Lost in all the drama of Ben Roethlisberger’s so-called retirement talk during his Tuesday interview on 93.7 The Fan, was a small tidbit about currently suspended wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Roethlisberger was asked by the hosts if Bryant has reached out at all during his suspension, in which Roethlisberger had this to say.
“He did reach out to me a few months ago,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t really want to share exactly what was said, but just kind of open up the communication, reached out, said hello and things like that. (He) let me know he was doing well, so I was glad to hear that and hear that he was doing well.”
For those keeping track, you will know that this is an exciting new development in the Roethlisberger – Bryant relationship. The last we heard from Roethlisberger on Bryant, was the Steelers’ quarterback claiming that he was lied to and shown dishonesty by the wide receiver. All relationships have their rocky patches and break ups, so it is relieving to hear that Roethlisberger and Bryant have worked things out. Bryant alluded to the same understanding earlier this month in a Sports Illustrated article.
“I’m a grown man and he’s a grown man. I’m not going up to another grown man and explain my business to him. I understand he’s my teammate and I love my teammate and he’s a leader. But I have my own life and he has his own life.” Bryant said when asked if he was worried about his relationship with Roethlisberger.
While we may never know what was exchanged between Bryant and Roethlisberger, it is great to hear that both players have reconnected. What the connection between the two does for the Steelers on the field cannot be overstated. In Bryant’s first two seasons in the NFL, Roethlisberger had a passer rating of 126.5 when targeting Bryant, along with a 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
For the Steelers offense to have the 2017 season they envision, Bryant and Roethlisberger will have to pick back up right where they left off after the 2015 season.
