Who conducts the better interview, the team's former coach or a former running back?We'll find out when they both get their shot during interviews that air Sunday. That's Bill Cowher and Merril Hoge interviewing returning Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for "The NFL Today" and "Sunday NFL Countdown," respectively.
According to the CBS publicity machine, Cowher "goes one-on-one with hard hitting questions" on "The NFL Today." At the same time, ESPN promotes Hoge as someone who has become a close confident of the quarterback who was suspended four games for off-field behavior and is returning to action this week at home against Cleveland.
ESPN provided a couple-question glimpse at the Hoge interview last week during several different programs. It looked interesting, but hardly earth shattering. Most semi-savvy sports fans could provide the same answers as Big Ben.
He's contrite. He's knows he has to prove himself by his actions off the field. He's sorry.
Heck, should he offer anything other than that, well, that would be newsworthy.
According to CBS, Roethlisberger will discuss how he has changed during the suspension; what he has learned; and how he can help the 3-1 Steelers get all the way to Super Bowl XLV. And, of course, we'll get those hard-hitting questions from Cowher.
We'll see, though. While Cowher clearly has chops as a hard-nosed coach, the interviewing skills seemed unlikely -- especially since the CBS preview for the interaction between coach and former player comes only with an answer and not one of the questions.
Roethlisberger said this about the possibility of the Steelers trading him as they did wide receiver Santonio Holmes: "Well, when the talk started happening, and you did hear those rumors and stuff, and wherever they came from, I don't know, but it hit close to home and I realized I don't want to go anywhere. I love it here."
Love might be a strong word, but if either of the interviews is likable, and watchable, that'll be great.