Roethlisberger unhappy over Bryant’s lies, non-communication

Bryant on a daily basis when he was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 regular season.

“Obviously the Martavis thing was very disappointing, especially all the time and effort and love I put into him, we all did.

“We all feel a little let down from that.”

Roethlisberger took it personally because Bryant was not truthful with him.

“We talked a lot, every day during his suspension we talked. And then, when [the second suspension] happened, we talked, as soon as the news broke I kind of asked him what happened. He said some things that were just kind of disappointing.”

Roethlisberger said Bryant lied to him, before the suspension was announced and after.

“I just think the approach, the denial of everything. Looking me in my eye and denying everything, it’s tough.

“It disappoints you as a man and a guy who cared so much about him. I obviously care a lot about him as a person and a football player.”

Roethlisberger said he has given up trying to talk to Bryant after he did not return messages, so he will leave it up to the him to make contact.

“I kind of put it on his plate. I would love to talk to him, but I have to let him make the move, he needs to reach out to me because I’ve tried and done those things. I’m not trying to be rude or mean, but I think he needs to do that, like grow up and reach out and talk to me, anybody. I know he talks to Markus [Wheaton].

“The potential that he had, both on and off the field and you feel for him as a person first, just what he’s going through and get your life right and those kinds of things, that’s first and foremost. But, on the football field, the talent that he had, the sky’s the limit.

“He had and has more potential than a lot of guys you’ve seen. Just the things he is able to do, opening it up for [Antonio Brown]. Opening it up for guys in the middle. He is a legit threat out there. So that was very disappointing.”