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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23406...d-mason-rudolph

Ben Roethlisberger 'surprised' Steelers drafted Mason Rudolph


PITTSBURGH -- Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was surprised the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a quarterback after he notified them about his plan to play three to five more years.

Appearing on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Friday, Roethlisberger was pointed when asked about last week's selection of Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph with the 76th overall pick.

"I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now," Roethlisberger said. "Nothing against Mason; I think he's a great football player. I don't know him personally, but I'm sure he's a great kid. I just don't know how backing up or being a third [string] -- well, who knows where he's going to fall on the depth chart -- helps us win now.

"But, you know, that's not my decision to make. That's on the coaches and the GM and the owner and those kind of things. If they think he can help our team, so be it, but I was a little surprised."

Roethlisberger, 36, made a point to notify team officials early in the offseason about his plans, which he admits depend on health. He did this, he said, to ease any concerns for the offseason, including the draft.

"I wanted them to know so they wouldn't have to worry about drafting a quarterback," he said. "... I wanted to make sure there were no questions."

The reaction from the Steelers was positive, Roethlisberger said -- and he assumed they believed him.

"Once they drafted a quarterback in the third, I wasn't sure if they believed me or not," Roethlisberger added. "But I'm committed to it."

The team drafted a quarterback for the second consecutive year; Josh Dobbs was selected out of Tennessee in the fourth round in 2017. Shortly before that draft, Roethlisberger had announced a return for a 14th season after a public flirtation with retirement.

This year, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the team had a first-round grade on Rudolph, who set passing records with 13,618 yards for the Cowboys.

On the show, Roethlisberger openly wondered whether the Rudolph pick signaled the team "screwed up the pick" with the hardworking Dobbs.

Dobbs isn't concerned about competing with Rudolph in training camp.

"I know how the league works. It's just another opportunity to have competition," Dobbs said. "I'm sure it will be a great addition to the [quarterback] room. ... [The Steelers] were really excited with how I performed last year in the preseason and in practices and overall preparation.

"It's like you can't really take it personal. They are always looking for the next player. Quarterback is the most important position. No matter who they bring in, you have to compete every single day. Your play speaks for itself. That's all you can do, show the leaps and bounds I made last year, continue to progress in the offense and add new ideas. I plan on being [at camp] and plan to compete. When you're a true competitor, you rise to the competition."

Asked about mentoring Rudolph, Roethlisberger was blunt.

"I don't think I'll need to, now that he said he doesn't need me. If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook," Roethlisberger said with a laugh.

Rudolph told the media on draft night that it's not up to Roethlisberger to teach him anything, and that it's his own job to learn.

Roethlisberger said he will answer questions if Rudolph asks, but added that backup Landry Jones is skilled at helping young quarterbacks.

"As far as I know, I'm still the starter," Roethlisberger said. "So I need to get myself ready to go, ready to play and win a championship."

Roethlisberger has two years left on his contract at a time when the quarterback market has reached $30 million annually thanks to Matt Ryan's deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

The quarterback seems to be in no hurry to address his contract. The team faces a potentially rocky negotiation with running back Le'Veon Bell this summer.

"To me, there's more important pieces that need to be taken care of besides myself," Roethlisberger said. "I've got two years left, this one and one more. I want to go out and do the best I can. To me, it's about addressing it next year. But if they feel they want to talk and address something this year, then we will obviously talk and listen."

Can't wait til he's out the league

+1

I can't wait until we have a QB that's good enough to be able to be a diva.

It's something every year.

My crazy dream is that we start beating him every game this year until he quits. He's older now and slower, there is no damn excuse for him steamrolling us like it's a bye week every time we play. Sickening.

I'd love to see the Browns abuse him for once.

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was either another motorcycle accident, or another rape accusation.

I realize the success he's had and the incredible career he's had ... but the constant drama with him would grow tiresome to me

Guess I am a Mason Rudolph fan. Never pass on any chance to hate on Benny Boy. Retire.

That’s because he’s not ours. I’d put up with enormous amounts of drama to have a QB as good as Roethlisberger.

2nd of all, I wanted to say I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mason Rudolph doesn't beat out Ben for the starting spot, by proving just a better qb, sometime in the next 20 months.

1st of all I wanted to say, who gives a rats backside what Ben does, isn't there an 'anything but the browns' forum to put this thread in, maybe the shack,

I know this is football (I guess), but I don't like reading about the censored steelers.

He'll retire just in time for Rudolph to start lighting us up. I think the Rats and Squealers both found their QBs of the future. 6 potential franchise QBs in this draft and half of them land in our division.

Based on the history of the draft, the Steelers almost certainly didn’t find their next long term QB. They probably found their next Landry Jones.

I don't care about the history. I know what I see.

Yawn. Egos and primadonnas in sports.

European and South American soccer players are the worst, but NFL and NBA are getting close. Does he (and Brady) really think their franchise are going to just sit and wait until they retire before they take a guy they see as their future starter? Give Mason a couple years, like Garpollo, and who knows what he will morph into. Either he is Landry Jones or he is their future starter. But, they have to find out and they have to think about life beyond Ben R.

2 SB wins and how many division titles?

yea, i wouldnt care about the drama one bit.

Seriously, as if Johnny Mayfield isn't gonna bring the drama.

As I’ve said elsewhere, I’d still think Ben was a disgusting human being, but I’d be cheering for us to win.

I hear this super loud and extremely clear.

I forget the hit but it was Willie McGinest and someone else, they sandwiched Ben. But even at that, it's been wiped out/not much room to use for talk when they just shred us all the time. It would be nice to make up his retirement an easy decision (not by means on injury, but by pain (Clubber Lang)).

this just may well be that year lol...couple sacks game 1 and a pick or two and he is done.

seems like his will is easy to break these days...Mr. I don't know if I got it anymore.

make him cry like a 3 yr old lol

Wasnt it just a few years back that he was on verge of retiring??? now he is staying on 5 more years??? which is it....teams cant get caught up in the farv-esque will he wont he drama....they owe you nothing ben

Yeah, that's the thing. Don't be upset if you've been publicly wavering on playing

If I'm the Steelers this is exactly what I wanted. If it takes burning a 3rd round pick to get Ben to stay 2-4 additional years....it was WAY worth it.

Mason is the first QB they have drafted that could force Ben to EARN the job a year or two from now and Bens knows it which is why he is bent out of shape.

lol, not only that. But Ben talks about retiring every single season it seems.

He continuously creates this drama and holds the Steelers hostage.

So they've drafted Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph as contingency plans. Seems like a smart decision from a smart organization. Not sure what he expected.........

Ben created his own problem here. The only reason he kept threatening retirement was to force the team to get rid of Haley. Now that Haley is gone he has to live with the fallout of his words. The team called his bluff by drafting Rudolph even though he had no intention of retiring....he was just using it a leverage tool to get what he wanted.

Agreed.

But even still, he's played like 12 or 13 seasons (with multiple Post-Seasons) for the team. And he's played a style (especially at one point), that led him to get hit a ton.

The guy's not going to go on forever. If he expects the Steelers to get caught with their pants down, he's crazy.

It's not like they drafted Rudolph in the 1st round, like the Ravens did with Lamar Jackson either.

It's a 3rd round pick for godsake. He needs to get over himself, lol


EDIT: If anyone should be complaining it's Jones or Dobbs. Of course, they would never for fear they'd just get cut. Funny how that one works

Yep. He usually misses a game or two a year due to injury and will most likely miss more as he gets older. As a Steeler fan if I never have to see Landry Jones start another game it's a win. They had to do it.

Having watched Mason Rudolph in the Big 12 for his career I do not think Ben has anything to worry about. He is good but there is a reason he went in the third round.

yep.. when they rest him againts the browns last game of reg season.

Do you one better.

I thought it was both. Hope we pound him this year so he wants to retire. Let their newly take over.

Looks like a lot of this "drama" was overhyped...

link

excerpts from this link:

The Pittsburgh Steelers rookies and invitees were back on the gridiron again Saturday, albeit in shorts, and of course news of the newest members of the black-and-gold.

For the second day in a row, the third round rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph stole headlines. Friday he spoke about receiving a text message from Ben Roethlisberger, to ease the concern of the fan base, but on Saturday it was his play on the field, not his words, which turned heads.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, after several Day 1 fumbles under center, Rudolph let it rip and had a series of several completions in the team portion of practice.

Okay, making several completions in shors with only other rookies involved isn’t necessarily something to write home about, but what Marcus Tucker, who spent last year on the Steelers’ practice squad, offered to Fowler was much more tangible.

Reporters overhyping something trying to sell stories..... Never

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/21/report-leveon-bell-wont-show-up-for-steelers-otas/

Bell isn't showing up for OTAs. Much expected.

bell may not go until the first week of regular season ... he was actually rusty last year too

But the steelers are the most respected organization, the Browns need to be like them. How many times has this garbage been repeated. They got drama and crap going on every year. Bell pulls the same stuff, and Ben thinks he is above everybody. I detest everything black and [censored] yellow.

The Bell stuff is a recurring thing. The Big Ben stuff has happened in the past, but the drama seems to be happening at a greater frequency these days.

The real eye-opener with the Steelers, though, was the Harrison saga. When that guy left for the Patriots, and the remaining Steelers defenders aired the dirty laundry to the media... that was some Browns-level drama right there.