PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger back and want to come back.
The team’s president, Art Rooney II, acknowledged the mutual desire between the Steelers and their longtime defender in a statement on 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 that relate to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me he was hired to come back to help us win, and I told Ben we’d love to come back to help us win a championship. We both understand that the next step is to resolve Ben’s contractual situation. “
Statement from # Steels President Art Rooney II at QB Ben Roethlisberger: pic.twitter.com/mB0CwkmrCh
– Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) February 24, 2021
The last year of Roethlisberger’s current transaction comes with a ceiling of $ 41.2 million, although a restructuring and extension of the contract could decrease by a maximum of $ 14 million.
Roethlisberger, who turns 39 next week, could also opt for the salary cut to the veteran minimum, which would bring his cap to just over $ 23 million.
In a statement to the NFL Network on Tuesday night, Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, said that “we are happy to adjust his contract to help him build the best team possible.”
Rooney’s statement is the busiest the Steelers have called for the two-time Super Bowl-winning defender to be brought back for at least another season.
General manager Kevin Colbert was lukewarm last week in assessing Roethlisberger’s status with the team, saying “hopefully there is a way we can try to figure it out and do what’s best for the organization and do what’s 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 – which must be done before the league opens the new year on March 17th.