Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette
	Ben Roethlisberger: ". . . hopefully, now that the year is over with, everyone will forget about it." Click photo for larger image. Listen In: Roethlisberger talks with reporters on the one-year anniversary of his motorcycle accident: "I'm blessed, I truly am ... "

No cards, no telephone calls from family or friends, just a date circled on Ben Roethlisberger's calendar and two minutes worth of questions from the media yesterday to mark the occasion.

June 12, one year later.

"It's a year anniversary," Roethlisberger said as he stepped off Heinz Field yesterday. "This is the day last year I almost lost my life."

He celebrated the occasion with his teammates as they went through a practice for the first time this year at Heinz Field. Two more of these and the Steelers will be free until training camp July 23, weeks off in which they can travel, relax, fish, golf and perhaps even ride a motorcycle.

Roethlisberger is riding a bike again.

"I ride my 10-speed," he said without revealing if or when he will hop back on a motorcycle anytime soon.

Roethlisberger seemed a bit annoyed at the brief questioning about the one-year anniversary of his horrific motorcycle accident on Second Avenue in Pittsburgh.

"Everyone's forgotten about it except the media," Roethlisberger said. "So, hopefully, now that the year is over with, everyone will forget about it."

	Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette The scene last year as Pittsburgh Police stand near Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle, which was heavily damaged when he collided with a car at the intersection of Second Avenue near the 10th Street Bridge. Click photo for larger image.

Yet the quarterback admitted he circled the date on his calendar at home. That was some day a year ago.

Riding his bike helmetless, as he was warned not to do by former coach Bill Cowher, Roethlisberger was headed East on Second Avenue toward the Steelers' UPMC facility on the South Side when a car turned in front of him. His head hit the windshield with a glancing blow -- something that may have saved him worse injuries -- and he landed on the street, conscious.

He wound up with a broken jaw in four places, a broken nose, a mild concussion, missing teeth, a broken orbital bone and scrapes and bruises -- but, almost miraculously, nothing serious enough to prevent him from reporting to training camp on time six weeks later. The surgery took seven hours and involved some plastic surgery as well. It was later revealed that quick action by doctors at nearby Mercy Hospital saved him from choking on his own blood.

"I'm blessed, I truly am, to be out here," Roethlisberger said after a 90-minute practice yesterday. "It's a beautiful day to be on this football field with my teammates."

Roethlisberger's accident came days after the Steelers received their Super Bowl rings, then closed down their spring training until they would report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Not only did he report on time to camp, but he played briefly in their first preseason game Aug. 12 in Arizona. He missed the team's season opener Sept. 7 against Miami for an altogether different reason -- an appendectomy 10 days earlier.

Roethlisberger went on to have his worst season of three in the NFL. He led the league with 23 interceptions and had a 7-8 record as a starter. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, said in February that, in hindsight, he believes the coaches rushed their injured quarterback into the lineup too soon and it may be why he did not play well. Roethlisberger has vehemently disagreed with that opinion.

"A lot of good things, some bad things," Roethlisberger said as he reflected on the one-year anniversary. "It just makes me thankful to be alive and out here with my guys."

Roethlisberger said he is not currently riding motorcycles and remains pro choice when it comes to wearing a helmet.

"I think it's every person's decision what they want to do," he said.

He has deflected requests for him to speak out on the topic.

"It's just one of those things," Roethlisberger said. "It's over with, it's done with and hopefully now that it's a year over with people will stop talking about it."