During his weekly radio interview Tuesday on Pittsburgh’s KDKA-FM, Roethlisberger confirmed some Steelers players were frustrated to learn right before the game on Sunday that coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t playing Brown.
He also said he didn’t see any incident involving Brown in practice earlier in the week.
“That’s the kind of baffling thing to me. People are making a big deal about a walkthrough on Wednesday, that there was a blow up or a fight between he and I,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t know anything about that. If there was a blow up or something, I sure as heck didn’t see it. A big deal was made about that. I’m not sure where that comes from.”
Roethlisberger said he talked to Brown on Thursday morning and said “everything was great and fine” between them. However, he said Brown has failed to return his calls and text messages since then.
“I’ve reached out to him numerous times,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve called him and texted him. And I know other guys on the team have, too, and haven’t heard back from him. But he and I talked Thursday morning and there were no issues.”
The quarterback added he didn’t know why Brown was avoiding his teammates.
Reports came out on Monday that Steelers receiver Antonio Brown was benched Sunday because of a dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“I’m blessed to play with him,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday. “I consider him one of my closer friends … I know guys are frustrated, some of the guys I talked to, that they tried to reach out to him and didn’t hear back.”
Big Ben also expressed hope that any issues involving Brown wouldn’t jeopardize his standing with the team.
“I’m obviously not the coach or the owner, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” Roethlisberger said. “But like I said I love Antonio and I just wish him nothing but the best. I hope he’s back here with me because he makes me better.”
Tomlin is expected to address the situation during a news conference scheduled for noon ET Wednesday.
Can’t wait to hear what he has to say.
