Steelers, Roethlisberger agree to new deal for 2021 | Local Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger is returning for an 18th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is taking a pay minimize to do it.

The group and the two-time Tremendous Bowl winner introduced on Thursday they’ve agreed on a brand new contract that assures the 39-year-old shall be again in 2021.

Monetary particulars weren’t instantly obtainable, although the Steelers made no secret of the necessity for Roethlisberger to take a pay minimize to ease among the burden of his NFL-high $41.25-million salary-cap hit scheduled for 2021.

NFL Community, citing nameless sources, mentioned Roethlisberger’s new deal will primarily pay him $14 million this season and provides 4 voidable years to unfold out the useless cash.

“I’m grateful to be at this stage of my profession and very happy to regulate my contract in a method that finest helps the group to handle different gamers who’re so important to our success,” Roethlisberger mentioned in an announcement. “I really like this recreation and like to compete, and I consider on this group and my means to ship when known as upon. All of it begins with nice preparation and I’m able to go.”

Roethlisberger handed for 3,803 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 15 video games in 2020 after lacking nearly all of 2019 with a proper elbow damage. The Steelers received their first 11 video games on their approach to a 12-4 document and captured the AFC North title however have been surprised at house by Cleveland within the first-round of the playoff recreation thanks partly to 4 Roethlisberger interceptions.

Steelers President Artwork Rooney II, head coach Mike Tomlin and basic supervisor Kevin Colbert all expressed the need to deliver Roethlisberger again, stressing the necessity to do it in a method that provides the Steelers some monetary flexibility.

The brand new contract does supply a bit extra freedom, however Pittsburgh is going through a number of high-profile departures in free company.

Vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, outdoors linebacker Bud Dupree, operating again James Conner and left sort out Alejandro Villanueva are amongst greater than a dozen Steelers who will hit the open market this month. Conner and Villanueva are unlikely to be introduced again after underwhelming play in 2020. Smith-Schuster and Dupree have seemingly priced themselves out of a return.

Throw within the retirements of heart Maurkice Pouncey and tight finish Vance McDonald and the choice to half with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner — all three of whom have a detailed relationship with Roethlisberger — and the veteran quarterback will discover himself within the midst of an overhaul.

The franchise’s chief in nearly each main statistical passing class stays, he was on the controls of an offense that completed final within the NFL in yards dashing and yards per dashing try. These are numbers the entrance workplace mentioned it’s going to spend the offseason attempting to enhance.

Pittsburgh has the twenty fourth choose within the draft and several other evident wants, notably alongside the offensive line. If left guard Matt Feiler — additionally a free agent — doesn’t come again, Roethlisberger may discover himself taking part in behind a line with three new starters and a operating again that isn’t Conner for the primary time since 2017. Embrace the approaching departure of the dependable Smith-Schuster and the absence of McDonald — in essence a 3rd sort out in 2020 when he was on the sphere — and the Steelers may have a really completely different look in 2021.

But quite than nudge Roethlisberger towards retirement and see what the membership has in backup Mason Rudolph — who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal — the Steelers will run it again hoping their late-season fade was a one-off.

“We all know that Ben can nonetheless play at a excessive stage and do particular issues for this group,” Colbert mentioned. “Our objective stays the identical, to place collectively a roster that can compete for one more championship. We’re blissful that Ben shall be one among our leaders to assist us accomplish that objective.”