Ben Roethlisberger has new deal

Betallsports · Mar 13, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has agreed to a new, five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<cite> Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</cite>Ben Roethlisberger's new contract will keep him in Pittsburgh long term.

The Steelers officially announced the new deal at a 5 p.m. ET news conference. Roethlisberger established career highs last season in passing yards (4,952), completions (408) and completion percentage (67.1).

He had been going into the final year of the eight-year, $102 million contract he signed in 2008, and the Steelers had remained steadfast that they would get a new deal done with their franchise quarterback.

Roethlisberger, who turned 33 in March, had a salary-cap hit of $18.395 million this year. The Steelers presumably lowered that with the new deal.

It had been a quiet week for the Steelers before they announced the Roethlisberger contract. They have done little in free agency, though running back DeAngelo Williams agreed to a deal Friday.

MikeB · Mar 13, 2015

I'm not convinced he makes it.

I think he may get injured.

NFLTrends · Mar 13, 2015

Hasn't missed a game in a season and a half, and is playing smarter and getting rid of the ball a lot quicker then before. Also have to give some props to the offensive line last season for doing a much better job, and for Bell being a dual threat where teams would pay for blitzing.

It's a great thing the Steelers kept him, I can name 18 teams in the NFL that would start him immediately, and a few more where he would end up claiming the starting job by the end of the season.

Vlad the Impaler · Mar 13, 2015

What else are they going to do? Sign Charlie Batch?

NFLTrends · Mar 13, 2015

Vlad the Impaler said:
What else are they going to do? Sign Charlie Batch?

Batch doesn't play anymore lol. But, they had the option to release him or let him ride this last year. They have a veteran backing him up already, and an unproven Landry Jones behind him. It would have been a long season. The QB pool in this draft is terrible, and I'm sure there was no way they were going to take a chance on those in this draft.... But, had their been a draft class like back in 2004, it might have been a different story.

Yep, it's either keep and sign him to succeed, or roll the dice with the odds really stacked against you. Steelers will be drafting a fast defense early and possibly running away with a WR in the first 5 rounds. Not worth it to try and trade up for what I predict will be two shirty NFL quarterbacks

MikeB · Mar 13, 2015

NFLTrends said:
Hasn't missed a game in a season and a half, and is playing smarter and getting rid of the ball a lot quicker then before. Also have to give some props to the offensive line last season for doing a much better job, and for Bell being a dual threat where teams would pay for blitzing.

It's a great thing the Steelers kept him, I can name 18 teams in the NFL that would start him immediately, and a few more where he would end up claiming the starting job by the end of the season.

He still takes unnecessary hits. Once the team isn't doing well, he will feel as though he needs to carry the team on his shoulders.

I'm predicting an injury.

Vlad the Impaler · Mar 13, 2015

If Nick Pappageorgeio has anything to say about it, your qb should be Kordell Stewart with his wart being the rb.

ZJP6050 · Mar 14, 2015

NFLTrends said:
Batch doesn't play anymore lol. But, they had the option to release him or let him ride this last year. They have a veteran backing him up already, and an unproven Landry Jones behind him. It would have been a long season. The QB pool in this draft is terrible, and I'm sure there was no way they were going to take a chance on those in this draft.... But, had their been a draft class like back in 2004, it might have been a different story.

Yep, it's either keep and sign him to succeed, or roll the dice with the odds really stacked against you. Steelers will be drafting a fast defense early and possibly running away with a WR in the first 5 rounds. Not worth it to try and trade up for what I predict will be two shirty NFL quarterbacks

please don't ever speak of landry jones as having a chance. he is god fucking awful.

NFLTrends · Mar 14, 2015

ZJP6050 said:
please don't ever speak of landry jones as having a chance. he is god fucking awful.

Tough call for me. He has been sitting quite a bit and not getting any game reps at all. I personally think he had a chance to succeed in the NFL when he first got in the league, but his lack of gametime since being drafted has put him on a decline. I wouldn't say he is awful, but if he sits again this year, and doesn't get any REAL gametime... his career in the NFL is done.