PITTSBURGH —Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey were named the 2010 recipients of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Pro Football Writers of America's annual awards.
Roethlisberger was the recipient of the Pro Football Writers' "The Chief Award", presented annually to the member of the Steelers' organization who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media, which was established in honor of Steelers' founder, Arthur J. Rooney, Sr.
Roethlisberger, in his seventh NFL season, has completed 61.3 (225 of 367) percent of his passes for 2,920 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions (94.3 passer rating). He ranks among the NFL's best in several passing categories and is on pace to throw for over 3,000 yards, which would be his team-record fifth straight season of achieving the mark. Roethlisberger has a 68-29 (.701) career record as a starting quarterback and owns over 40 club records.
Pouncey, the Steelers' first round draft pick in 2010, was the winner of the "Joe Greene Great Performance Award", given to the outstanding Steelers' rookie. He has started all 15 games and has been the anchor of the offensive line that has helped the Steelers average 121.6 rushing yards per game. Named to this year's Pro Bowl, Pouncey became just the third Steelers' offensive lineman to start the first game of his rookie season since the mid-1960s and has a chance to be the first offensive rookie for the team to start all regular-season games since wide receiver Ron Shanklin started all 14 games for Pittsburgh in 1970.
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