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It should have happened a 12 months in the past. However the Pittsburgh Steelers stubbornly clung to a declining legend in 2020, and another season with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger resulted in an uneven, disappointing marketing campaign.
I am again to make the identical pitch to the Steelers now that Roethlisberger is getting ready to his thirty ninth birthday, coming off a season by which he ranked 29th amongst 35 certified passers in yards per try and more likely to be lassoed with a decayed offensive line and fewer help typically in 2021.
This time, although, the argument in favor of booting Huge Ben is much less controversial than it was in 2020.
This time, the writing would possibly properly be on the wall after one other failed Tremendous Bowl chase regardless of elite defensive expertise.
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“As we sit right here right now, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” common supervisor Kevin Colbert stated Wednesday, per ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor. “… He reiterated to us that he needs to proceed to play. We advised him we now have to take a look at this present scenario.”
That is removed from a ringing endorsement from an government who is aware of Huge Ben posted a mere 81.9 passer ranking within the final six weeks of the common season earlier than throwing 4 interceptions in an embarrassing residence playoff loss to the division-rival Cleveland Browns within the Wild Card Spherical.
Colbert is aware of sledding could possibly be harder in 2021 with out Professional Bowl middle Maurkice Pouncey, who introduced his retirement last week.
“I hate to say he is the best teammate and competitor I’ve ever been round, however on the finish of the day that is what it’s—he is the best teammate and competitor I have been round,” Roethlisberger stated of Pouncey, in keeping with Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette. “And that is no slight to anyone else.”
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Colbert additionally is aware of Roethlisberger’s salary-cap hit for 2021—$41.3 million, in keeping with Spotrac—might make it nearly inconceivable for the cap-strapped Steelers to retain impending free brokers equivalent to left sort out Alejandro Villanueva, edge defender Bud Dupree, extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster or doubtless 2021 beginning offensive linemen Matt Feiler and Zach Banner.
It is likely to be higher for Colbert and Co. to tear away this offensive core like a Band-Support.
Pouncey is already gone. Villanueva is 32, however he’ll be costly as a result of he performs a premium place. And the presence of Feiler, Banner and receivers Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington makes it simpler to maneuver on from Villanueva and Smith-Schuster.
Parting methods with Huge Ben now would save the Steelers $19 million, which might assist them convey again Dupree—who’s clearly their second-best pass-rusher after T.J. Watt—and even chase T.J.’s brother, J.J. Watt, who hit the open market final week.
It might permit them extra freedom to pursue someone established like Corey Linsley, David Andrews or Austin Reiter to interchange Pouncey, or someone like Taylor Moton to melt the offensive line blows.
However it will additionally give them a chance to begin aggressively swinging the bat in pursuit of their subsequent franchise quarterback, and that is the proper offseason to be part of these sweepstakes.
The Steelers might make a pitch to the Houston Texans for the disgruntled Deshaun Watson. They could possibly be in play for Dak Prescott or Jameis Winston if both turns into out there in free company, and for Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Sam Darnold, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota and Teddy Bridgewater on the commerce market.
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Watson and Prescott would possibly solely star within the Steelers’ pipe desires in both situation, however transferring on from Roethlisberger ought to make it comparatively simple to usher in no less than a type of different quarterbacks and probably a number of if they need an additional shot on the craps desk.
And relying on what they could be capable of get for Roethlisberger in a commerce, they may have the draft capital to make a run at a first-round quarterback prospect like Trey Lance out of North Dakota State.
Watson, Prescott or Lance can be no-brainer replacements for Roethlisberger. But when the controversy is between conserving Huge Ben or winding up with Dupree, Darnold and potential first-round quarterback Mac Jones, for instance, the reply also needs to be apparent.
Would saying goodbye damage? Positive. Wouldn’t it suck to pay Huge Ben $22.3 million to play elsewhere or by no means? Completely. However it is a enterprise, and that may be a sunk price.
In keeping with Over the Cap, it has been greater than a quarter-century since a staff led by a quarterback with one of many league’s three highest cap hits at his place received the Tremendous Bowl. Proper now, Roethlisberger has the best projected cap hit within the league, in keeping with Spotrac, and that $41.3 million determine is separated from the fourth-highest hit by a margin of practically $7 million.
Even when Roethlisberger returns and that quantity drops by the use of a pay minimize or a restructuring, the 2020 season demonstrated that staff is not constructed to win a Tremendous Bowl as is, not to mention with Huge Ben one other 12 months older and Pouncey, Dupree and Smith-Schuster positively or doubtless gone.
It is time for Pittsburgh to cease delaying its future below middle. Persevering with to attract out the Roethlisberger period will solely make it harder for the Steelers to reemerge as a major contender whereas the protection remains to be dominant.
The Band-Support has to return off, and Colbert seems to lastly understand it.
Brad Gagnon has lined the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Comply with him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.
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