Ben Roethlisberger unsure if he'll play beyond 2017

All things being equal, the Rooneys are business people. It's just not smart business to take a 12.4M cap hit on a player that you don't have to take, especially if it's because that player didn't live up to the contract. As fans of the Ravens and Steelers, two teams that have played next to the cap limit multiple times, we all have an idea of how many players you can sign with 12.4M of cap space.

All this to say, I doubt Ben's retiring just like I doubted it a few months ago. Ben is simply going the Favre route................which means he'll sign with the Browns in 2019 and sweep the Steelers on his way to an AFC Championship game loss

 

One factor that hasn't been mentioned is if we win the SB this season Ben may decide to ride off in the sunset.

 

As nice as that would be, Ben isn't just going to hand back 12.6 million and the Rooneys aren't going to let him keep it.

 

On local radio they mentioned an option of Ben retiring at a certain point on the calendar that would keep him from paying back a bunch of that money. I'm thinking it was in August of next year?

They also discussed how much his first radio deal in Pittsburgh would pay and how much he would get if he went into television. The numbers they threw out basically covered his loss in a little over a year but it was off of that after August amount and not the other one.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

I don't know if I will be able to watch football after 2017. I might have to retire after this season. I have already spent a fortune on shirts, hats, blankets, shoes, terrible towels, painting my cars black and gold, painting my house black and gold. Why would you retire when football is your life? I tore my Achilles' tendon when I was a senior in high school and couldn't even try to live my dream of playing for the Steelers and some one is going to threaten me to retire early knowing that we couldn't find a QB for 30 years. Welcome back to the 1980's the day he hangs them up. I love Ben as a QB and will even buy his jersey if he will stay until the end of his contract.

 

Never heard of it although I guess anything is possible. I never heard of the Alan Faneca 5th year comp rule until it happened.

Either way I'm not buying he's going anywhere. Just likes the attention. He told Kaboly in his interview, "Could we be having this same conversation in 5 years? Yes."

 

beach wrote:
"Could we be having this same conversation in 5 years? Yes."

I hate the thought of him being a diva, but history is nothing if not enlightening. He's all over this for attention and now has folks attention until his actual retirement. The show must go on !

 

I have no opinion on this issue but I lean towards your opinion. Either way, I would be elated if we were having this conversation again in 5 more years!

 

I tend to agree with Beach on this subject. I also don't think he was happy with the way the season ended last year. As long as there's a chance to win another Super Bowl and he's healthy I expect him to play...but threaten retirement...the new Brett Favre!

 

techheart wrote:
Either way, I would be elated if we were having this conversation again in 5 more years!

You'll definitely have my company here. He is and has been our best opportunity for more SB's and we are just now loading up with a receiving crew that will possibly be talked about for years to come. He is the right man for the job so I hope the stars align for us all. I hope the show does go on.

 

This season is critical for us to win a SB, because who knows what future seasons hold for Bell and Bryant? These two could wind up back on suspension or in Bells case signed with another team. This is the season when our offense should be unstoppable. If we win the SB this season Harrison & Ben could both ride out in the sunset.

 

I'm looking forward to the Steelers offense vs the Ravens defense this year. Of course the Ravens offense may not challenge the Steelers defense as much as in seasons past.

 

As long as we don't have to face Mallet. That should be one of the hardest test for our offense and your defense.