Ben Roethlisberger is the Pittsburgh Steelers' "unquestioned leader," general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters on Wednesday.
Colbert said the Steelers are Roethlisberger's team, giving him the freedom to publicly criticize teammates if he sees fit.
"He's the elder statesmen and the Super Bowl winner," Colbert said. "If our players were smart, they'd listen to him because he's been there. He's done it. He can tell them, 'No guys, what you're doing is or is not good enough to do this.'"
Following Pittsburgh's Week 12 loss to the Denver Broncos, Roethlisberger said wide receiver Antonio Brown should have run a flatter route on the goal line.