head, and you're like, 'What are they doing?' But you just have to trust I guess that they know. But it can be frustrating at times. Especially when guys you know, and want to make it."
Steelers then-General Manager Kevin Colbert and current General Manager Omar Khan after practice at training camp Wednesday August 3, 2016 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. (Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review)
Roethlisberger has been very vocal, especially in his post-retirement regarding how he's felt about events that have transpired during his time in Pittsburgh. He's faced a lot of ridicule about his relationships with teammates, and this is great insight as to why he may not have been as close with past teammates as he could've been.
To watch Roethlisberger's full episode, click here!
What do yinz think about Roethlisberger's side of things regarding his past teammates? Or about former general manager, Kevin Colbert? Click to comment below!
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