PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 30: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
It’s too late to actually help the Steelers, but Ben Roethlisberger has finally apologized for his criticism of Antonio Brown last season.
It’s no secret that tension between Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown played a big factor in the Steelers’ decision to trade their star wideout to the Raiders. At least the two superstars now have an opportunity to bury the hatchet.
That’s because Roethlisberger finally decided to make an apology of sorts to his former No. 1 wide receiver. The veteran quarterback recently admitted that he “genuinely feels bad” about some of the comments he made about Brown last season. It’s unclear whether or not he’s directly communicated those sentiments to his former teammate, but at least Roethlisberger seems to have some self-awareness regarding the role he played in the Steelers melodrama last season.
Of course, his apology comes way too late to actually help the Steelers keep their high-powered offense together. Brown may have been a pain in the Pittsburgh locker room, but he was still one of the best wide receivers in football last season. The team will struggle to replace the 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns he provided them last season.
Roethlisberger’s apology still should be considered good news by Steelers fans. He’s often been criticized for his unwillingness to admit wrongdoing in any conflict with his teammates in the past. The fact that he now regards himself as fallible could help head coach Mike Tomlin keep some peace in the team’s locker room moving forward.
No matter what, his apology isn’t going to bring Brown back to the Steel City anytime soon. That ship has already sailed and the Steelers will be forced to deal with the consequences of their choice to trade him for pennies on the dollar. Time will tell whether or not Roethlsiberger’s recent comments signal a real sea change in his approach to teammates or if they’re just a blip on his radar of arrogance.