Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger says he’s ‘earned the right’ to criticize teammates

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos in which they had opportunities to come out on top. Following the loss, star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was fairly critical of his teammates which is obviously raising some concern in Pittsburgh with the playoffs right around the corner.

Although critical comments between teammates can causes rifts in the locker room, Roethlisberger isn’t apologizing for speaking his mind. The two-time Super Bowl champion believes he’s earned the right to be critical, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

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“Being around for a long time, being with a lot of different players, you have to know how to motivate guys in different ways,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s part of being a leader and a captain — just understanding players. Sometimes you just grab them off to the side, sometimes you have to be honest with them. And so, I think I’ve earned the right to be able to do that, as long as I’ve been here. And I’ll be just as critical on myself in front of you guys as well.”

Roethlisberger’s relationship with his teammates will be something to watch as the season progresses. Pittsburgh seems to be playoff bound this year, but dysfunction could get the best of them if this proves to be a problem for the storied NFL franchise.

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As a result of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, the team is sitting at 7-3 and still in control in the AFC North division. The Baltimore Ravens aren’t too far behind at 6-5, but the Steelers are still clearly the favorite to win the division and potentially be the team to beat in the conference.