Roethlisberger wants to stick with Steelers

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Roethlisberger wants to stick with Steelers
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, January 16, 2008


If Ben Roethlisberger gets his wish, the next NFL move he'll make will be to Canton, Ohio, following a long and distinguished career with the Steelers.
"I would love to retire here," Roethlisberger said on Tuesday. "I would love to go the Hall of Fame in a Steelers jersey. That would be an ultimate goal. I want to do what (Dan) Marino, (Jim) Kelly, (John) Elway and all those guys did -- play with one team their whole career."

Roethlisberger is hoping to move one step closer toward realizing that goal this offseason by agreeing to a long-term contract extension with the Steelers.

"I'm sure we'll talk to him soon," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said.

Roethlisberger has two years remaining on his initial deal.
"The quarterback position is one position we've addressed two years prior to free agency," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said. "Obviously, Ben has done some great things for our organization. We expect him to accomplish even greater things moving forward.

"Although we have not as of yet entered into official negotiations, we would anticipate that beginning in the very near future."

Roethlisberger set several Steelers records this season, including most touchdown passes in a season (32).

"I just want to get it over with, truthfully," Roethlisberger said. "I never really think about it except when people bring it up to me. Everywhere I go it's, 'What's going on with the contract?'

"I don't really know. I just want to play football, and I want to get started thinking about that. So the sooner we can get talking and get this over with, the better for me."

Roethlisberger is scheduled to earn $1,356,500 in 2008 and $1,707,000 in 2009 in base salary. He is due bonuses of $2.95 million in 2008 and $8 million in 2009.

Tony Romo of Dallas reportedly signed a six-year, $67.5 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed, in October.

Marc Bulger of St. Louis reportedly signed a six-year, $65 million deal, with $27 million guaranteed, in July.

Neither has started for a Super Bowl champion, as Roethlisberger did in 2005.

"You always know what other guys are making because everyone blasts it all over the place," Roethlisberger said. "You know that Romo just did a deal. You know what Peyton (Manning) made a couple years ago (a reported $99.2 million over nine years, with a $34.5 million signing bonus). You know what's going on. It's crazy.

"I don't really know how all that stuff works out with what's guaranteed and how you do this. I don't even deal with that. That's why you hire agents."

Notes: All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, among others, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 29. "We've left the door open," Colbert said. "They did; we did. Where it goes, I don't know." ... The Steelers signed defensive tackle Scott Paxson to their reserve/future list. Paxson, a former rookie-free agent from Penn State, has spent time on the Steelers' practice squad the past two seasons.

[Galax Steeler]

That is great news that ben wants to stay a steeler he will be fun to watch for years to come and then we can watch him go to canton.

[jjpro11]

i think the rooneys understand what the backlash would be with the fans if he didnt get an extension.. really when you think about it, what other team didnt go about resigning their star quarterback in his prime when the time came up? that just doesnt happen in the nfl because of the scarcity of franchise quarterbacks.

[Jeremy]

Money talks and bullshit walks. We'll see how serious he is about being a Steeler for his whole career soon.

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Money talks and bullshit walks. We'll see how serious he is about being a Steeler for his whole career soon.

I agree - sentiment is nice, but everybody knows it's all about the .

[TackleMeBen]

Originally Posted by fansince'76

I agree - sentiment is nice, but everybody knows it's all about the .

seriously how many of us would take a paycut just because we like what we do??

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by TackleMeBen

seriously how many of us would take a paycut just because we like what we do??

Not me, that's for sure. I just hope nobody expects GS to give the Steelers a home town discount.

[tony hipchest]

if the rooneys didnt ask polamalu to give a hometown discount, i doubt theyre gonna do the same with one of the best franchise players theyve had since jerome bettis.

teams can afford to pay qb's the big bucks. every team wants a qb who is capable of earning the big bucks. its not a bad problem to have so signing ben long term shouldnt be problematic at all.

a fair market deal will be struck and ben will be making money in the range of c. palmer, t. brady, d. mcnabb, and manning (possibly more, seeing how old their deals are).

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

if the rooneys didnt ask polamalu to give a hometown discount, i doubt theyre gonna do the same with one of the best franchise players theyve had since jerome bettis.

teams can afford to pay qb's the big bucks. every team wants a qb who is capable of earning the big bucks. its not a bad problem to have so signing ben long term shouldnt be problematic at all.

a fair market deal will be struck and ben will be making money in the range of c. palmer, t. brady, d. mcnabb, and manning (possibly more, seeing how old their deals are).

I hope it goes down that way. Because GS and Polamalu are basically the two faces of the franchise right now. There's some significant age on that team and they need these young guys to stick around while they reload.

[lilyoder6]

bettis and ward took a pay cut in early yrs..