Ben Roethlisberger Admits He’s Scared About New Steelers Season
Ben Roethlisberger had an injury-mired year to forget in 2019.
With the new season beginning this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback recently acknowledged that he was a little scared of what is to come.
“I was driving in today and crossed the Veterans Bridge and was thinking to myself, man, I am already nervous for this season,” he said
“You always have a little bit of jitters and nervousness for the first game. The way I feel now is more than how I have felt in a long time. I am sure it’s going to intensify as the week goes on, then Monday night I am sure I am going to be shaking like a leaf. It’s one of those things you get out there and hopefully it all comes back to me really quick.”
At age 38, Roethlisberger knows what to expect. You don’t miss 14 weeks of action the prior year and then return at 100 percent.
Rust is always an issue.
“There is going to be rust, no doubt about it,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get it knocked off sooner rather than later. That is what makes it fun. If I wasn’t nervous, if I didn’t have that anxiousness, you shouldn’t be out there. If there is not a love for the game, if you don’t have that.
“Since I have those nerves already it shows I still love this game, I am still passionate for it. I want to go out and win for the fans, the city.”
New season. New look. https://t.co/hX5ZQBJVkn
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 9, 2020
Even without Roethlisberger and with two quarterbacks who are much more akin to third stringers than second stringers, Pittsburgh remained competitive in the AFC playoff race – ultimately missing out on a Wild Card game by inches.
Presumably, if everyone is healthy in 2020, the Steelers will give the Baltimore Ravens a run for the AFC North crown and at the very least secure a Wild Card berth for themselves.
Obviously an elbow injury derailed Roethlisberger’s campaign in 2019, but he was actually coming off a surprisingly solid 2018.
That season, he recorded 5,129 passing yards and 34 touchdowns – career bests on all fronts.
Fears and nerves notwithstanding, if Roethlisberger can return to the form he was in that year, Pittsburgh could make some legitimate noise this season.
The Steelers will kick things off this weekend with a showdown against the New York Giants.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.