Ben Roethlisberger will be entering the final season of his contract in 2019, but it sounds like the Steelers quarterback may be sticking around for longer than that. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Steelers and Roethlisberger are expected to “restructure and extend” the quarterback’s deal prior to the beginning of the league year on March 13th.
In recent years, there have seemingly been whispers every offseason that the 36-year-old Roethlisberger could decide to hang up his cleats, although the veteran has hinted that he’s open to playing beyond his current contract. The Steelers did use a third-round pick on Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph in this past year’s draft, but that wouldn’t necessarily prevent Roethlisberger from playing another handful of seasons. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that team president Art Rooney II previously said that he’d like to ink Roethlisberger to one more contract.
Despite being up there in age, the veteran quarterback set career-highs in completions (452), pass attempts (675), passing yards (5,129), and touchdowns (34) this past season. Roethlisberger has taken an absolute beating throughout his career, and his 24 sacks in 2018 was his highest total since 2014. Still, the signal-caller managed to play in all 16 games for the first time since (of course) 2014.
The quarterback signed an extension with Pittsburgh back in 2015, and he’s set to have a cap charges of $23.2MM. As Schefter notes, an extension could open up some extra cap space for the Steelers, perhaps making an Antonio Brown trade more tolerable.
Makes the inevitable AB cap hit more manageable.
I expect Pouncey, Haden & Hargreaves to be extended as well.
Expect Gilbert, Burns, Boswell & possibly Dupree released.
Add in the salary cap growing and Leveon’s $14 million carrying over. That AB cap hit doesn’t look so bad.
However long that extension is also tells us how long the expect to contend before a retool when Rudolph is ready to take over.
Hopefully in their negotiations The Rooney’s knock him down a peg and get his ego in check because he is most responsible for this mess than anybody else.
Calling out a wideouts for running wrong routes, being divas is not a reason to check his ego.
Big Ben is a leader with rings to prove it. Nothing wrong with his ego. He’s a man for calling out little girl AB.
Jkoms take Big Bens small Ben out of your mouth cause you sound incredibly dumb, Big Ben has 1 ring not rings, lmao like what AB is a top 4 receiver you can put him, Hopkins, Thomas, and Jones in any order. I personally think he’s the 2nd best but insulting someone for not wanting to be on the team anymore is ridiculous. Stay classy Steelers fans, it’s amazing what missing the playoffs one year does lmao.
You truly are as stupid as you sound: the Steelers won 2 Super Bowls XL and XLIII with Big Ben as starting QB. Go troll on a children’s bulletin board, lamer.
Yeah u lose all credibility in this discussion he has 2 rings even though he played the worst game a winning QB ever played in a SB they still won and he got the ring so it’s 2
Even though I’m not a fan I do know that Ben has 2 rings.
Clark K – you need some work on trolling. Trying to rebuke stats with incorrect stats? Check your credibility and ego at the door.
Glad your “personal opinion” has him as a top 4 wideout
…..
But the stats show he wasn’t even the best receiver on the Steelers this year.
Yep, you guessed it! We have an idiot here
I don’t log on to PFR to often but when I do it’s to dislike a ridiculously stupid comment such as this one. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this chat is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Ben is a passive/aggressive PUNK! NEVER takes responsibly for HIS mistakes, yet is ALWAYS somehow in the vicinity of drama in the Steelers locker room. “AB’s route was too flat” when Ben threw the ball right into the arms of the D-lineman that was 3yds in front of him. He’s a TERRIBLE leader that hasn’t won a thing in 9yrs
And take this clown with you. Ben has always taken the blame for overthrows or underthrows, but why shouldn’t he call out receivers who blow routes? He’s a terrible leader who hasn’t won a thing in 9 years. OMG how lame of an insult this is. When was the last time your favorite QB (although you sound stupid like a Brady fan) ever won anything? Go do a Bird Box into traffic, Birdbrain.
You’re much more interesting when you post Bell weed jokes. Not really you’re a fool. Another #7 Blind Rapist supporter. You can’t go online and find a quote where Mr Handsy has taken responsibility for throwing game ending picks, pick 6’s vs Jacksonville. The poor baby threatened retirement, then got mad when they drafted a QB. FYI… his 1st super bowl they won IN SPITE of him.
I’d rather go online and read some Jack Handy quotes.
I seem to remember an important TD run in that first Super Bowl by #7. So, in spite of us false, my friend.
9/21 for 123 yds and 2 int’s. Yes… IN SPITE of him
So much more to football than stats. Stat line, yes… horrific.
Horrific stat line, Horrific game. The BLITZBURGH defense carried that him
He was never found guilty of rape.
This is America not the middle East.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Then why was there $ exchanged?
So she would stop lying.
So the Steelers want to get rid of all the locker room issues but the biggest locker room issue in Big Bend they are going to extend? So that is more of blaming everyone else but himself when he does not play up to snuff.
Him holding his wideouts accountable is why Steelers have churned out so many eilte recievers.
Pretty obvious AB is the problem.
WR is just as easily replaceable as RB… So long as Ben is QB and the O-line blocks like they have.
AB can pack his bags.
How’d those running backs milk the clock in all of those blown 4th quarter leads this year? Fumble vs Cleveland that lead to a tie.
Oh ya so def spend 20Mil a year on baby boy Bell because of one conner fumble.
PS Conner is way better than Bell and for a penny on the dollar.
Yea… how’d that turn out for them late in games this year, when they couldn’t close teams out. There’s a reason their run/pass ratio as lopsided as any in history. Keep smokin though
Conner was hurt dum dum. So how could he close out the games he’s not playing?
And if you watched the games, the secondary gave up big plays late in games. Totally not on the run game. That’s completely laughable. They marched down the field easily opponents .. just boswell would miss a fg or a juju’s fumble, or Oakland 50 yard pass .. nothing to do with lack of run game.
What’s with all the non-Steeler fans today jumping on here and showing their stupidity? Did the children’s matinee at the theater close or something?
Nah… they’re just waiting in line to CUCK your ole lady
Stop the nonsense Nobody ever had to hold Hines Ward accountable for anything.
After that what other WR have the Steelers churned out until AB & JuJu
Wheaton was a bust, Plax played 1 year with him, Santonio was a bigger problem than AB & Sanders was a dud here and didn’t start to shine until Denver. Heath also was here doin numbers but I don’t think he ever made a pro bowl but was probably a top 5 TE talent who didn’t get the ball nearly enough.
Sanders absolutely was a stud in Pittsburgh. You also left Wallace off of that list and he was great in Pittsburgh. And saying that Holmes was a bigger problem than AB doesn’t mean he wasn’t a great talent.
How was Sanders a stud him & AB we’re both up for the same contract after Wallace turned it down and AB beat him out he was always hurt and when he left said unflattering things bout Ben if you remember.
Wallace was a 1 trick pony. It was run fast straight ahead Ben throw it in front of him.
And exactly Santonio was a great talent who should have had a better career than he had. So how exactly did Ben churn him out he was a disappointment for the Steelers.
Keep drinking that Ben kool-aid. NEVER heard Brady/Manning/Brees criticize their guys in the media. Sure they did on the sidelines during games. EVERYTHING was always on them when they lost. It’s NEVER Ben’s fault.
Never said better my friend
Ton Brady gives French kisses to his son, Manning and Beckham have issues all the time and Brees is such a genius that he got fleeced by a jeweler in San Diego. The traffic awaits you, Bird Brain.
You know he’s talking about the good Manning, right?
He’s an IDIOT, so I doubt it.
None of them had to deal with AB.
And Moss got cut as soon as he became his old ego. So don’t say Brady.
Brady likes butting heads with his coach.
this links to Ben’s college stats, not NFL stats page.
Why give an extension to a guy who constantly contemplates retirement, a guy who is driving one of the best receivers in the game off the team? Like it or not Big Ben is toxic and like Cam Jordan said weeks ago not a HoF QB he’s just not. Big Ben is a lot easier to replace than AB you can’t find a player that will put up his numbers
In the NFL it’s a QB league so they are the most vauable/important guy on the offense. Between that and the money he makes and the limited replacement level player to take his place it’s impossible to lose him. It’s just the way of football
1. QB
2. Pass rusher
3. LT
4. Shutdown CB
WR is replaceable just the way it is
That you say Ben is easier to replace than AB shows how stupid you are and know nothing about football. You remember football? That game you were to fat and stupid to play your whole life. Loser.
Do you spit or swallow Ben’s juice? You sound like a swallower
And believe me when his window at QB closes I won’t miss him but until then he is the best option we as fans have
No if you are ok with a total rebuild and not sniffing the playoffs for a couple years that’s your perogative but for me I want my team to put out the best product possible every year. If a rebuild comes I will support it but until then I cheer for the colors and team not the individuals
Best product would’ve meant locking Bell up long term, and keeping Brown. Sure, Everyone fell in love with Conners early success, the writing was on the wall the 1st game when he had the crucial fumble in 4th quarter. He gradually hit that wall, then got injured. Keep in mind, Bell had 400 touches in 2017. I’ll take the character of a guy that got popped for weed, over a guy that’s had issue with his behavior around women, that got him suspended.
So basically the Steelers want Ben to become the same cap space albatross that Eli Manning has become for the Giants….lol.
Keep the rapist at the helm of the offense… Steelers organization continues to be a cesspool
Hey let’s keep the rapist pot stirrer. Lock him up for mega years and see where this goes. When Trump is done running the country Little Ben can step right in and continue the disaster. Birds of a feather.
Big Ben is disrespected
After 2016 Ben is contemplating retirement
After 2017 Ben is seriously contemplating retirement.
2018 Steelers Draft Mason Rudolph in 3rd rd.
“I want to play 3-5 more years”
“I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now,” Roethlisberger said. “Nothing against Mason. I think he’s a great football player. I don’t know him personally, but I’m sure he’s a great kid. I just don’t know how backing up or being the third — who knows where he’s going to fall on the depth chart — helps us win now. But that’s not my decision to make”
AB Is the drama queen though.
We’re those comments really that effective to the team once the season started? Big Ben gets this media driven reputation that he’s this selfish drama queen. Watch his post game press conferences. He’s constantly giving credit to everyone else. I love AB, but he’s been distracting. Still hope they keep him. He’s the best in the league