Ben Roethlisberger has made it clear that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Monday that the team will eventually sign quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a long-term contract.
The Steelers have told Roethlisberger, 31, that they will not sign him to a new deal before the start of the season. He has two years left on his contract.
“I don’t see any circumstance where Ben won’t finish his career here,” Colbert said.
Colbert said the team’s priority is to sign players entering the final year of their deals first. Cornerback Cortez Allen, right tackle Marcus Gilbert and kicker Shaun Suisham and outside linebacker Jason Worilds are each entering the final year of their contracts.
“We’d like to be able to do as much business as we can within our constraints, time-wise and cap-wise,” Colbert said.
The Steelers have until Sept. 7 to sign players to new contracts because the team’s policy is to not negotiate during the season. The Steelers also want to wait to re-sign Roethlisberger because they start the season less than $6 million under the salary cap. The cap is expected to increase next year, which will give the team more wiggle room to give their quarterback a long-term deal.
Roethlisberger will make $12.1 million in base salary this season, according to ESPN, and his salary cap hit is $18.895 million.
Roethlisberger said he is confident that his contract situation will get resolved at some point.
“I have faith that the Steelers will do what we need to do when it’s time and that’s putting people on the field through free agency, trades, drafts to make us the best team that we can possibly be,” Roethlisberger said Saturday. “When we get here there is no contract talk. It’s time to play football and that’s what I’m excited about.”
