Ex-Pro Bowler rips Ben Roethlisberger for discouraging Kenny Pickett remarks
Two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger ruffled some feathers earlier this week after admitting on his “ Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger ” podcast that he initially did not want Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to succeed during his rookie season.
While some media pundits simply chalked Roethlisberger’s remarks up to a difficult adjustment to life after football, former Pro Bowl fullback-turned-NFL analyst Michael Robinson doesn’t see it that way, stating he expected better from Roethlisberger.
“Big Ben, man, that’s whack, bro,” Robinson said on the NFL Network. “I know it’s human, I get it, but that’s one of those things where you’re like, OK, I’m thinking like that but those words don’t actually find a way to come out of my mouth and say it at the end of the day because you don’t do that to a young quarterback. Ben wouldn’t have wanted anybody to do that to him when he was there.”
On the same podcast, Roethlisberger also admitted that he was remorseful for his selfishness in not wanting Pickett to thrive but confessed that he found himself rooting for Pickett more and more as the 2022 season unfolded. Pickett seemed to accept his apology.
Pickett had a solid rookie season, completing 63 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 76.7 passer rating. He also ran for 237 yards and three touchdowns and had a 7-5 record as the Steelers starter, including wins in five of his last six games.
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