Home 2015 Off-Season The Wait Goes on for Roethlisberger, Fans

The Wait Goes on for Roethlisberger, Fans

by Steeldad

For the record, I’m writing this at 9pm Eastern Standard Time on March 3rd. I tell you this because I’m hopeful that maybe by the time you read this, a new contract extension for Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have been announced.

Sometimes that’s the way it goes in the blogosphere.

It’s now been about three weeks since Steelers’ General Manager Kevin Colbert acknowledged that he and Roethlisberger’s agent Ryan Tolner were working on a new deal.

While these things rarely happen over night, it would sure seem to me that both sides have to be fairly close on an extension.

Then again, maybe not.

The last time Big Ben signed a new deal was on this date in 2008 and we here at Steel City Blitz have been speculating that his newest deal would likely come around this time. We have felt this way since free agency is right around the corner and we’re suckers for a timely story.

All that’s nice but we still don’t have a deal for our franchise quarterback. I realize there are plenty of detractors when it comes to Roethlisberger and for a myriad of reasons but I’d like you to look to the northwest for a second.

The Cleveland Browns just signed a 35-year old journeyman quarterback to a three-year deal to be their starter. Since the Browns returned in 1999, they’ve had 22 starting quarterbacks. When you look at the team’s success rate, or lack thereof, during that time you can see the importance of a franchise QB.

As much confidence as I have that something will get done sooner rather than later, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some genuine concerns.

Honestly? I just can’t see number seven starting this 2015 season without a new deal. The story-lines would have no shortage of drama week in and week out should a new deal not get done.

The Steelers have long had a policy of not negotiating once the regular season starts so just think about that for a minute. Can you imagine the questions both the team and Roethlisberger would face as the season wore on?

It’s getting to the point where a lack of a new deal for Roethlisberger is getting to be a bit disrespectful. With train wrecks like Jay Cutler and Andy Dalton making more money than he does, the two-time champ has to be wondering what he needs to do to get this done.

Then again, perhaps it’s not him that’s the problem.

 

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