NFL PLAYER NEWS

Steelers Roethlisberger ready for new contract

The Sports Xchange

January 06, 2015 at 12:09 pm.

Roethlisberger turns 33 in March and his salary cap figure is over $18.3 million. He tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With one year remaining on the $102 million contract he signed in 2008, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is ready to discuss his next deal.

Several quarterbacks — Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears, Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions, Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals and Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers — have signed lucrative deals in the past two years that pay an average annual salary that exceeds Roethlisberger’s scheduled 2015 salary of $11.6 million.

Roethlisberger turns 33 in March and his salary cap figure is over $18.3 million. He tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards.

“Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh regarding the status of contract negotiations.

Roethlisberger apologized publicly for his play in the 30-17 wild-card playoff loss at Heinz Field last Saturday, the first home defeat in the postseason against the Baltimore Ravens in his career. He left the game in the fourth quarter after a hard hit from outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw.

Roethlisberger has made his reputation in the postseason with two Super Bowl rings in 11 seasons since he was drafted in the first round out of Miami (Ohio), and owner Art Rooney II said he wants Roethlisberger to retire with the Steelers.

Age is not necessarily a restriction to a $100 million deal. Peyton Manning signed a five-year, $95 million deal at age 36 in March 2012. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady averages more than $14.1 million salary on a five-year deal that expires after the 2018 season. Brady is 37 years old.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA

TOP HEADLINES