Big Ben dines with enthusiastic Tomlin

By Scott Brown
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 3, 2007


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla - Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently had dinner together.

To hear Roethlisberger tell it, they shared a pleasant conservation. That bodes well for the one relationship that must work if the Steelers are to thrive under Tomlin.

Roethlisberger, who is participating in "ESPN The Weekend" festivities this weekend at Walt Disney World, declined to discuss specifics about their conversation but said he and Tomlin were frank about their expectations for one another.

"It was kind of one of those things where we sat down and there were no holds barred for a while," Roethlisberger said Friday. "I told him where I was, what the team was kind of feeling, and I think that was good. I think it kind of surprised him that I did that, but it was good."

Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, is looking to rebound from a season in which he threw the most interceptions in the NFL.

The one thing about Tomlin that Roethlisberger said that really stood out was his enthusiasm.

"He was just so excited about the season," Roethlisberger said. "I think it will be good."

So does Hines Ward.

The veteran wide receiver said he has spoken with Tomlin once over the phone but got a favorable impression of him from that conversation, as well as reports such as the one he got from Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior.

Farrior is good friends with Vikings defensive back Darren Sharper, a former college teammate of Tomlin's who played under him last season in Minnesota.

Ward splits his time in the offseason between Pittsburgh and Atlanta because of the weather, but he said he will return to the Pittsburgh area in mid-March to start working out with teammates -- and show support for Tomlin.

"I really want to be there, to be one of the leaders, one of the first guys to be up there and let him know that I'm ready to go to work," Ward said.


Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.