As Maurkice Pouncey Enters Retirement, Will Ben Roethlisberger Follow?

After the Steelers last recreation of the 2020 season, it certain seemed like Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey had been able to trip off into the sundown collectively.

Following the workforce’s surprising Wild Card Spherical loss to the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Discipline, Pouncey and Roethlisberger spent a significant amount of time sitting on the Pittsburgh bench, taking in the moment.

Teammates corresponding to Vance McDonald, who has since retired, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s all however assured of leaving by way of free company, came to visit to commiserate with the duo earlier than they headed off the sphere.

Lastly, it was simply Pouncey and Roethlisberger, and the 2 walked off the sphere collectively for the ultimate time as teammates.

Final two off the sphere, strolling off collectively.

Feels fairly symbolic. pic.twitter.com/E70eqEjKHE

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) January 11, 2021

On Friday, Pouncey officially announced his retirement, ending a month of hypothesis.

“I really like that man,” Roethlisberger stated after the sport. “He is without doubt one of the finest opponents and teammates I’ve ever had. It’s been a lot enjoyable to share a soccer discipline with him. I hate that it ended the way in which it did. I simply wished to apologize to him that I wished to win it for him.”

Previously, Pouncey and Roethlisberger had stated that they wished to exit collectively. Roethlisberger has not made an official announcement about his plans for 2021, however the Steelers say he intends to return. The edges must do some work to search out an settlement on lowering Roethlisberger’s wage, which is at the moment slated to be north of $41 million.

“This loss is recent,” he stated after the loss. “It’s simply sitting on our hearts and our minds proper now. It can for some time. … It’s going to begin between me and God, loads of praying. Quite a lot of speaking with my household, discussions, choices. I nonetheless have a 12 months left on my contract. I hope the Steelers need me again, if that’s the way in which we go. There will probably be loads of discussions.”

The 2 sides had reportedly been set to get collectively this week, however based on a report by Gerry Dulac of the Submit-Gazette, Roethlisberger and the Steelers haven’t but met.

“I’m nonetheless processing him retiring,” Roethlisberger stated to Dulac. “That’s laborious for me.”

Roethlisberger texted with Pouncey Thursday evening and stated “I didn’t really feel proper attempting to speak him out of it. I am nonetheless processing him retiring. That’s laborious for me.” Roethlisberger nonetheless has not met with Steelers about what they need to do.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) February 12, 2021

The Steelers remain well over the projected 2021 salary cap, even after Pouncey’s retirement. Roethlisberger’s state of affairs seems prone to be the following shoe to drop. Will he comply with his pal into retirement or discover a method to make yet one more run with the Steelers? Guess we’ll discover out quickly.