Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger willing to restructure contract
Earlier in the day, Pittsburgh Steelers president and CEO Art Rooney II told reporters that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would have to restructure his contract to create salary-cap space if he wants to return to the team for the 2021 season.
According to The Athletic's Ed Bouchette, the signal-caller who turns 39 years old in March is willing to help:
Roethlisberger guided Pittsburgh to a 12-4 record and the division title, but the Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns on wild-card Sunday. As Brooke Pryor wrote for ESPN, the Steelers will likely rework Roethlisberger's contract to spread cap hits across the 2021 and 2022 seasons rather than ask the two-time Super Bowl champion to accept a pay cut.
Per ESPN stats, Roethlisberger finished the regular season tied for seventh in the NFL with 33 touchdown passes, 19th with a 94.1 passer rating, and 22nd with a 60.1 total QBR.
Pittsburgh also has former first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins and backup Mason Rudolph on the roster. Bringing Roethlisberger back and reducing his cap hits in the process should prevent the Steelers from shopping for one of the many proven veteran quarterbacks set to be available this offseason.
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