Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley have had a rocky relationship for the past several years, and it sounds like the two are not on the best terms heading into Pittsburgh’s Week 16 game.
Sources told Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports that Roethlisberger has recruited other members of the Steelers’ coaching staff recently to serve as a “buffer” between him and Haley on the sidelines. In other words, the quarterback does not want to be dealing directly with the OC.
Here’s more:
Sources said Roethlisberger approached head coach Mike Tomlin about a month ago and requested to have a buffer between him and Haley on the sidelines, another set of eyes and a sounding board he could turn to. Specifically, he asked that quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who he is close with, no longer stay in the coaching booth in the press box during games but instead join other offensive coaches down to the sidelines. Tomlin quickly obliged, and the Steelers have been operating in that fashion since last month, sources said.
Roethlisberger threw his coaches under the bus with some comments he made after last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Patriots, so it’s possible he was taking a shot at Haley. The OC has been with the Steelers since 2012, and his relationship with Roethlisberger did not get off to the best start.
