(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Cameron Heyward spoke with the media following the Steelers' first OTAs practice today and he addressed his comments last week on the NFL Network's Good Morning Football where he stated that Ben Roethlisberger "still got the goods."
"I think we're just blowing it out of proportion," Heyward said about the Roethlisberger naysayers. "The dude went 11-0 to start the season. How many other quarterbacks did that? We can sit up here and talk about we lost the game last year, we lost to the Cleveland Browns, okay so be it. We fell off at the end, we still made the playoffs. I am not here to say my quarterback's not able to do it. I've seen this guy win Super Bowls on TV. You just get frustrated. I know Ben puts in work. I know how much he cares about this game. If he didn't want to do it, if he was just here for the money, that is one thing. I don't think we will ever have to worry about that. But when he steps in this building, he is 100 percent dedicated to this.
"When I hear the bad-mouthing about him being not a great quarterback and everyone is ready to elevate other quarterbacks, I am like what have they done? This guy is a proven winner and yet we are ready to discount him."
Heyward also got some flak from the national media when he said that first-round pick Najee Harris can tote the rock 30 to 40 times a game and make things easier on the defense.
"All I was saying is I think having a greater balance is going to make him that much more dangerous," Heyward said. "You bring in guys, and I know our offensive line is in flux, but they are going to be better because they are learning another system. We are bringing in another running back, receivers are a year older, we are bringing in another tight end. All of these things are going to help Ben. I am excited for him. As a defense, when the offense can stay on the field that lets us know that we are okay. When the offense isn't on the field, we have to kick butt. When the offense is on the field, we can totally get after it."