The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football this week 24-17. Since this was one of the Monday Night Football broadcasts that did not feature a Manningcast on ESPN2, someone had to fill the void. Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger decided to host Maurkice Pouncey on his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast and have his own watch party during the broadcast, and it did not disappoint.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Maurkice Pouncey #53 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Roethlisberger and Pouncey covered a myriad of subjects during the three-hour podcast that was filmed while watching the game in an Orlando, FL hotel. Pouncey drove up from his home in Miami, FL to sample some adult beverages with Roethlisberger and cohost Spencer T’eo. The former quarterback and center have a close bond and Pouncey discussed how hard it was to snap the ball to anyone but the future Hall of Famer.
“I mean after you play with this guy and I hate to say because we had some other other good quarterbacks on the team,” Pouncey said. “But once you play with Ben it was hard to play with Mason. It truly was, because there’s certain plays that you thought that we would already be making and throwing like it just didn’t come to fruition. I can’t play for another quarterback it was just too hard because I experienced playing without a Hall of Fame quarterback."
Pouncey played almost the entire 2019 season with Mason Rudolph and Devlin “Duck” Hodges at quarterback and revealed just how difficult it was for him and the offensive line to play off schedule. The offense which struggled mightily without Roethlisberger was out of rhythm for the duration of the season and they did not have the same relationship with the backups that they did with the veteran Pittsburgh signal caller.
“I wish it was Ben, because it cost me a lot of money,” Pouncey told T’eo about the infamous Myles Garrett fight. “Don’t get me wrong it made me legendary but that was an expensive fight. The rest of the fights in my life didn’t cost that much. I’d have been cool if that money was spent on Ben.”
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) is punched by Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) and tackled by offensive guard David DeCastro (66) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-7. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Pouncey and David DeCastro attacked Myles Garrett after he hit Rudolph with his own helmet. DeCastro was already engaged trying to separate Rudolph from Garrett but after the helmet landed on the rookie signal callers head, the Pro Bowl center went into attack mode throwing but not necessarily landing blows on Garrett in the melee. He defended his quarterback but T’eo asked what would have happened if that had been Roethlisberger instead of Rudolph.
“Ben had so much respect in the league though,” Pouncey continued. “Nobody would have hit him with a helmet.”“I remember thinking,” T’eo interjected. “Thank God, that wasn’t Ben.”
“If that was me,” Roethlisberger interrupted. “Pouncey would have went to jail.”
It is highly unlikely that Garrett would have ever attacked the Hall of Fame Steelers signal caller, and the referees would likely have thrown flags and made a more significant effort to separate the two players if Roethlisberger had taken umbrage to the hit. However, if it had been, it is highly likely that the entire Steelers sidelines would have become involved in a much uglier brawl.
Garrett was wrong and paid a price for the incident, but no doubt his career would have been over if it was not a rookie third round draft pick that he assaulted. Pouncey and DeCastro, were also fortunate that the brawl was eventually defused by coaches and officials on the field. Mike Tomlin and then Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens would not have been able to control the brawl that would have ensued if Garrett pulled the same shenanigans with Roethlisberger.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Is Pouncey right? If Roethlisberger is on the field does Garret react the same way? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
