Ben Roethlisberger on similarities with Russell Wilson

The Seahawks entertain the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Here’s what Steelers veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who like Seattle’s Russell Wilson also is renown for his improvisational abilities, had to say Wednesday about the similarities between Wilson and himself:

“I think he’s a great football player. He has broken that mold. I know when he came out, they were trying to compare him to some of the other guys, the RG3s, and just kind of an athlete running around. It’s very apparent that — and I knew it, and some of the other guys knew it front he get-go — that he was a different kind of player. A guy who knows how to get everybody involved, make plays, extend plays if needed, sit in the pocket if needed. Just kind of a guy who can do it all, and it’s awesome to watch. He is continuing to grow every year, from that same kind of mold that I had to deal with early on, just great defense, game management, run the ball. I don’t think he is that. I think he’s a quarterback that’s making his team better.”

“I can’t speak for Russell, what his thought are, what he does, but for me, I never go into a play and say, ‘I’m going to try and scramble,’ or, ‘I’m going to try and keep alive,’ or, ‘I’m going to make it happen.’ For me it’s, ‘OK, what’s the play? Is the first, second, third read there?’ If not, I think it’s my competitive juices, and I’d have to assume it’s the same thing with him. The competitor in me says, ‘Don’t give up, don’t just go down, don’t just take the sack and move on to the next play.’ I want to see what I can do to extend the play, to try and make something happen.”

Roethlisberger was also asked if actually scored on that play in the Super Bowl against Seattle:

“Absolutely. Referees are never wrong, right?”

“Yeah, I have [heard it from Seattle fans]. Early on I did, but I think since they’ve won their Super Bowl and went back-to-back, I think I haven’t heard nearly as much as I did early on.”