PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger back, and he wants to come back.
Team president Art Rooney II acknowledged the mutual desire between the Steelers and their longtime quarterback in a statement on Wednesday morning.
“Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning and we had a productive meeting,” said Rooney. “We were able to discuss many things related to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he is committed to returning to help us win, and I told Ben that we would like to have him back to help us win a championship. We both understand that the next step is to resolve the Ben contract situation. “
Declaration of # Thieves President Art Rooney II at QB Ben Roethlisberger: pic.twitter.com/mB0CwkmrCh
– Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) February 24, 2021
The last year of Roethlisberger’s current contract comes with a cap of $ 41.2 million, although a restructuring and extension of the contract could reduce that by a maximum of $ 14 million.
Roethlisberger, who will turn 39 next week, may also choose to cut the wages to a minimum for veterans, which would leave his cap at just over $ 23 million.
In a statement to the NFL Network on Tuesday night, Roethlisberger’s agent Ryan Tollner said “we are happy to creatively adjust his contract to help them form the best team possible”.
Rooney’s statement is the most committed that the Steelers have shown themselves to bring back the two-time Super Bowl winner for at least another season.
General manager Kevin Colbert was lukewarm last week in his assessment of Roethlisberger’s status with the team, saying “hopefully, there is a way to try to find out and do what’s best for the organization and do what’s best for Ben.”
Rooney echoed some of Colbert’s sentiments in Wednesday’s statement, saying that the teams still need to resolve Roethlisberger’s contractual situation – something that must be done until the new league opens on March 17.