Bradshaw to Roethlisberger: 'I got your back'

[bleedBnG58]

Bradshaw to Roethlisberger: 'I got your back'
By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

ARLINGTON, Texas — A rift between the two greatest quarterbacks in Steelers history apparently has been mended.

Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger met privately before Super Bowl media day at Cowboys Stadium, and the two shook hands and hugged afterward.

The two talked for about 10 minutes Tuesday morning before doing a 25-minute interview for FOX, which is broadcasting Super Bowl XLV.

"We both came to a conclusion that we're Steelers and we're part of that family, and I encouraged him and I got his back and I support him 100 percent," said Bradshaw, an NFL studio analyst for FOX.

The quarterbacks who have won all six of the Steelers' Super Bowl titles have had a chilly relationship since 2006, when Bradshaw publicly chided Roethlisberger for riding a motorcycle.

That was nothing compared to Bradshaw's criticism after a 20-year-old college student accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her last March in Milledgeville, Ga.

Bradshaw, who has 23- and 21-year-old daughters, said Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. would have gotten rid of Roethlisberger following the quarterback's second sexual assault accusation in nine months.

Bradshaw reiterated that opinion earlier this week in an interview with the New York Post. But he also reached out to Steelers president Art Rooney II in an attempt to make peace with Roethlisberger.

Bradshaw said he told Rooney, the grandson of Rooney Sr., that he wanted to interview Roethlisberger for FOX. The two chatted before the interview behind closed doors, and Roethlisberger said it was the longest they had ever spoken.

"It was a good talk, so I think everything's good," Roethlisberger said. "I think Terry maybe spoke a little too soon (in the past) without knowing some of the things and facts. He's entitled to his opinion; he works for the media."

Bradshaw said his job is to be opinionated, and he had angered John Elway as well as the Manning family after he criticized Eli Manning for forcing a trade before he had played a down in the NFL. (Elway had done the same, leveraging a trade from the Baltimore Colts to Denver in 1983.)

Bradshaw said he will take Roethlisberger to task in the future if it is warranted. But he said he is firmly behind Roethlisberger and his stated goal of winning at least one more Super Bowl than Bradshaw.

Bradshaw and Joe Montana are the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls, and Roethlisberger has a chance to win his third Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

"I'm not shy about telling you how I feel, and I let (Roethlisberger) know that," the outspoken Bradshaw said. "But I said, 'I got your back and I'm here for you. I want you to break my records, I want you to win more Super Bowls than anybody, and there's no greater honor than for me to present you and the Rooney family another Super Bowl trophy.'"

Their chat preceded what turned out to be a relatively uneventful media day for Roethlisberger.

The one-hour sessions are most noteworthy for the no-holds-barred questions they produce. But Roethlisberger was not asked about what happened in Milledgeville or about a civil lawsuit, filed in July 2008, in which a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in Reno, Nev.

Roethlisberger seemed relaxed while holding court in one of the booths reserved for the marquee players.

Among the non-football questions he was asked were whether he likes "Jersey Shore" (he doesn't watch reality TV) and his favorite coaching cliche ("It is what it is.")

Roethlisberger said he approached media day with the idea that he would soak up the experience, despite the possible onslaught that awaited him.

"Because," he said, "you never know when it's going to be your last time."

The personal comeback story Roethlisberger is trying to author has commanded as much attention as his quest to become just the fifth quarterback to win at least three Super Bowls.

"Some of the players when (Roethlisberger's fall from grace) first happened and he came back, they just want to see him grow up a little bit and time will tell with that," said former Steelers great Rod Woodson, an analyst for NFL Network. "I would rather see Ben lose the Super Bowl and become a better person. I'm not saying he's a bad person, but for those negative things that happened outside of football to never happen again."


Read more: Bradshaw to Roethlisberger: 'I got your back' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1Cla5f7me

[Beezy]

I think Bradshaw is bat **** insane. He wouldn't let that **** go now all of a sudden they are the black and gold brothers lol. Okie dokie.

[fezziwig]

We can now all sleep better.

[Palmetto Steel]

I think Bradshaw is bat **** insane. He wouldn't let that **** go now all of a sudden they are the black and gold brothers lol. Okie dokie.

I hear 'ya... And agree to a point... But all senseless crap has to come to an end, so maybe they are both sincere about it... I want to think so, because both are SB winners for this team... I don't know what they said to eachother behind closed doors, but it's possible that they reached an accord.

[Beezy]

I hear 'ya... And agree to a point... But all senseless crap has to come to an end, so maybe they are both sincere about it... I want to think so, because both are SB winners for this team... I don't know what they said to eachother behind closed doors, but it's possible that they reached an accord.

Oh sure but I still think he is nuts. They both might be a little nuts. Sometimes that's what it take to win tho.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

"It was a good talk, so I think everything's good," Roethlisberger said. "I think Terry maybe spoke a little too soon (in the past) [HIGH-LIGHT]without knowing some of the things and facts[/HIGH-LIGHT]. He's entitled to his opinion; he works for the media."

I would like to see Michael Irvin get Ben's back and tell it how it is. Have you once, I mean freaking once, heard one of these talking heads mention that there is the possibility that the chicks are trying to get MONEY? Irvin was twice accused of sexual assault with the first chick finally admitting she made it up. So listening to these people fill in the gaps it is all Ben's a sexual predator and these chicks are his victims instead of the first crazy assed chick accused Ben, and at that point all it took was a google search for these 3 college chicks to go for the cash. All you hear is that the Ga. girl didn't move forward cause of the scrutiny she would be under.....well maybe she didn't want the scrutiny out of fear that the truth would be revealed about her intentions. They might of had a plan to try and score some money from the rich athlete, but once she felt how big the story really was and how much attention it got, she backed out. Where are the theorists running with that line of thinking? It is just as plausible if not more plausible. Sorry, but I was in a fraternity in college and sorority girls can be down right evil.

[bdeff]

Sorry, but I was in a fraternity in college and sorority girls can be down right evil.

That may be the understatement of the year.

[Kipper]

Sure Bradshaw is a dick. He's a hypocrite when you look at his past with women. The guy really had no room to talk about Ben as a person when Terry as a person was no saint. With this case it was perhaps the first good thing Bradshaw did. Instead of going into attack mode, probably based on being defensive, he actually sought out Ben privately to bull****. something that he should've done in 2006 instead of flapping his gums for years and coming off as a jealous former player watching his records collapse. This drama needed to come to an end and it's nice that it has even if the intention was all for Terry Bradshaw, these 2 needed to talk.

[Hambert5958]

Sure Bradshaw is a dick. He's a hypocrite when you look at his past with women. The guy really had no room to talk about Ben as a person when Terry as a person was no saint.

So true. But as I said in a previous post, those 2 making peace (hopefully it is sincere) is a good thing. A bit of good karma before the game.............

[Kipper]

So true. But as I said in a previous post, those 2 making peace (hopefully it is sincere) is a good thing. A bit of good karma before the game.............

i completely agree. Like i said, this should've happened in 2006 instead of Bradshaw escalating the poor relationship and alienating Ben by attacking him in the media.

The thing with Ben is that he always seemed like someone that needed a close mentor, a father figure type whether he wanted it or not and what he got was too much freedom. Bradshaw needed to be more of a mentor, father figure type or use that approach to Ben instead of being an attacking media figure... It's good that it's taken care of now and hopefully it brings some closure and relaxed minds

[Stone]

"It was a good talk, so I think everything's good," Roethlisberger said. "I think Terry maybe spoke a little too soon (in the past) [HIGH-LIGHT]without knowing some of the things and facts[/HIGH-LIGHT]. He's entitled to his opinion; he works for the media."

I would like to see Michael Irvin get Ben's back and tell it how it is. [HIGH-LIGHT]Have you once, I mean freaking once, heard one of these talking heads mention that there is the possibility that the chicks are trying to get MONEY?[/HIGH-LIGHT] Irvin was twice accused of sexual assault with the first chick finally admitting she made it up. So listening to these people fill in the gaps it is all Ben's a sexual predator and these chicks are his victims instead of the first crazy assed chick accused Ben, and at that point all it took was a google search for these 3 college chicks to go for the cash. All you hear is that the Ga. girl didn't move forward cause of the scrutiny she would be under.....well maybe she didn't want the scrutiny out of fear that the truth would be revealed about her intentions. They might of had a plan to try and score some money from the rich athlete, but once she felt how big the story really was and how much attention it got, she backed out. Where are the theorists running with that line of thinking? It is just as plausible if not more plausible. Sorry, but I was in a fraternity in college and sorority girls can be down right evil.

This is my belief of what happened and until someone knocks me off that position I will remain there. Think about this scenario:

Ben was a dick....we all know that!

He gets ****faced with some bimbettes and his little head takes over....happens to all of us!

She is drunk and is loving being seen with Big Ben.....she wouldn't be there is she wasn't!

As they play slap and tickle, she gets more and more in to it, and more and more drunk!

Ben thinks he is invincible and above scrutiny.....happens to every star!

Ben says or does something she doesn't like (maybe "can I smell your *****?" ...."NO!"....."Oh then it must be your feet!") and she wants revenge (money)!

[VtSteeler]

1) I think the girl's dad told her to shut up.
2) not to be a dick but I think Bradshaw was ordered to get an interview.