By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

 

STEELERS NOTEBOOK:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is going back to his roots. His Swiss roots that is.

 

Roethlisberger and his family are planning a trip to Switzerland this off-season to learn more about their family's ancestry,

 

"I get it all of the time everywhere I go, what is the origin of my last name," said Roethlisberger. "I am very proud to tell them now that I am of Swiss decent."

 

Roethlisberger recently did an interview with Swiss television to talk about the trip and shared his enthusiasm about the adventure.

 

"From what I know it's a beautiful country," said Roethlisberger, who is also German. "I am excited to go over there and see the country because I am an outdoors type of person. I am interested in going and see all of that, see the people, and just see how the culture is from where I come from."

 

His trip isn't the only focus for Roethlisberger this off-season. He is not sitting idle these days, but instead has been spending time in the team's weight room. He wants to continue to improve and knows that he has to focus in order to do so.

 

"I like to stay at the top," said Roethlisberger. "For me you either improve or deteriorate, you never stay the same. I am always going to try and get better. I am never going to be satisfied with where I am at.

 

"You can say you won the Super Bowl and you are a champion of the world. To me that is not enough. I have to keep going and keep striving to get better."

 

* * *

 

The Steelers hosted free agent wide receiver/kicker returner Tim Dwight on Tuesday at their practice facility at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex, but Dwight might be headed elsewhere.

 

He had visited with the New York Jets on Monday and was scheduled to leave Pittsburgh and head to Seattle to visit the Seahawks. The Jets had a strong interest in signing him. Dwight is being looked at to help replace Antwaan Randle El in the return game.