'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently made some critical comments about young Steelers players and their attitude toward the team. Roethlisberger said young players in the NFL nowadays were "coddled" and prioritized personal goals over team success.
Colin Cowherd addressed Roethlisberger's comments on his show, "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." The analyst said he felt the former quarterback's comments were possibly directed at Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin.
"And I think... he's taken a shot a little bit at Mike and the AB and the Mike and Le'Veon Bell thing for the record. Steelers' run game has never been the same since Le'Veon left. But I will say this. Players are different. Coaches are different.
Be the GM of your favorite team, use our free Mock Draft Simulator with trades
"Tomlin is a former player. He tends to give a lot of leeway to dramatic players in noisy places... So these players and the coaches are different... They're a little loose for my taste... I think it was a shot, not at the players. I think it was a little bit of a passive-aggressive shot at Tomlin, and it comes off as he's dogging the players."
On WDVE Radio, the former quarterback appeared to take a shot at young players in the NFL and their attitude towards the game.
“It turned from a team-first to a me-type attitude. It was hard. It’s hard for these young guys, too. Social media. They’re treated so well in college. Now, this new NIL stuff, which is unbelievable. They’re treated so special. They’re coddled at a young age because college coaches need them to win, too.
"I know coach [Terry] Hoeppner never coddled me [at Miami of Ohio]. Neither did [Bill] Cowher.”
Ben Roethlisberger clarifies his comments
Roethlisberger received plenty of backlash, even from former teammate Cam Heyward. The former quarterback later moved to clarify his statement, saying he wished he had worded it differently.
He said:
“I’ll tell you this, I probably should’ve been more detailed, more specific in what I said. It’s not the majority of guys that are that way. I think, in part, I was saying, when asked what was the difference in the league from when I first got in, it was a broad-stroked comment and had the same conversation.
"Cam and I have sat many times in the last couple of years and had that conversation. I get Cam supporting his teammates that are still playing. I wasn’t trying to bash anybody specifically.”
After spending his entire career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger retired this offseason. He won two Super Bowls and is the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
If you use any quotes, please credit The Herd with Colin Cowehrd, WDVE Radio, and H/T Sportskeeda.
