Pittsburgh Steelers president gives Ben Roethlisberger contract ultimatum : Sportsnaut

If Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger desires to return for the 2021 NFL season, he’ll must restructure his contract so the staff can have extra wage cap flexibility because it builds out the roster round him.

To ensure that the entrance workplace to go to work and achieve that job on a really perfect timeline, Steelers president Artwork Rooney II has given Massive Ben a particular time by which he wants to transform his deal.

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Ben Roethlisberger should restructure contract by March 17 to play in Pittsburgh

Bob Labriola of the Steelers’ official web site reported what Rooney needed to say relating to Roethlisberger’s outlook for 2021, setting an ultimatum of the primary day of the brand new league 12 months for him to get the contract finalized:

“We’ve been clear that we want him again however we wanted to do one thing with the contract. We’re attending to that time now the place the time is correct. We’ve a greater concept of the place the wage cap goes to be, which is a vital part of the choice. […] Hopefully we’ll work one thing out earlier than that, however definitely if you wish to say there’s a tough deadline, March 17 can be it.”

Steelers president Artwork Rooney II on Ben Roethlisberger’s contract scenario

Pittsburgh can be taking up a cap hit of over $41 million within the last 12 months of Roethlisberger’s contract if he doesn’t rework it or simply merely take a pay reduce of some form. It’s a prohibitive price even for a future Corridor of Famer who started final season main the staff to 11 straight wins.

However Massive Ben’s decline down the stretch of 2020, capped by a one-and-done effort within the playoffs in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, mixed with zero postseason victories prior to now 4 years paint a bleak outlook for his instant future.

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Can Ben Roethlisberger maintain Steelers atop AFC North in 2021?

Contemplating the Browns and Baltimore Ravens additionally made the playoffs from the division final 12 months, and the Cincinnati Bengals have Joe Burrow at quarterback and extra cap area than anybody else within the AFC North, it’s going to take a extremely excessive degree of play from Roethlisberger and continued elite kind by the protection for Pittsburgh to repeat as champions.

What the Steelers may do to assist out Roethlisberger is improved their dead-last dashing assault from a season in the past. Whether or not which means drafting a game-changing tailback in Spherical 1 or bolstering the offensive line, any assistance on that entrance can be a welcome improvement.

Additionally hurting Pittsburgh’s trigger on offense: High receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and left sort out Alejandro Villanueva are free brokers. Stud middle Maurkice Pouncey is retiring. Tight finish Eric Ebron could possibly be a cap casualty since he’d save the Steelers $6 million.

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It’s actually not wanting nice for Roethlisberger, who’s virtually motionless at this level in his profession and is popping 39 in March. He hasn’t saved himself in nice situation through the years, and has taken a ton of hits attributable to his knack for creating performs off-schedule by holding onto the ball longer than most of his QB friends.

The Steelers do have a trio of younger, promising wideouts returning in Chase Claypool, James Washington and Diontae Johnson, so it’s not like Roethlisberger is totally with out weapons. If the protection can keep the shape that helped Pittsburgh begin 11-0 in 2020, that’ll assist the trigger too after all.

All that mentioned, an actual case might be made that Pittsburgh now has the worst quarterback in its division. That’s uncommon territory the staff hasn’t occupied actually since Roethlisberger took over because the starter.

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