Kevin Colbert: Much work remains to resolve Ben Roethlisberger’s future with Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger stays the beginning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That a lot common supervisor Kevin Colbert may affirm Wednesday.

The query he couldn’t reply, nevertheless, was whether or not Roethlisberger will stay in that function in a month.

Colbert was non-committal when requested about Roethlisberger and his future with the group. He indicated the Steelers aren’t any nearer to resolving the problem than when their season ended final month within the first spherical of the AFC playoffs.

“He reiterated to us that he desires to proceed to play,” Colbert mentioned throughout a video convention name with reporters. “We informed him, fairly frankly, that we have now to take a look at the present state of affairs.”

Roethlisberger turns 39 in two weeks, has a $41 million salary-cap hit that staff president Artwork Rooney II mentioned should be decreased, and he presided over an offense that turned predictable within the last month of the season because the Steelers misplaced 5 of their last six video games, together with playoffs.

Roethlisberger met with Rooney, Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin after the season. A second assembly to apparently resolve the salary-cap dilemma hasn’t transpired, Colbert mentioned.

“We aren’t negotiating as we sit right here answering this query,” Colbert mentioned. “Ben Roethlisberger is on the staff. Ben Roethlisberger did lots of actually good issues final 12 months. We anticipate that he may nonetheless do some good issues shifting ahead.

“Hopefully there’s a approach we will attempt to determine that out and do what’s finest for the group and do what’s finest for Ben. Hopefully he’ll have the ability to see that and really feel the identical approach that we do. There’s lots of work that must be accomplished.”

Roethlisberger will rely $22 million in useless cash in opposition to the 2021 wage cap within the occasion he retires or the Steelers launch him. He’s owed $19 million subsequent season, together with a $15 million roster bonus that’s payable on March 19, the third day of the NFL calendar 12 months.

The Steelers should be compliant with the wage cap on March 17. The wage cap will likely be no decrease than $175 million, but it surely has been projected to be nearer to $185 million, which might be a $13 million discount from 2020. The Steelers already are an estimated $14 million above the wage cap with Roethlisberger below contract.

“After we met beforehand, all of us agreed we’d get collectively in some unspecified time in the future – as soon as we get additional down the highway and have a greater understanding of what free company is, what the cap is likely to be,” Colbert mentioned. “All of that comes collectively collectively and we have now a greater concept of what the staff will likely be in 2021 and the way he may be part of that and make that group pretty much as good as it may be. It’s an ongoing course of. It simply doesn’t contain him, but it surely entails the gamers round him.

“I’m positive he’s going to wish to see what sort of staff we will preserve collectively below our present conditions.”

Tight finish Vance McDonald and middle Maurkice Pouncey – two of Roethlisberger’s closest teammates – have already got retired, and the Steelers didn’t renew the contract of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, one other Roethlisberger confidant.

The Steelers additionally may lose extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to free company and try to rebuild an offensive line and operating again group after ending final within the NFL in speeding.

“Now we have to be compliant (with the cap), then we’ll make guesstimates to what we will do to place the perfect staff collectively,” Colbert mentioned. “For our sake, for Ben’s sake. What sort of staff can he anticipate being round him if we resolve we will transfer ahead collectively?”

Colbert spoke glowingly of Roethlisberger’s return from proper elbow surgical procedure that value him all however two video games of the 2019 season. In serving to the Steelers craft an 11-0 file, Roethlisberger threw 25 landing passes in opposition to six interceptions and was within the league MVP dialogue. Down the stretch, together with the 48-37 loss to Cleveland within the wild-card spherical, he threw 12 landing passes and was intercepted eight instances.

“Can he nonetheless do some particular issues? Completely,” Colbert mentioned. “Did he do it to his expectations? I believe he’d be the primary to inform you no. Ben cares about one factor. He cares about successful the Tremendous Bowl. He’s no totally different than us. When it doesn’t occur, he’s by no means going to be glad.”

If Roethlisberger doesn’t return, Mason Rudolph would have the primary crack on the beginning job as he enters his fourth season. In Rudolph’s solely begin, in opposition to Cleveland within the regular-season finale whereas Roethlisberger rested, he accomplished 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

“That was encouraging for us,” Colbert mentioned. “Hopefully, we get to see Mason take extra steps in no matter function he has or no matter enjoying time he will get.”

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Evaluate employees author. You may contact Joe by e mail at jrutter@triblive.com or by way of Twitter .