Big Ben honored for media cooperation

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ben Roethlisberger addresses reporters after winning the Steelers' "Chief Award" for cooperation with the media on Wednesday. (Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review)

Ben Roethlisberger is the first quarterback to win the Steelers award named after franchise founder Art Rooney.

He also is a most unlikely recipient of the award that recognizes a concept Roethlisberger admitted had been foreign to him prior to this season.

Roethlisberger was presented with The Chief Award on Wednesday for cooperation with the media, with whom he shared an uneasy if not prickly coexistence in years past.

He joined media-friendly players such as Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca and Hines Ward as winners of the award given annually since 1988.

The honor is voted on by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association. The only player ineligible this year was James Farrior because he won it in 2009.

"I think this is an awesome award, and I appreciate it very much," Roethlisberger said. "Anything named after the Chief or the Rooney family is quite an honor."

Roethlisberger has proven to be more accessible to reporters this year and more approachable. Roethlisberger said his improved relationship with the media reflects the larger life changes he made after nearly sabotaging his career.

That happened in March when Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old college student in a bar in Milledgeville, Ga. Roethlisberger was never charged, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the two-time Super Bowl winner for the first six games of the 2010 season. It later was reduced to four games because of good behavior.

Roethlisberger kept a low profile after Goodell cleared him to return to offseason practices in June but talked with reporters on a daily basis after the Steelers convened for training camp in late July.

Since his suspension, Roethlisberger has addressed reporters on so-called off days — many established NFL quarterbacks only talk on Wednesday.

"Not every article or every story or news report is positive, so it's easy to get negative and get down on someone," Roethlisberger said. "We understand that (reporters) have a job, as we do."

Steelers president Art Rooney II said he is pleased with the changes Roethlisberger has made — and his commitment to rehabilitating his image.

"He's really done everything that was expected of him, and I think it shows the way he's handled himself with the media and the fans and his teammates," Rooney said. "I think the bottom line is he understands that it's a long process, and you earn respect. Some people it takes longer than others. But I think he feels good about where he is, and we certainly feel good about it."


Past Honorees

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey won The Chief Award and the Joe Greene Award, respectively. The Joe Greene Award is given to the team's top rookie. Here are the players who won each award the past five years.

The Chief Award

2009: James Farrior, LB

2008: Ryan Clark, S

2007: Alan Faneca, G

2006: Brett Keisel, DE, and Deshea Townsend, CB

2005: Faneca

Joe Greene Award

2009: Mike Wallace, WR

2008: Patrick Bailey, LB

2007: Daniel Sepulveda, P

2006: Santonio Holmes, WR

2005: Heath Miller, TE

Source: Steelers