PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger sent a clear message to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday morning: pay TJ Watt and pay now.
“I think TJ should get what he wants,” Roethlisberger said. “He ‘s probably the best football player in the game right now, not just on defense, just in general.
“One of the reasons I took less money was because it was paid to guys like him, and it needs to be paid for. He deserves every penny he wants and asks for. TJ Watt is that guy who should. get what you want “.
Roethlisberger, 39, willingly cut his salary by $ 5 million when he signed a new contract in March that released about $ 15 million for the 2021 season.
Watt, who led the league with 15 sacks in 2020 to give him 49.5 sacks during his first four seasons, was the NFL’s defensive player of the year runner-up in each of the last two seasons.
Roethlisberger has gone through four contract extensions and three restructurings since it was drafted in 2004. The Steelers have traditionally only guaranteed the signing of bonds in new operations, essentially guaranteeing only the first year. After that, however, the organization typically restructures bids to give players more money and security guaranteed in this way, rather than incurring costs in advance.
Watt, who is on the verge of becoming the NFL’s highest paid defensive player, will likely try to reduce the trend with more initial guarantees.
“The problem is that when a new contract is negotiated, it has two sides,” Roethlisberger said. “When leaders and senior officials are in charge, you can only do so much.
“So we all feel bad for TJ. Everyone knows how bad he wants to be out there. He was here every day and he didn’t have to be working, busting his ass. He should be taken care of.”
Watt has attended every training camp on the training ground and has been in practice on Monday. He has only participated in individual exercises and worked sideways during the team period, as he did all preseason.
On Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said he expected Watt to participate fully on Wednesday and expressed optimism that a deal be made soon.
Tomlin also added that he was not worried about the lack of training time that would affect Watt’s availability for Sunday’s season opener in Buffalo.
Roethlisberger, who has gone through the negotiation process several times with the Steelers, said he has spoken with Watt throughout the process.
“There are a lot of young guys who don’t understand the process because they haven’t gone through it,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s why I think I can talk a little bit with TJ and talk to him. But the feeling in the room is that we all know how great he is and what he deserves.”