{"id":153696,"date":"2026-02-17T15:19:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=153696"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:19:50","slug":"david-decastro-slams-steelers-for-trashing-ben-roethlisberger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=153696","title":{"rendered":"David DeCastro Slams Steelers For Trashing Ben Roethlisberger"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers helmet on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n

Former Steelers Sound Off on Ben Roethlisberger: Joey Porter Sr. Criticizes, David DeCastro Defends<\/strong><\/p>\n

Super Bowl week is always full of headlines, but this year, one of the louder echoes out of Pittsburgh came from someone who once wore the black and gold with pride – and fire. Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr. didn\u2019t hold back when talking about his former quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not a good teammate,\u201d Porter said bluntly. \u201cWon a Super Bowl with him, but the person?<\/p>\n

He\u2019s just not a good teammate. He knows that.<\/p>\n

Anybody in the Steeler building knows that. But we protected him because I\u2019ve only won one Super Bowl, and that was my quarterback.<\/p>\n

So do I love my quarterback? Yeah.<\/p>\n

But is he a good person? No.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a strong statement – especially coming from a guy who lined up with Roethlisberger during some of Pittsburgh\u2019s most hard-nosed, competitive years. Porter\u2019s words cut deep, not just because of the criticism, but because of the context.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t a random jab. This was a former captain speaking about a fellow champion.<\/p>\n

But the story didn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n

On Monday, another former Steeler – and one who spent nearly a decade protecting Roethlisberger – offered a very different perspective. David DeCastro, the six-time Pro Bowl guard, joined 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh and made it clear: his experience with Big Ben was nothing like what Porter described.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is entitled to their opinion,\u201d DeCastro said. \u201cI guess, you know, negativity seems to sell these days.<\/p>\n

But, you know, I loved playing with Ben – for Ben, protecting him. You know, it was a big task.<\/p>\n

I just loved his energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeCastro didn\u2019t just talk about Roethlisberger\u2019s competitiveness – he painted a picture of it. Whether it was darts, pool, or a game of H.O.R.S.E., Roethlisberger brought the same fire he showed on Sundays.<\/p>\n

And in the huddle? According to DeCastro, he was the emotional engine.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the guy when you get in the huddle, he\u2019s got the energy,\u201d DeCastro said. \u201cHe does the head tap before the games, the pregame thing, go around tap everyone\u2019s head. . . .<\/p>\n

You miss getting those juices flowing and, you know, having a guy like that. That\u2019s what you need as a quarterback.<\/p>\n

That energy, that will, that want to win. It was contagious, and I took a lot of pride in protecting a Hall of Fame quarterback.\u201d<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re seeing here is a classic case of two players with very different takeaways from their time with the same teammate. Porter\u2019s comments reflect a more personal, perhaps strained relationship with Roethlisberger. DeCastro, meanwhile, speaks to the on-field leadership and competitive drive that helped define Roethlisberger\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

And let\u2019s not forget – this isn\u2019t the first time a former Steeler has publicly criticized Roethlisberger. There\u2019s been a steady trickle of former teammates who\u2019ve taken issue with his leadership style or locker room presence. But DeCastro\u2019s defense reminds us that the full picture is more complicated.<\/p>\n

As the years go by and Roethlisberger moves closer to Hall of Fame eligibility in 2027, these kinds of conversations may start to carry more weight. Voters don\u2019t just look at stats and Super Bowl rings – they consider legacy, leadership, and impact on the locker room. If his candidacy ever comes down to intangibles, this debate could resurface.<\/p>\n

For now, though, it\u2019s a reminder of the layered nature of NFL locker rooms. You can win together, bleed together, celebrate together – and still walk away with very different stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers helmet on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. 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