PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger back, and he wants to come back.
Art Rooney II team president acknowledged mutual desire between the Steelers and their longtime quarterback in a statement Wednesday morning.
“Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning and had a productive meeting,” Rooney said. “We were able to discuss a lot of things related to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he is committed to helping us win again and I told Ben that we would like to bring him back. To help- we both win a championship. We both understand that the next step is to resolve Ben ‘s contractual situation. “
Statement of #Aceres President Art Rooney II and QB Ben Roethlisberger: pic.twitter.com/mB0CwkmrCh
– Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) February 24, 2021
The final year of the current Roethlisberger deal comes with a $ 41.2 million cap, although a restructuring and extension of the contract could reduce it by a maximum of about $ 14 million.
Roethlisberger, who will turn 39 next week, could also choose to keep the veteran’s salary to a minimum, which would give him a cap of just over $ 23 million.
In a statement to the NFL Network Tuesday night, Roethlisberger agent Ryan Tollner said “we are happy to creatively adjust their contract to help them build the best team possible.”
Rooney’s statement is the Steelers’ most committed to recovering the Super Bowl-winning quarterback two-time champion for at least one more season.
Last week, general manager Kevin Colbert was lukewarm in his assessment of Roethlisberger’s condition with the team, saying that “hopefully, there is a way to try to figure out and do what’s best. for the organization and do what is best for Ben ”.
Rooney echoed some of Colbert’s sentiments in Wednesday’s statement, saying the parties have yet to resolve Roethlisberger’s contractual situation, something to be done for the opening of the new league year on the 17th. of March.