Could the Cleveland Browns have driven the final nail in the Pittsburgh career of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?
The speculation has been out there for a while, even predating the Browns’ wild-card domination of Roethlisberger and the Steelers in January’s playoff win for Cleveland. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert threw some gasoline onto the fire with comments about “Big Ben’s” fate this week.
“As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Colbert said with the enthusiasm of a 12-year-old being served a plate of broccoli. “He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play. We told him we have to look at this current situation.”
Roethlisberger, who turns 39 on March 2nd, is due $41 million in 2021 and the Steelers have no way of possibly affording that deal. The Steelers are in major salary cap trouble, and even a restructured deal for the longtime starter doesn’t do enough to alleviate their issues and also continue to field a playoff-caliber roster.
