Jerome Bettis knows exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers should do about Ben Roethlisberger.
The clock is ticking on Ben Roethlisberger’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As we await the future on Big Ben’s contract status with the team, you will not have to wait to hear what The Bus’ take is on the situation. What did Jerome Bettis have to say about this?
“I think they should bring [Ben Roethlisberger] back for another year,” Bettis told Still Curtain‘s Tommy Jaggi. “Obviously, they’ve got to address the salary cap issue, I think they can. He’s willing to make some adjustments to his salary and some other guys are gonna have to do the same…
“But also, address the quarterback situation in the draft …. The year after, now you’ve got three guys ready to compete for the starting position at quarterback, and I think that’s the way you go.”
Drafting a quarterback this spring is probably the best way to go here
Because the Steelers are not cool with Roethlisberger’s cap number of $41.25 million for the upcoming season, they are hoping he will take a pay cut in an attempt to run it back. Roethlisberger will never play for another NFL franchise, but he has maybe a year or so left in the tank as he approaches 40 years old. The clock will strike midnight on Big Ben at some point.
What Bettis has right is the Steelers should look for his replacement in the 2021 NFL Draft, not in 2021 NFL free agency. Because the Steelers made the AFC playoffs, they will be picking in the latter part of the first round. They might be able to get someone like Mac Jones or Kyle Trask with that first-round selection. Otherwise, the Steelers will have to put a ton of faith in Mason Rudolph.
Hopefully, Roethlisberger and the Steelers can figure out a way to run it back one more time.