After injuring his throwing elbow in Week 2 of last season and having season-ending injury about eight months ago, Ben Roethlisberger vowed he wouldn’t shave or cut his hair until he was able to throw an NFL-caliber pass again.
Now healthy, Roethlisberger got cleaned up before working out with some of his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates this week — even though social distancing guidelines in Pennsylvania still have barbershops and salons on lockdown.
The beard is trimmed…
…you know what that means 👀@_BigBen7 | @TeamJuJu | @JamesConner_ | @Switz pic.twitter.com/YLTtCynK25
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 18, 2020
During his daily briefing on Tuesday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf criticized the quarterback’s decision to get a haircut and beard trim at a barbershop in the state.
“My concern is just a general concern,” Wolf said. “Anybody who puts himself or herself into harm’s way is something that I think we have to try to avoid. When you go to something like a barbershop, and you’re not protected, I don’t care who you are, the chances of that virus actually wreaking havoc on your life increases. I don’t personally think any Pennsylvanian ought to take that chance. I certainly don’t want to take that chance myself.”
Roethlisberger got trimmed up at Norman’s Cut N Edge Barbershop in Sewickley. An attorney representing the owner of the shop said Roethlisberger’s trim was a “personal favor where no money was received or exchanged,” according to The Pittsburgh Tribune.
The 38-year-old’s play has slipped the past few seasons, but he still plans to play out his contract, which runs through the 2021 season. Last week, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin addressed Roethlisberger’s status with the team.
“The fact the injury happened so early in 2019, it’s probably an asset to him and to us as we push into 2020,” Tomlin said. “I think everyone is comfortable where things are. We’re excited about him and what he’s going to do for us this year.”
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