Big Ben talks ‘trying to lead by example,’ proceeds to take Wednesday off

Ben Roethlisberger spoke at great length on Wednesday about the myriad issues plaguing the Pittsburgh Steelers both on and off the field. And then Big Ben elected to take a “veteran’s day off” from practice, according to a report.

Ben Roethlisberger said he will not be practicing today. Taking a veteran's day off. #Steelers #dkps

— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) September 19, 2018

What makes Roethlisberger electing to take a day off so interesting, however, is a quote from the Steelers signal-caller from Wednesday’s meeting with the media about how he goes about accomplishing the duties of a team leader.

#Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, when asked how he leads this week: "Just keep trying to lead by example, going about my job, showing up to work and playing my butt off."

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 19, 2018

“Just keep trying to lead by example, going about my job, showing up to work and playing my butt off,” Roethlisberger responded to a question about leadership amid the widespread perception of dysfunction and disarray currently afflicting the downward-spiraling 0-1-1 Steelers.

In the grand scheme of things, Roethlisberger has earned the right to take a day off. And it’s not like a veteran like Big Ben cannot overcome missing one midweek practice, especially given the Steelers don’t play their Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until Monday night.

That said, as the clichéd reference goes, the optics of speaking to the duties of being a leader then taking a day off just aren’t good.