Donnie Football

that he wasn't mature in his younger years, he wasn't a good teammate, he wasn't a nice guy off the field, and he certainly had some off-the-field headlines that even made the Steelers, reportedly at times, question if he was their guy.

But people rode that wave forever, and they decided that you take that, you mix it with the stuff off the field, that was all they needed.

to never change their view of No.

7.

Maybe a few of you have good reason.

I'm sure there is more than one person out there that is listening that had a negative personal encounter with Big Ben.

And yes, that can be enough to form an opinion on somebody.

That's why it's always important, Austin, that anytime we meet folks out in the wild, out in public,

You give them your time of day.

You have a nice encounter with them.

Not that I doubt you do that.

First impressions are lasting impressions, Donnie.

Because people may have met Big Ben when he was 23 years old, and now as the dude is in his mid-40s, they still hate him, and they still think he's the same guy.

I have never met him.

I only know him as the greatest quarterback I've ever seen wear the black and gold.

So maybe I'm biased here.

But the guy who ran his mouth and started all of this is someone that ran his mouth consistently during his playing days.

Joey Porter was the spiritual leader of the Super Bowl 40 team.

I've said that before, and I mean it.

He was.