Ben Roethlisberger seriously considered retiring, ex-Steelers teammate says
Ben Roethlisberger shook up the Pittsburgh Steerlers fan base when he discussed the possibility of retirement after an AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots.
He later calmed them down when he said on his website BigBen7.com, "Informed the team I am looking forward to my 14th season. Steeler Nation will get my absolute best! — Ben."
But according to former Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon, that talk of retirement was serious.
Colon, appearing on Pro Football Talk Live on Tuesday morning, said, “I was at (former Steelers owner and chairman) Dan Rooney's funeral in Pittsburgh and I got to sit down and talk to (Roethlisberger), and one thing he told me is he did take it seriously. He’s dealt with a lot of injuries.”
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Colon was an offensive lineman for the Steelers from 2006-12, playing right tackle for most of his tenure. He said that his former peers along the line could play a critical role in how long Roethlisberger continues to play.
“He’s passionate about playing, but one thing that keeps his fire going is that offensive line,” Colon said. “He's been through three eras of football and when he digs in the crates on what motivates him, it's Maurkice Pouncey, it's Ramon Foster, it's (Marcus) Gilbert, it's (Alejandro) Venezuela is (David) DeCastro. These guys keep him motivated because he's able to see their passion and their fight to go out there and be the best and uphold the Steeler legacy. For him to say that, it's a testament to how much he believes in this team and for how much he cares for his guys.
"You have to worry about the health of Ben Roethlisberger. Can you keep him upright, can he stay healthy for the duration? They have the offensive line, they have the pieces around him to make it work. I like what Pittsburgh has done so far, it's just a matter of can they stay healthy, especially toward the back end of the season when everybody's banged up and fighting for a playoff spot."
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