January 12, 200521 yr Roethlisberger gives check to tsunami aid NFL.com wire reports PITTSBURGH (Jan. 11, 2005) -- Ben Roethlisberger has surprised his Pittsburgh Steelers ' teammates many times during his unbeaten rookie season. He did so again, announcing he'll donate his first NFL playoff paycheck to the tsunami victims relief effort. Even on a team that openly encourages its players to participate in charity activities and community events, Roethlisberger's $18,000 gesture before the Jan. 15 Jets-Steelers game created a positive stir. "Wow, I didn't even know that," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "Guys do a lot of different things in different ways that people don't always hear about, but that's great -- that's for a great cause, definitely. That's a big tragedy, and I hope everyone will at least donate (something)." Unlike the regular season, when each player earns a weekly share of his base salary, playoff salaries are determined by the league's collective bargaining agreement and each player is paid the same. Roethlisberger, who is 13-0 as a rookie quarterback, hopes other NFL players will follow his lead. "I'm going to donate my game check this week to the tsunami relief -- and hopefully maybe (it will be) a challenge for other people to do that, too," Roethlisberger said. Roethlisberger became motivated to act after numerous NBA players -- including Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Bob Sura -- donated $1,000 per point scored last weekend to the relief effort. The NBA players' union also donated $500,000, and the NBA will match the gift. In the NFL, the Patriots made playoff tickets available to fans who donated at least $1,000 to efforts to aid the estimated 5 million tsunami victims. "A game check isn't anything like some of the Yankees and some of those people who've donated a million dollars, but every little thing they can get can help," Roethlisberger said. "Hopefully, it's a challenge to other NFL players. We've seen the NBA players do it." Roethlisberger, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has a base salary of $230,000, but also will collect $9 million in signing and roster bonuses by early next year and as much as $2.6 million in first-season performance bonuses. Roethlisberger's gesture impressed Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who has talked all season about the rookie's maturity. "That's a heck of a gesture on his part. That says a lot about the kid for him to do something like that," Cowher said. "I've said all along the kid's got a great perspective on things and that's another example of it." No other Steelers players have said if they will match Roethlisberger's gesture, which was announced just before practice and may not yet be known to them. This guy continues to impress me. I wish all the young NFL guys were like him. Now, if Peyton donated $1,000 for every TD he threw....
January 12, 200521 yr Besides Peyton Manning I dont think there is a more honest player with a better head on his shoulders than Roethlisberger. Many other rookies with this instant success and fame would be going wild. This guy's parents should be damn proud.
January 12, 200521 yr I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart.
January 12, 200521 yr I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart. 654190[/snapback] Exactly. It's a nice jesture, but there's no need to gloat about what you give. Also, what's $50,000 or whatever to someone who's likely to make $5 million or more this year?
January 12, 200521 yr He was prolly asked in the media session a question like.....so what are you going to do with your first playoff check? And he responded what he wanted to do. No harm in that.
January 12, 200521 yr I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart. 654190[/snapback] Exactly. It's a nice jesture, but there's no need to gloat about what you give. Also, what's $50,000 or whatever to someone who's likely to make $5 million or more this year? 654195[/snapback] $18,000 but thats besides the point
January 13, 200521 yr Author I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart. 654190[/snapback] Exactly. It's a nice jesture, but there's no need to gloat about what you give. Also, what's $50,000 or whatever to someone who's likely to make $5 million or more this year? 654195[/snapback] I doubt he's really making much money this year (by NFL player standards). The Steelers didn't know he'd be the QB he is and because of that his salary is probably not as high as it would be.
January 13, 200521 yr Maybe he went through the media to get other players to do so? 654227[/snapback] Bingo.
January 13, 200521 yr Maybe he went through the media to get other players to do so? 654227[/snapback] But you're assuming other players didn't. Perhaps they did and didn't feel the need to make it known.
January 13, 200521 yr Maybe he went through the media to get other players to do so? 654227[/snapback] But you're assuming other players didn't. Perhaps they did and didn't feel the need to make it known. 654451[/snapback] MAYBE Ben is actually a good person and wanted to make it aware to other players that $18,000 is nothing to them, and everything to those victims. MAYBE you should get off the dude's back and give credit when credit is due.
January 13, 200521 yr Maybe he went through the media to get other players to do so? 654227[/snapback] But you're assuming other players didn't. Perhaps they did and didn't feel the need to make it known. 654451[/snapback] MAYBE Ben is actually a good person and wanted to make it aware to other players that $18,000 is nothing to them, and everything to those victims. MAYBE you should get off the dude's back and give credit when credit is due. 654456[/snapback] So by saying that players donated and didn't make it public means I'm hating on Roethlisberger? C'mon dude, you're freaking ridiculous.
January 13, 200521 yr Author Wow.. defending Randy Moss and criticizing Ben Roethlisberger... 654616[/snapback] :notworthy
January 13, 200521 yr I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart. 654190[/snapback] Exactly. It's a nice jesture, but there's no need to gloat about what you give. Also, what's $50,000 or whatever to someone who's likely to make $5 million or more this year? 654195[/snapback] I doubt he's really making much money this year (by NFL player standards). The Steelers didn't know he'd be the QB he is and because of that his salary is probably not as high as it would be. 654440[/snapback] He was the #9 pick in the draft. He got plenty of money.
January 13, 200521 yr Author I would have just donated the check and not tried to get some good publicity. I think the guy is great but just like Oprah...the bible tells us to do things in secret. Make it come from the heart. 654190[/snapback] Exactly. It's a nice jesture, but there's no need to gloat about what you give. Also, what's $50,000 or whatever to someone who's likely to make $5 million or more this year? 654195[/snapback] I doubt he's really making much money this year (by NFL player standards). The Steelers didn't know he'd be the QB he is and because of that his salary is probably not as high as it would be. 654440[/snapback] He was the #9 pick in the draft. He got plenty of money. 654667[/snapback] I doubt if he makes more than 1mil this year. He was SUPPOSED to be the backup QB. 18,000 dollars out of a million is about the equivalent of me sending $250 dollars over there. I think that deserves some credit.
January 13, 200521 yr Wow.. defending Randy Moss and criticizing Ben Roethlisberger... 654616[/snapback] :notworthy 654665[/snapback] Dude, get off IowaMarlinFan's jock already. Everything he says, you're quoting with some ass kiss remark. What kind of behavior IS THIS?
January 14, 200521 yr Author Wow.. defending Randy Moss and criticizing Ben Roethlisberger... 654616[/snapback] :notworthy 654665[/snapback] Dude, get off IowaMarlinFan's jock already. Everything he says, you're quoting with some ass kiss remark. What kind of behavior IS THIS? 654675[/snapback] :plain
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