I've never actually seen Kevin Colbert's famous can. You know, the salary cap can that the Steelers GM has been kicking down the road for several seasons now, and it's about to receive another beating.
You heard Steelers President/Owner Art Rooney II Thursday. Despite a third straight late-season collapse and a second straight playoff embarrassment, Rooney likes his team.
"If I had my druthers, I'd say if I could have the same roster back going into next year, I'd do it," Rooney said in his post-season media Zoom, while also acknowledging that it's not possible. But he indicated the Steelers will do what they can, starting with the $41 million quarterback.
"I think we'd like to see Ben (Roethlisberger) back for another year if that can work," Rooney said. "But as we've said, there's a lot of work to be done to see if that can happen. There may need to be decisions that are made on both sides for that to happen."
Roethlisberger subsequently told our insider Ed Bouchette of The Athletic that he is willing to do just that, probably because it can be accomplished without him taking an actual pay cut by spreading the 19 million he's owed under his current contract over, say, 4 more years when the salary cap will rise again thanks to new TV deals.
So, since it appears we have two willing parties, Roethlisberger will return for one more season and one more playoff push. They think – or hope. But what will Ben have around him?
Here is a semi-educated guess at the 2021 Opening Week line-up.
QB Ben Roethlisberger
RB Draft Pick
C Draft Pick or JC Hassenauer
LG Kevin Dotson RG David DeCastro
LT Draft Pick/Chuks Okorafor RT Zach Banner
TE Veteran Journeyman
WR Diontae Johnson Chase Claypool James Washington Draft Pick
NT Carlos Davis or slightly cheaper Tyson Alualu
DE Cam Heyward Stephon Tuitt
ILB Devon Bush Robert Spillane (restructured Vince Williams)
OLB TJ Watt Alex Highsmith
CB Steven Nelson Cam Sutton (IF he re-signs) James Pierre
S Minkah Fitzpatrick Terrell Edmunds
P Jordan Berry
K Chris Boswell (restructured)
Does that look like a Super Bowl contender to you? Even an AFC North contender? And this is without taking into account the inevitable injuries which finally took a toll on the defense last season.
Rooney believes they have addressed the impotent running game by firing Offensive Coordinator Randy Fichter and OLine coach Shaun Suisham and naming Matt Canada OC with an OL coach to be determined. But what will that guy, however experienced, have to coach? And can they protect an even older Roethlisberger?
Despite the trend of late-season collapses, Mike Tomlin's job appears safe, not only in 2021 but beyond. "We'll address Mike's contract with him as time goes on this off-season," Rooney said. "I'll just say I feel comfortable in saying that he'll be our coach into the future.
Likewise, although Colbert operates on a series of one-year contracts and just turned 64 this month, Rooney expects his GM to stick around.
"Kevin and I have had some conversations and we'll have more conversations about it." Later Rooney added, "I kind of feel like Kevin is going to come back, but who knows."
Right now, there are plenty of things we don't know about the 2021 Steelers but one thing is certain. That poor can may never stop getting kicked.
