Roethlisberger enjoying time in spotlight

Photo by: Keith Srakocic

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger talks to reporters during an NFL football news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are scheduled to host the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 23.

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The new, comedic Big Ben debuted his Super Bowl material.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers went back to work Wednesday after two days off following a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC championship game.

This is a familiar routine for the six-time champion Steelers, who are in the Super Bowl for the third time in six years. They’ll face the Green Bay Packers in Dallas on Feb. 6.

But it’s a slightly different Roethlisberger this time around, and not because he’s trying to become just the fifth quarterback to win three Super Bowls.

No matter how much he downplays it, Roethlisberger overcame quite a bit of adversity this year to get to this point. Maybe that’s why it seems he’s enjoying it a little more than his first two Super Bowl trips.

Roethlisberger cracked some jokes, smiled a lot and poked fun at an out-of-state reporter who referred to jerseys as “sweaters” during a brief session with the media before practice.

Don’t be surprised if he tries a few one-liners at Media Day next week.

Asked about playing against Packers Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews, Roethlisberger pointed out the obvious.

“He’s got long hair, he wears no. 52, he plays for the Packers,” Roethlisberger said.

Anything else?

“He’s an animal. He’s really, really good,” he said. “We have to account for him and know where he’s at. There’s not much else to say about one of the best players in the game.”

When someone asked Roethlisberger if he was grateful to be here, he couldn’t resist.

“That’s a silly question,” Roethlisberger said. “This is the Super Bowl. It’s what you dream of as a kid. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity just to represent the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh.”

Roethlisberger wasn’t always so quotable, so cooperative, so accessible. He’s a different person now, though. Circumstances made him change. His image needed an overhaul.

Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for four games to start the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He was accused in March of sexual assault of a 20-year-old college student, but a prosecutor in Georgia declined to bring charges.

Roethlisberger didn’t talk to reporters for months following those allegations, but he showed up to training camp with a new-and-improved personality. Gone was the self-absorbed Roethlisberger, who had irritated some of his veteran teammates with a what’s-in-it-for-me attitude.

He wasn’t rude, he signed autographs, he kidded other players and became media-friendly. So much so that the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association voted overwhelmingly to present him with a media cooperation award that is named for Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr.

“He’s matured a whole lot,” said receiver Antwaan Randle El, who returned to the Steelers after spending the last four years in Washington. “And that’s evident from the first Super Bowl he played in to the one he played in ’08. A very different quarterback — more confidence, I would say. Certainly, more aware of the offense and where guys need to be and stuff like that. He’s light years from where he was when he went to the Super Bowl the first time.”

Roethlisberger’s punishment was a tough one, especially since he’s a fierce competitor who does whatever it takes to win games. He’s played through a broken nose and a badly injured right foot.

Winning this Super Bowl would put Roethlisberger in elite company with Tom Brady and Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman.

“I’m not thinking about winning one yet,” he said.