Steelers GM Has Telling Comment on Ben Roethlisberger's Future

Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are figuring out if their partnership can continue in 2021. The veteran QB has publicly considered retirement, but now he wants to be back for the Steelers next season. Yet, Pittsburgh has made it clear that Big Ben's contract is an issue that must be addressed.

In possibly the most telling statements of this offseason so far, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert spoke honestly about the team's thoughts on Roethlisberger.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert doesn't give a strong endorsement for Ben Roethlisberger as QB in 2021: "As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. ... He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play. We told him we have to look at this current situation."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 17, 2021

Saying that he's just a "member" of the team, and including the qualifier of "today", doesn't seem encouraging. It's not how you talk about someone who's your franchise QB. Colbert's comments indicate that Roethlisberger wants one thing, and Pittsburgh is deciding if that's what's best for them in 2021.

One side clearly seems more invested in this than the other. And it appears the Steelers are being serious in their consideration of a post-Roethlisberger future.

GM Kevin Colbert on the #Steelers' soon-to-be 39 and two-time Super Bowl winning QB Ben Roethlisberger, whose cap number for 2021 is prohibitive: "Hopefully there’s a way we can figure out what’s best for the organization. Hopefully he can see that and feel the same way."
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 17, 2021

"What's best for the organization" could mean two different things, whether that's bringing back Roethlisberger on a heavily reduced contract or moving on from him entirely. Either way, it doesn't paint an optimistic outlook for the almost 39-year-old QB.

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