PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger back, and he wants to return.
Team President Art Rooney II acknowledged the mutual desire between the Steelers and their longtime fullback in a statement Wednesday morning.
“Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning and we had a productive meeting,” Rooney said. “We could discuss a lot of things related to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he’s committed to coming back to help us win, and I told Ben we would like to get him back. “to help us win a championship. We both understand that the next step is to work out Ben’s contract situation.”
Declaration of # Steelers President Art Rooney II on QB Ben Roethlisberger: pic.twitter.com/mB0CwkmrCh
– Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) 24 February 2021
The final year of Roethlisberger’s current deal has a cap of $ 41.2 million, although a restructuring and extension of the contract could reduce it by a maximum of $ 14 million.
Roethlisberger, who turns 39 next week, may also decide to take a salary cut down to the veteran minimum, which will raise the cap by just over $ 23 million.
In a statement Tuesday night to the NFL Network, Roethlisberger’s agent Ryan Tollner said: “We are pleased to be creatively adapting his contract to help them build the best team possible.”
Rooney’s statement is the most committed the Steelers have made to bring back the two-time Super Bowl quarterback for at least one more season.
The general manager, Kevin Colbert, was lukewarm last week in his assessment of Roethlisberger’s status with the team and said: “Hopefully there is a way we can try to find out and do what’s best for the organization and do what’s best. for Ben. “
In Wednesday’s statement, Rooney reflected Colbert’s feelings, saying the parties still needed to resolve Roethlisberger’s contract situation – something to be done with the opening of the new league year on March 17.