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Ben Roethlisberger signs contract extension with Pittsburgh Steelers

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ben Roethlisberger signed a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep the two-time Super Bowl champion in the Steel City for the rest of his career.

The Pittsburgh Steelers locked up quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a contract extension on Friday afternoon that will presumably keep the two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback in Pittsburgh for the rest of his career.

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NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport was the first to report the extension for Roethlisberger who has played all 11 years of his career with the franchise who made him the No. 11 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft that also produced Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.

Roethlisberger, 33, was scheduled to make $11.6 million in the final year of his contract and count $18.395 against the cap, according to spotrac.com. Terms of his new deal weren’t immediately available but the team has scheduled a press conference for 5 p.m. Eastern.

Big Ben is arguably coming off his finest season as a pro after leading the NFL with 4,952 passing yards, more than 600 yards higher than his previous career-best and matched his career-high with 32 touchdown passes. Roethlisberger also finished his second-highest passer rating in his career with a 103.3 mark en route to his third Pro Bowl appearance.

And for the second year in a row and third in his career, Roethlisberger managed to start all 16 games in the season, leading the Steelers to an 11-5 record.

Roethlisberger had his best stretch of his career in Week 8 and 9 when he threw for six touchdowns in back-to-back games in wins against the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. He also added 522 passing yards in the Colts game and would throw for at least 300 yards in seven of the last nine games to secure a playoff spot.

He has one of the game’s best receivers in Antonio Brown and a rising star in Martavis Bryant to go along with Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell and an improving offensive line, so he should continue to put up strong numbers for the foreseeable future and cement his legacy and improve his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Next: NFL Free Agents list: Best available by position

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