Both Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh team are clear that the current impact of the $ 41.2 million salary cap would make it impossible to keep it for next season.
PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger I want to go back to Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2021 season and is willing to do “everything he can” to help the team, despite its massive impact on the 2021 salary cap.
With an expected decline in the wage cap next year due to gains lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the wage impact of Roethlisberger is impossible $ 41.2 million for next season, a topic that the quarterback and president and CEO, Art Rooney II, seem to agree.
“I want to do everything I can and I made that very clear from the beginning, that my idea was practically to help the team in any way I could this year,” he said. Roethlisberger and Athletic.
“Ben do you want to come back ” Rooney Thursday afternoon at the end-of-season Zoom conference. “I left the door open.
“I think we were honest with him Ben informing him that I could not get him back in his current contract. I think you understand that we have something to do here. We will have more conversations internally and we will have more conversations with BenAnd we need to know the maximum number of the salary cap to complete some of these decisions. “
Roethlisberger He added that “I don’t care at all about my salary this year!”
After a defeat in Round Wild Card in front of Cleveland Browns, RoethlisbergerThe 38-year-old said he would talk to his family at length before making a concrete decision to return in 2021, but said he hoped Steelmakers she would like him to return if he decides to do so. They will Rooney and the team the chance to write their own final after a legendary race?
“With BenWe need to have a conversation with him about how he wants to finish his studies and we intend to have it. “
To get exemption below the salary limit and give Roethlisberger at least one more season to end on their own terms, Steelmakers could ask the defender to accept a salary reduction in the last year of the contract. Steelmakers They have already prorated $ 22,250,000 from the contract, leaving only $ 19 million – $ 4 million in base salary and a $ 15 million staff bonus – with which they can work to reduce or restructure. The most likely option is an extension and restructuring that will convey some of this impact in the 2022 season.
“I think these are the discussions we will have Ben and their representatives, “he said Rooney of the possibilities to modify the contract Roethlisberger. “It takes two to figure it out, and if we can come to an agreement on what you want, we’ll just have to see.”
As things stand now, Steelmakers They have three defenders on the list for the 2021 campaign: Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph and just signed Dwayne Haskins Jr.. But, Rooney He acknowledged that he needs to add another defender, being able to bid for one of the big names who are expected to become available, if they can set up the salary cap issue correctly.
“I think when you look at our group, we’ll add someone to that unit during the off-season,” he said. Rooney. “We will explore all opportunities, we must do that.”
Determine the future Roethlisberger is just the first step in many difficult decisions for Steelmakers during the campaign break.
The contract of general manager from year to year Kevin Colbert will end after the project and while Rooney noted that both had many discussions about the future Colbert, nothing is official.
“I feel that Kevin he will return, but no one knows, “he said Rooney.
The head coach contract Mike Tomlin Go through at least the 2021 season with an option for the 2022 campaign and when you evaluate your head coach Rooney he said believe that Tomlin will lead the team in the future.
“We will deal with the contract Mike with him as time progresses out of season, “he said.” I’ll just say I’m comfortable saying he’s going to be our future coach. … As for the work he did, I didn’t finish as I wanted. The playoff game, it’s hard to analyze … deliver the ball like that, you won’t win too many games. I don’t know how this is attributed to coach training. I think the team got into that game ready. “
Rooney He also said that if it depended on him, he would enter the 2021 campaign with the same list he had in 2020.
“If I had my way and said I could have the same team I had last year, I would,” he said. “Obviously not.”
With the situation of the team’s salary cap – it is estimated that the Steelers exceed the ceiling by about $ 30 million, with 48 players signed, according to ESPN list management system– rent free agents such as Bud Dupree Yes JuJu Smith-Schuster it will be difficult, if not almost impossible.
“It is fair to say that it will be the most difficult challenge to the salary cap we have had in a long time, perhaps ever,” he said. Rooney.
But the first step before deciphering the rest of the team will be to determine the future Roethlisberger.
When asked directly if you want me back Roethlisberger, Rooney He stopped, then said he wanted him back, but offered no guarantees about the defender’s future.
“I think we want to see Ben back another year if it can work, “he stressed.” But, as I said, we need a lot of things for this to happen; decisions on both sides may be needed for this to happen. “