SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes explains why some of the NFL's biggest superstars are skipping OTAs and whether those absences should cause fans to panic. USA TODAY Sports
Backtracking from previous comments made after the NFL draft, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger now says he plans on helping rookie Mason Rudolph assimilate to the NFL.
“I think people took some things I said into a context that I was going to be mean or rude or whatever,” Roethlisberger told reporters Tuesday during organized team activities.
“That was not it at all. If you listen to the whole conversation, it was said in jest and laughing and having fun. I've never been the type to just be rude or mean to other quarterbacks. I've had a lot of quarterbacks come through here that are younger than me that I've tried to help any way that I can. So I'll continue to do that.”
Roethlisberger, who's openly talked about retirement in previous offseasons, had openly wondered about the strategy the team took in selecting Rudolph in the third round following April's draft.
“I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now,” Roethlisberger said in a local radio interview. “Nothing against Mason. I think he's a great football player. I don't know him personally, but I'm sure he's a great kid. I just don't know how backing up or being the third – who knows where he's going to fall on the depth chart – helps us win now. But that's not my decision to make. That's on the coaches and the GM and the owner and those kind of things. If they feel like he can help our team, so be it. But I was a little surprised.”
Rudolph downplayed the veteran's comments during the Steelers' rookie minicamp earlier this month, adding Roethlisberger had wished him luck in a text.
"I think the media got it kind of twisted around a little bit," Rudolph said. "He's a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's a competitive guy. That's what I would expect. He's a longtime starter.
"I'm sure when we get in this building, in this room, we're going to be friends, and I'm going to let him do his thing and pick up what I can from him but not bother him."
Now that they’re sharing the same field, both appear to be playing nice.
“He’s got a big arm,” Roethlisberger said of Rudolph. “He overthrew (receiver Antonio Brown) even though AB’s not going to admit it. He seems to understand the offense, seems to not have any issues in the huddle, so I thought he did really well.”
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Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes
