Steelers: Kenny Pickett says all the precise issues about Massive Ben, however not everybody agrees

Ben Roethlisberger spoke candidly to younger Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett on a current podcast. Not all people appreciated his brutal honesty. 

Ben Roethlisberger’s displeasure with the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ determination to draft QB Kenny Pickett within the 2022 NFL Draft was a poorly stored secret on the time. The veteran nonetheless considered himself because the centerpiece of the Steelers’ offense and he plainly took offense to the group prioritizing his substitute.

In a current look on the Footbahlin Podcast, Roethlisberger had the chance to debate his emotions with Pickett. The 41-year-old admitted to initially wanting Pickett to not “ball out.”

“I’ll be fully sincere, I’ll be tremendous clear right here, and I’m gonna get blasted. I in all probability shouldn’t say this, however who cares at this level. I wouldn’t say that I wished Kenny to essentially fail, however when somebody comes to switch you, I nonetheless really feel like I had it, I hope he doesn’t come ball out. As a result of then it’s like, Ben who?” (h/t ESPN)

Massive Ben then went on to apologize to Pickett instantly and state that he’s now a fan of the younger quarterback, citing Pickett’s work ethic and expertise.

Kenny Pickett forgives former Steelers teammate Ben Roethlisberger

Kenny Pickett accepted Roethlisberger’s apology with grace. From Brooke Pryor of ESPN, right here’s how the younger QB responded to Massive Ben’s feedback: “He’s sincere. He’s out entrance about it, and he’s a fan now and he’s pulling for us and it was actually cool to listen to him say that… I believe we’re simply going to proceed to construct on that relationship.”

For Pickett at the very least, it appears like Massive Ben’s points are water underneath the bridge. Others across the league, nonetheless, have been much less desperate to forgive Roethlisberger. NFL Community’s Michael Robinson didn’t mince phrases on the matter.

“Massive Ben, man, that’s whack, bro. I do know it’s human, I get it, however that’s a type of issues, M.J., the place you’re like, I’m pondering like that, however these phrases don’t really discover their technique to come out of my mouth and say it on the finish of the day. Since you don’t try this to a younger quarterback. Ben wouldn’t have wished anyone to do this to him when he was there.” via NFL.com (h/t Steelers Depot)

Robinson understands the toxicity such attitudes can result in in a locker room. Completely, Roethlisberger mustn’t have acted the way in which he did. That mentioned, step one to fixing an issue is admitting you’ve got one. Massive Ben owned as much as his detrimental emotions, grew from them, and is now vocally supportive of Pickett.

As Robinson notes, Ben’s emotions are human. It’s pure to really feel satisfaction or jealously. Roethlisberger is definitely not the primary veteran QB to be displeased together with his group’s determination to prioritize a youthful choice. Aaron Rodgers went by means of the identical section with Jordan Love in Inexperienced Bay. Heck, it’s well-known that Tom Brady was not an enormous fan of Jimmy Garopollo in New England.

This appears like a non-issue at this level. If something, we should always admire Ben’s honesty and admire his means to course appropriate.