Jul 14, 2006 11:45 pm US/Eastern
Roethlisberger Feeling Much Better
Ben Roethlisbergers says his motorcycle accident has given him a new perspective on life.
With training camp just two weeks away, Big Ben says he's confident he'll be "100-percent".
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. (KDKA) ―
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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger answers reporters questions at his first news conference since his motorcycle accident
KDKA
Ben Roethlisberger is getting his reconstructed face out in public.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback spoke with the media Friday in conjunction with a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, California, one month after breaking his nose and jaw in a motorcycle accident.
Roethlisberger says his body feels great, adding that the swelling in his mouth continues to go down.
He says the accident was a wakeup call that showed him he might have been taking life for granted.
The Super Bowl-winning QB says he initially was alarmed by the damage done to his face, but doctors told him the disfigurement was caused by swelling.
Roethlisberger is pretty pleased with the results and is thankful doctors did such a fine job in reconstructing his face.
Roethlisberger says he's concentrating on football right now and isn't thinking about jumping back on his motorcycle.
He's looking forward to the start of training camp later this month.
"I think the accident was kind of God's way of saying, 'Hey Ben, maybe you need to step back a little bit. Take a step back,'" he added, "maybe I was taking things for granted a little bit too much."
Answering questions at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Roethlisberger said the crash has made him realize that he's not invincible.
"I can be hurt. It can end in a split second," Roethlisberger reflected. "It's almost like you get a feeling of invincibility... When you're on the field, you have to have that, but it's almost hard not to take it off the field..."
"Sometimes you forget that you are human," he added, "and I think it's really helped me remember that I am."
Big Ben says he's feeling better and better with each passing day -- though he still feels a little swelling in his mouth and redness in his eye one month after the accident.
Roethlisberger says he apologized to his teammates. "The first thing I said to all my teammates was I'm sorry for putting them through this and worrying them -- and just taking the chance of being hurt and not being able to play for them."
But he says he's gotten "nothing but an outpouring of love" from his fellow Steelers.
Now, he says he's just trying to get his life back to normal and focus on football.
As for the question on the minds of many Steelers fans with training camp just two weeks away, Roethlisberger says he's been working out for two weeks already and he's confident that he'll be ready to play.
"I feel that I'll be as close to 100-percent. My goal is to be 100-percent and I think I can get there. If not, I'm gonna be 99-percent."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Uncut: Big Ben's News Conference
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