[ad_1]
Vince McMahon put it better: It’s all about the money.
Granted, in the later stages of his career, Ben Roethlisberger is entering the final year of his current contract with the Steelers, and many expect “Big Ben” to return to Steel City for at least one more season. There is, however, one huge hurdle that needs to be overcome in order for this to happen, one that could cause the player and the team to fight this offseason: the money owed to him.
“Ben wants to come back”, team president Art Rooney II said in his season-ending Zoom appeal. “We left that door open. I think we’ve been frank with Ben in letting him know that we can’t get him back under the current contract. I think he understands we have work to do there- low.
“We’ll have more conversations internally, and we’ll have more conversations with Ben, and we’ll have to know what the limit is to finalize some of these decisions.… But, like we said, there’s a lot of work to do. what to do if it can happen; it may take decisions on both sides to make this happen. “
This limit reaches $ 41,250,000 in 2021, but the team owe Roethlisberger $ 19 million over the coming season, with his base salary and roster bonuses included in that number.
The Steelers have several key free agents this offseason, including passer Bud Dupree, wide JuJu Smith-Schuster and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, which means the Steelers are going to have to massage their cap situation to keep the squad together. for another race, if they so choose – and if Roethlisberger agrees to play ball on the contract situation.
Roethlisberger, to his credit, seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the Steelers happy:
Ben Roethlisberger just told me: “I don’t care about my salary this year!” And is ready to restructure a contract that has a cap of $ 41 million for 2021 that includes $ 19 million in bonuses and salary that can be restructured.
– Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 28, 2021
Plus Ben Roethlisberger just said to me, “I’m pretty sure I want to go for another year (because) I think I can do it and give us a real chance and win.”
– Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 28, 2021
Pittsburgh just suffered a preliminary round loss to the Browns after a 12-4 regular season that flirted with an unbeaten 11-week record. While Roethlisberger was certainly a part of that success, some are questioning his long-term viability as a starter, leaving Rooney and the Steelers front office in the awkward position of having to find the apparent heir to the quarterback, may -be from this off-season.
“I think when you look at our venue we’ll have to add someone to the venue this offseason,” Rooney said, via ESPN. “We will look at all the opportunities we have to make it happen.”
Ben Roethlisberger contract
Roethlisberger is in the final season of his two-year, $ 68 million contract extension with the Steelers, and he carries a cap of $ 41,250,000 for 2021. While the team wants Roethlisberger to return, that number is currently difficult to navigate to re-sign some key players and make improvements to the squad.
The most likely outcome is that the team and Roethlisberger will restructure their deal in such a way as to allow that cap of $ 41,250,000 to be spread over the season or two to come, reducing that number and allowing the team to more easily bypass financial constraints.
Spotrac currently has the Steelers above the cap at nearly $ 30,000,000which means they are going to have to make key decisions on contracts and the like to meet the cap.
[ad_2]
