With the Steelers contemplating quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s future in Pittsburgh, the 2-time Super Bowl Champion has made it clear he wants to come back and has vocally given some big concessions.
While watching his friends and teammates tight end Vance McDonald and center Maurkice Pouncey walk away from the game, Big Ben appears to be determined to stick around for one more season.
With his current contract delivering a league-high $42 million cap hit and a $19 million salary, if Roethlisberger does return, he and the team will need to do some major restructuring.
Roethlisberger previously told Steelers insider Ed Bouchette that "I don't care about my pay at all this year.”
If the Steelers do decide to move on from Ben, he can look like the good guy and say he was willing to take a pay cut for at least one more run at a Lombardi.
It’s also possible the Steelers call Ben’s bluff and offer a league minimum contract.
In reality, no agent in their right mind would let someone like Roethlisberger sign for the league minimum of around $2 million.
While Roethlisberger could end up looking like the good guy if the Steelers decide to move on, a real question then faces Ben, should he hang it up?
If he truly wants to try to win one more Super Bowl and is cut by the Steelers, he’ll likely have to try to do it as a backup, something his ego may not let him do.
Radio.com Sports NFL insider Ross Tucker posed the question “If Steelers cut Big Ben would you want him as your team’s QB in 2021?”
A large number of responses said they would pass on Roethlisberger with a few saying they would take him, as long as he was a backup. But to be fair, there were a few fans that would welcome him to their favorite team.
Whatever ends up happening with Roethlisberger and the Steelers, one thing is for sure, there will be plenty to talk about!
