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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the Steelers was not a sure thing when the team’s season came to an end against the Browns in the Wild Card round and team president Art Rooney II said on Thursday that an open question remains.
Rooney told reporters that Roethlisberger has expressed an interest in returning for his 18th season in Pittsburgh and that the team has the same interest. It is not a closed deal because Rooney added that something needs to be done about Roethlisberger’s $ 41.25 million limit before they can move on.
“I don’t want to go too far on that road because we have a lot of discussions internally and with Ben. Ben’s salary cap and contract are a big factor in determining where we’re going. That is as far as i can tell”Said Rooney, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Roethlisberger receives a $ 4 million salary and a $ 15 million list bonus on the third day of the 2021 league year. That doesn’t leave much relief through a pay cut, so an extension would probably be the most simple for Steelers to free up the space needed to maintain the quarterback’s status quo.