Ben, AB say relationship isn’t fractured
PITTSBURGH — An alleged fractured relationship Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown really isn’t fractured.
So they say.
As the two worked on two-point conversion plays after Thursday’s practice, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was adamant that the most prolific passing duo in the NFL are just fine.
“They do (talk),” said Fichtner. “And they work hard. They worked hard again today. You probably saw a lot of balls go his way. Not that they’re trying to do anything that’s not normal. Usually a lot of balls go his way. A lot of balls been going his way now. We just haven’t hooked up on them all. I think they’re coming.”
Brown’s 53 targets are second most in the NFL and the most he’s had after four games in his nine-year career. But Brown’s only caught 29 of them, and at a career-low average of 9.4 yards per catch.
He had two in-game eruptions against Kansas City, and in last Sunday’s game against Baltimore he and Roethlisberger made hand gestures to each other after a couple of incompletions, but many fans noticed the two didn’t talk on the sideline. Fichtner feels that’s a mischaracterization.
“They talk a lot,” Fichtner said. “There’s a lot of communication, GOOD communication.”
Roethlisberger agreed that there isn’t an issue between the two.
“No, goodness no,” he said. “It’s funny, because Tuesday night someone said there’s this big dysfunction between us. We started texting and laughing about it. We thought it was hilarious.”
The two stayed after practice and seemed fine. Brown remained longer to catch passes from Mason Rudolph as Roethlisberger hit the showers.
“There’s no issue,” Roethlisberger said. “Truthfully, and I told him this, I said, ‘Listen, when you speak to the media on Friday, tell them I just need to be better.'”
Roethlisberger said the same right after the loss to the Ravens when he took the blame for a scoreless second half.
Brown finished the game with five catches for 62 yards and a first-half touchdown, but several third-down misses in the second half doomed the Steelers.
“It has nothing to do with us as a connection,” Roethlisberger said. “It just has to do with me playing better. Truthfully, that’s all I think it is. But we’re great. There’s nothing to that. Listen, we laughed about people wanting to create things that aren’t there. There isn’t anything there.
“What I think it is, and I said this on my show, too, that when you do it at such a high level for X amount of years, the second that there’s even a little bit of a hiccup people are going to freak out. Is it worth freaking out over? He’s still getting a lot of targets, but it’s just not connecting for big yards. Our production is probably what a lot of quarterback-wide receiver combos are satisfied with. Obviously we’re not because we’ve been at a higher level. I just think it’s a little too early to panic for people, but I understand why they are because they expect gaudiness.”
LARRY LINEBACKER
Teammates call L.J. Fort “Larry,” which caught defensive coordinator Keith Butler off guard.
“Larry?” Butler repeated to his questioner.
Fort. The guy who’s receiving more practice reps this week with the injury to Vince Williams.
Fort looks like the coverage backer for whom the Steelers have been searching, so Butler was asked why he never gives Fort a chance to play.
“He’s gonna get his chance,” said Butler. “He’s gonna get his chance here this week probably. Yeah, I think he’s played well for us. So we’ll see this week how he does. This is a big week for him. I hope he plays well because I think he’s a legitimate linebacker in the National Football League.”
Fort came out of Northern Iowa with 356 career tackles and was the 2011 FCS Defensive Player of the Year after making 184 tackles. He ran an impressive 4.67 40 at his pro day but went undrafted. He bounced around to five teams before the Steelers claimed him on waivers in August of 2015. He’s been with the team — roster or practice squad — ever since, and has become a core member of the special teams.
But he’s still quick enough to perhaps give the Steelers the coverage backer they’ve missed since Ryan Shazier went down, and after an outstanding preseason Fort was wondering if he would ever get a chance.
“It’s definitely frustrating at times,” Fort said. “I felt like I played well enough in preseason. But, live action’s a whole different ball game. That’s where you need to prove it, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Fort expects to be used at inside linebacker in sub-packages Sunday against the Falcons.
INJURY REPORT
Along with Williams (hamstring), Steelers missing Thursday’s practice were left guard Ramon Foster (coach’s decision), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (knee), receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (ankle) and safety Morgan Burnett (groin), who once again fell off from Wednesday’s limited participation.
Missing practice for the Falcons were cornerback Justin Bethel (knee) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (ankle/knee). Limited were OLB Vic Beasley, WR Julio Jones (hand/ankle), LB Foyesade Oluokun (ankle) and DE Derrick Shelby (groin).