Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to turn 39 in March, but looks determined to play in what will be his 18th season in the NFL. However, there is an obstacle that he and the franchise will have to overcome: his contract.
According to Spotrac, Roethlisberger has a base salary of $ 4,000,000 and a bonus of $ 15,000,000 in 2021, while carrying a cap of $ 41,250,000. As Joel Corry of CBS Sports noted earlier this month, the Steelers compounded Roethlisberger’s problem last March when they reduced their 2020 limit number from $ 33.5 million to $ 23.75 million, converting $ 19.5 million from your $ 21 million compensation in 2020 in a signing bonus. Roethlisberger’s 2021 ceiling was increased by $ 9.75 million in the process. The Steelers would need to restructure their business if they want to re-sign several important free agents and, recently, Roethlisberger has made it clear that he is more than open to the idea.
On Thursday, Roethlisberger said Ed Bouchette of The Athletic that he went to Steelers first about restructuring his contract.
“I want to do everything I can and I made it very clear to them from the beginning that it was my idea to basically help the team as I can this year,” said Roethlisberger.
“I don’t care about my payment this year! ”
Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh do not have much time to work out the details, as the bonus on Roethlisberger’s list is due on March 19. Still, this is a major development for Steelers, as it shows that their quarterback is set to play in 2021 and also that both sides are on the same page about what they must do in this off-season to have room on the roof to work. Not long before Roethlisberger made these comments, Steelers owner Art Rooney II spoke to “Big Ben” about the financial situation for reporters.
“Ben is already in. I haven’t sat with him yet, but he sat with coach Tomlin and Kevin (Colbert). Ben wants to go back, so we left the door open,” said Rooney II, via Jim Wexell of 247Sports. “I think we were frank with Ben in informing him that we could not have him back in the current contract and therefore I think he understands that we have work to do there. We will have more conversations. We will have more conversations internally. We will have more conversations. with Ben. Obviously, we will have to know what the maximum number is at some point to finalize some of those decisions. “
Recently, optimism was growing when it came to Steelers and Roethlisberger finding a way to be together in 2021. In his first full season since undergoing major elbow surgery, the two-time Super Bowl champion completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Steelers started the 2020 season with an 11-0 record, but inconsistencies in the attack, as well as injuries, led to a 1-4 final. These problems followed the Steelers in the postseason, when they dropped to Cleveland Browns, 48-37, at Super Wild-Card Weekend.