Steelers QB Played With Broken Toes

 

PITTSBURGH (AP) - It turns out Ben Roethlisberger didn't need a glove on his right hand as much as extra protection for his right foot. The rookie quarterback broke several toes on his foot during the Pittsburgh Steelers' AFC title game loss to the New England Patriots, but doesn't blame the injury for his erratic play.

 

Roethlisberger didn't specify Tuesday which toes were broken, and wasn't walking with an apparent limp. He believes he was hurt while stumbling on a 13-yard run late in the first half, amid a drive that later stalled in the 41-27 loss Sunday.

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"It's a good thing I'm not punting anymore," said Roethlisberger, a part-time punter in college at Miami of Ohio.

 

Roethlisberger's statistics improved after the injury. He was 5-of-10 for 77 yards and two pivotal interceptions as New England opened a 24-3 lead by halftime, but was 9-of-14 for 149 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the second half.

 

While acknowledging the foot injury, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is brushing off rumors he hurt his right thumb late in the season. There was speculation he wore a glove on his throwing hand as protection, though he discarded the glove for Sunday's game.

 

"I'm fine, I'll be healthy by next year," he said.

 

The vague answer was similar to that he offered after throwing two interceptions in a 20-17 overtime playoff victory over the New York Jets on Jan. 15. Then, asked about a possible thumb injury, he said, "I'm not going to make excuses."

 

Roethlisberger's arm became tired during his first NFL season, though he wouldn't speculate if it contributed to his late-season falloff in production. He had 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions in his first 10 starts, but only six TD passes and 10 interceptions in his last five - including five interceptions in two playoff games.

 

"I didn't throw as much as Peyton Manning, but I threw a lot more than I did playing 10 or 12 games" in college, said Roethlisberger, unbeaten in his first 14 NFL starts before losing Sunday. "It would have felt a lot longer if we hadn't been winning."

 

Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said opponents began defending the Steelers' passing game differently as the season progressed, dropping more defenders into coverage on third down to make it harder for Roethlisberger to find receivers.

 

One possible solution next season: "Maybe we will call more passes on first and second downs," Whisenhunt said.

 

After Roethlisberger takes some time off to play golf and watch his high school sophomore sister, Carlee, play basketball at Findlay (Ohio) High School, he will return to Pittsburgh to begin offseason workouts and meetings with Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple.

 

Two days after his first NFL defeat, Roethlisberger said it's difficult dealing with losing again after going 16 months and 27 consecutive games - 14 in the NFL and his last 13 in college - without being beaten.

 

"You forget how to lose - and that's probably a good thing," he said.

 

While he takes some satisfaction from arguably the best rookie season by an NFL quarterback, Roethlisberger is disappointed the Steelers' 15-game winning streak ended one game short of the Super Bowl.

 

"I let a lot of people down," he said. "That's the tough thing about it."

2005-01-26 08:15:44 GMT

What about his thumb?

Bill Cowher said his toes weren't broken.