Steelers again hint QB Ben Roethlisberger must accept pay cut to return

Those running the Pittsburgh Steelers have been nothing if not consistent since the end of the season as it pertains to the future of veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. 

Pittsburgh wants to give Roethlisberger, who turns 39 on March 2, the opportunity to end his career on his own terms and would welcome him back for another season but only if he's willing to restructure his contract or accept a pay cut to open needed salary-cap space. 

According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert reiterated that take on Wednesday. 

"As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers," Colbert said. "... He reiterated that to us that he wants to continue to play, and we told him quite frankly we have to look at this current situation. ... With Ben's current cap number, some adjustment will have to be made."

Colbert continued: "Ben Roethlisberger did a lot of really good things last year. We anticipate that he could still do some good things going forward.

"Hopefully, there's a way that we can try to figure out and do what's best for the organization and do what's best for Ben. Hopefully, he'll be able to see that and feel the same way we do. There's a lot of work that needs to be done, not only with Ben, with the whole unrestricted free agent class and our whole cap situation as well."

Roethlisberger said in late January that he didn't care about his NFL pay for the 2021 season but added last week that he has not yet met with the Steelers to discuss restructuring a contract that includes a $41.25 million cap hit for the upcoming campaign. Big Ben would count $22.25 million against the cap if he retires or is released, but it appears neither option is on the table as of mid-February.