Emmanuel Sanders Still Not Ready to Make Amends With Ben Roethlisberger After All This Time

Emmanuel Sanders has seen a little bit of everything over the course of a decade playing in the NFL. In fact, he's about to play in the Super Bowl for a third different team now that his San Francisco 49ers are newly-minted NFC champs.

Suffice to say he's come a long way since his early days in Pittsburgh. But one thing that hasn't really changed? His relationship with longtime Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whom Sanders infamously called out for insufficient leadership after leaving the Steel City for Denver in 2014.

Upon joining the Broncos, who featured Peyton Manning under center at the time, Sanders immediately stated on the record that his new QB was miles ahead of Big Ben as a leader. While the wideout has gained some perspective since then, he doesn't picture himself wearing a Steeler uniform ever again while Roethlisberger is still around.

"I would love that," when asked by The Athletic's Ed Bouchette about a potential return to Pittsburgh when he becomes a free agent in the offseason. "But me and Ben don’t have the best relationship. I believe that bridge is burnt.”

"I grew to not like him but just to deal with him," he said of his time in Pittsburgh, with whom he fell just short of championship glory against the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

Fortunately, Sanders acknowledges that with the passing of time, he's grown up. And he's one to believe that Big Ben has grown up, too. Just don't assume so quickly that the QB will be pulling for the 49ers in the big game Sunday.