Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to pass during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday that he is not ready to commit to playing next season after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 36-17 loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
The two-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler implied in the radio interview that he is considering retirement.
“I’m going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan. “To consider health, and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season, if there’s going to be a next season.”
Roethlisberger added, “I’m going to take some time and evaluate with my family and just do a lot of praying about it and make sure (playing next season is) the right thing for me and my family.”
— Philip Rivers is thrilled that he was added to the AFC roster for Sunday’s Pro Bowl.
Rivers replaces Roethlisberger and he summed up his excitement this way:
“I made this team as a San Diego Charger,” Rivers said. “That’s cool.”
— Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews underwent treatment for cervical cancer earlier this football season and is now clear of the disease, she told the website MMQB.
Andrews said she learned she had cervical cancer in September on the Saturday prior to the NFL’s Week 3 games. She underwent surgery on Oct. 11 in Los Angeles and was working the sidelines the following Sunday in Green Bay.
“Should I have been standing for a full game five days after surgery? Let’s just say the doctor didn’t recommend that,” Andrews told the website. “But just as I felt during my trial, sports were my escape. I needed to be with my crew.”
— A video released by Cincinnati police shows Bengals cornerback Adam Jones verbally assaulting a police officer during his Jan. 3 arrest for multiple charges including assault and disorderly conduct.
In a profanity-laced tirade, the video shows Jones saying “I hope you die tomorrow” and “you’re gonna be out of a job tomorrow” to his arresting officer while in the back of a police car.
Jones also appeared to spit on the floor of the car and told the officer he would “spit on your (expletive) if I could.”
— Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack is unlikely to practice this week ahead of the Super Bowl LI showdown with the New England Patriots after sustaining a sprained ankle in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Falcons’ decision to rest Mack during the bye week was reported by NFL Network. He is still expected to be on the field when the Falcons and Patriots battle for the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
After sustaining the injury in Atlanta’s 44-21 rout of Green Bay, Mack returned to the game although the injury was not fully healed. Mack’s ankle is described as “swollen” and “painful” in an NFL.com report.
— The Denver Broncos hired Johnnie Lynn as the team’s assistant defensive backs coach and promoted Chris Gould to specials team’s coach, head coach Vance Joseph announced.
Lynn, 60, has 28 years of NFL experience as a coach and player. He spent time on the coaching staffs of the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He most recently served as the Raiders’ defensive backs coach from 2012-14. Lynn was the Giants’ defensive coordinator from 2002-03 after being the team’s defensive backs coach from 1997 until 2001.
— The Buffalo Bills announced the hiring of David Culley as the team’s new quarterbacks coach.
Culley, 61, replaces David Lee, who held the same position with Buffalo since 2015 under Rex Ryan. Buffalo hired Sean McDermott to replace the fired Ryan after finishing 7-9 in the 2016 season.
Before joining the Bills, Culley was the Kansas City Chiefs’ assistant head coach/wide receivers coach from 2013 until 2016. He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
