Ben Roethlisberger On Le'Veon Bell's Status: 'He'll Do Everything He Can To Get On That Field'
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Coming off a win against the Cincinnati Bengals that locked up the No. 3-seed in the playoffs and a first-round home game against the Baltimore Ravens, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined "The Cook and Poni Show" for his weekly "Ben Roethlisberger Show."
The biggest storyline coming out of that victory over the Bengals was the knee injury suffered by running back Le'Veon Bell that has his status for the first round of the playoffs in question. Roethlisberger addressed that injury and whether or not he expects to have the team MVP in the backfield this week.
"You know what, I'm not sure," Roethlisberger said. "I talked to him a little bit yesterday, he seemed to be in good spirits, he seemed to be doing well, but I'm not a doctor so I can't tell you exactly what's going on. He's going to have to just see how he progresses throughout the week. He'll do everything he can I know to get on that field."
If the team is without Bell, Roethlisberger gave us a glimpse into what the offense could look like.
"I don't know if we'll have to revamp it considerably," Ben speculated. "We'll get some runs that the other guys are best at, we'll make sure that everyone is ready to go with maybe some no-huddle, more passing maybe, some empty stuff. We'll see, we'll kind of put together a plan and see how it goes throughout the week."
Ben also addressed the rumors that the team is looking at bringing in a running back from the outside, which you can read about here.
"That's a coaches call and decision," Ben said. "Obviously, we're going to have to probably have to get someone in maybe to help this week in practice. I'm not really sure; those are decisions that are made above my pay grade. We'll see whatever the coaches want to do. If they bring him in to get some carries, then I'll do my part to help them be eady to go."
Looking ahead to the first-round matchup with the Ravens, Roethlisberger talked about whether or not there's a real hatred for their AFC North rivals.
"It depends on who you'd ask," Roethlisberger said. "For me, I respect them. I think they're a very tough, physical football team. They're a different football team obviously than when I first came in with the Ray Lewis and Ed Reed's and guys like that. There is a little bit of a dislike just because I think it's competitive nature. Both teams are good football teams."
Roethlisberger also addressed what many consider to be an obsession the Ravens have with the Steelers after video surfaced earlier this year of head coach John Harbaugh referencing a past game against the Steelers after a 21-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
"You know I'm not sure," Roethlisberger said. "I heard that story whenever it happened and it kind of threw me for a little loop that they would do that."
When asked if the Steelers keep track of what the Ravens are doing like the Ravens keep tabs on them, Ben said he personally doesn't worry about what their rivals are doing on a week to week basis. "I don't, not unless we're getting ready to play them...It's got to be about you and about your team."
Ben also looked at what the future may hold for offensive coordinator Todd Haley as he's leading one of the league's top offenses and may be a candidate for one of the four head coaching spots already opened up across the NFL.
"He's done it, he's been there, he's done that. I think it's just a matter if he wants to," Roethlisberger said. "He's got one of the top...two or three offenses in the NFL. Shown that he can get it done. I think that the opportunities will be there if he so chooses, I think that's just up to him if he wants to go."
Roethlisberger even threw his support behind Haley and said he hopes the offensive coordinator chooses to stay.
"If he wants to go be a head coach then we're going to be excited for him because that's what he wants but on the other hand, we don't want him to leave because we enjoy him here and we enjoy his offense and kind of what we've done this year and hopefully what we can do in the future."
Things wrapped up this week on The Ben Roethlisberger Show with the quarterback talking about his best playoff win as he gears up for what they're hoping is another deep playoff run this year.
On the best moment, Ben said it was fulfilling that moment that every kid plays out in their backyard.
"I kind of have to go back to the Arizona [Cardinals] Super Bowl," Ben remembered. "As a kid growing up, I was Joe Montana in the backyard throwing touchdowns to Jerry Rice to win Super Bowls and to have that opportunity to throw a pass to Santonio Holmes in the corner of the endzone to win the game, that was my dream growing up and its got to be every boy's dream that wants to play in the NFL.
You can hear the full audio of The Ben Roethlisberger Show here.
You can hear Ben Roethlisberger every Tuesday throughout the football season as he joins the "Cook and Poni Show" for "The Ben Roethlisberger Show" at 11 a.m.
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