If all goes well in 2013, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to extend the contract of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose current contract doesn\’t expire until after the 2015 season, next offseason. Being as the 2013 preseason hasn\’t even started yet, it\’s not surprising to read that preliminary talks of an extension between the Steelers and Roethlisberger have not yet taken place, according to Jim Corbett of USA Today.
So what does Roethlisberger think about all of the quarterbacks who have received extensions so far this offseason? He told Corbett he\’s happy for those players and their families because he understands just how tough the quarterback position is to play.
“I\’ve always said, \’I wanted to be set for life.\’ So what would another contract mean? It would mean my family would be set for life,” Roethlisberger told Corbett. “So, good for those guys, they\’ve earned it, they\’ve played hard.”
Roethlisberger went on tell Corbett that his main goal is to win more Super Bowls than any other quarterback and that he\’s alright being known as an “under-the-radar guy” in addition.
Being as Roethlisberger is scheduled to count $18.895 million against the cap in 2013, the Steelers wont be able to restructure his contract like they have done the last several seasons in order to clear cap space. Why? For one, they just wont be able to clear much cap room by doing that being as his current contract only runs through 2015. In addition, any amount restructured would inflate Roethlisberger\’s 2015 cap charge so high that the quarterback would be in the drivers seat heading into 2015 should an extension not be worked out next offseason.
Is there anything to worry about right now? Outside of Roethlisberger needing to prove he can stay healthy for all 16 games in 2013, no. The market has been set by quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, and most recently Matt Ryan, so all the Steelers quarterback needs to do is play like he always had and a deal will get done next offseason.
The only thing that needs to be worked out eventually is the length of the extension and the guaranteed amounts, but that\’s no different from any other player that signs a new deal or an extension. This won\’t be a situation like the Baltimore Ravens had with Flacco following their Super Bowl win. Both sides gambled and Flacco won. Roethlisberger has two years left after this season, while Flacco\’s contract, on the other hand, expired after the 2012 season.
These kind of things take care of themselves. The Steelers know the value of having a franchise quarterback and Roethlisberger knows the value of playing in Pittsburgh.
