Robinson: Time nears for Steelers to decide on Roethlisberger extension

[stillers4me]

The Steelers added an extra salary cap expert, Samir Suleiman, to pair with Omar Khan, the football administrative director who has interviewed for general manager jobs. The extra manpower might be needed to assist general manager Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin in sorting out what figures to be the Steelers' busiest and most-complicated offseason in a long time.

And it all starts with Ben Roethlisberger................


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/-topstori...#ixzz2javhHWBV

[Godfather]

Trade Ben to Arizona for Patrick Peterson. We get a great young shutdown corner to shore up our defense. Arizona gets another ex-Steeler. Ben gets to play for Arians.

[Steeldude]

The Steelers need to do a better job at evaluating talent and how much that talent is worth.

[86WARD]

You think? Lol.

[Edman]

This team is going nowhere with Ben.

Ship his mediocrity off to Arizona.

[SteelMayhem72]

This team is going nowhere with Ben.

Ship his mediocrity off to Arizona.

Im sure Ben wouldnt mind..he will be back with Arians!

[steelerdude15]

This team is going nowhere with Ben.

Ship his mediocrity off to Arizona.

What a great idea.... So let me ask you, who do we replace him with? What college quarterback is worth drafting at this point?

[fansince'76]

This team is going nowhere with Ben.

Ship his mediocrity off to Arizona.

Still insisting that Ben is the ONLY problem with this team?

Get real, please.

That's why I continue to say that many in this fanbase deserve another Stoudt/Malone/Brister/Stewart/Maddox.

[Count Steeler]

What a great idea.... So let me ask you, who do we replace him with? What college quarterback is worth drafting at this point?

The way I see it, you have 2-3 years to find the next franchise QB. We need next year to clear the dead money off our books. Go young. 1st term contracts only on this team for the next 2 years. Probably go 2-14 again next year. That means two high drafts 2014, 2015 and maybe 2016. If we trade our vets and stockpile picks, it may happen sooner.

[steelerdude15]

The way I see it, you have 2-3 years to find the next franchise QB. We need next year to clear the dead money off our books. Go young. 1st term contracts only on this team for the next 2 years. Probably go 2-14 again next year. That means two high drafts 2014, 2015 and maybe 2016. If we trade our vets and stockpile picks, it may happen sooner.

Once again, what college quarterback is worth drafting at this point?

[fansince'76]

The way I see it, you have 2-3 years to find the next franchise QB.

Considering this team's track record in that department, I'd say that's being overly optimistic. Took us 2 decades+ the last time we tried replacing one.

But if I'm Ben, I'm probably requesting a trade at this point. Why continue to get the shit kicked out of himself behind substandard offensive lines year after year only to continue to be berated by a largely hypercritical and unappreciative fanbase that has historically been rough on QBs anyway? Do people really think that Bradshaw didn't have a reason for dissing Pittsburgh for a good 20 years after he retired?

If I'm Ben, my attitude at this point is "Who needs it?"

[Lambert_Loonie]

Once again, what college quarterback is worth drafting at this point?

That's a question that anyone who wants to trade or cut Ben can't answer. Speaking for myself, I don't think Landry Jones could take us to a Super Bowl but with the right OC and a better o-line he could do well.

[Shoes]

Hey, we only gave up 610 yards tonight!

[steelerdude15]

That's a question that anyone who wants to trade or cut Ben can't answer. Speaking for myself, I don't think Landry Jones could take us to a Super Bowl but with the right OC and a better o-line he could do well.

I think Landry would make a good back up, but that's it. That's just my opinion though.

[Count Steeler]

Once again, what college quarterback is worth drafting at this point?

Don't know. Not a draft guru. Thing is, it doesn't have to be this year or next year. Jones or Gradkowski are more than capable of getting us to 2-14.

[Shoes]

Don't know. Not a draft guru. Thing is, it doesn't have to be this year or next year. Jones or Gradkowski are more than capable of getting us to 2-14.

[Count Steeler]

That's a question that anyone who wants to trade or cut Ben can't answer. Speaking for myself, I don't think Landry Jones could take us to a Super Bowl but with the right OC and a better o-line he could do well.

Is Ben going to have that opportunity in Pittsburgh? I don't think we make it back to the SB with the current regime. I am thinking a good 3-4 year rebuild. Puts Ben at 35. Don't know if he will still have "it" at that point either.

[Psycho Ward 86]

i want ben extended to give the salary cap some breathing room and then traded around the age of 34...if he even makes it that far. ben is a ticking time bomb. we need to get rid of him, and get something for him before he retires/gets cut/gets a career ending injury. I think its unrealistic to think he will be both productive and healthy for much longer

[Lambert_Loonie]

I think Landry would make a good back up, but that's it. That's just my opinion though.

I don't think he's even played a full preseason game, let alone taken a regular season snap. Only way to find out is to let him play.
When Jon Gruden was grilling all the big name college QB's before the draft, he was pretty high on Landry. Said the only reason his draft stock fell was because he got complacent in his college offense. Not sure if that's good or bad. :P

Is Ben going to have that opportunity in Pittsburgh? I don't think we make it back to the SB with the current regime. I am thinking a good 3-4 year rebuild. Puts Ben at 35. Don't know if he will still have "it" at that point either.

Honestly, I don't see Ben taking another snap after he turns 35. The injuries are going to take their toll on him and he's going to hang his cleats up.I'd be glad to be wrong and would rather see him play at a high level into his late 30s like every other Hall of Fame caliber QB but I just don't think it's likely.

[Count Steeler]

i want ben extended to give the salary cap some breathing room and then traded around the age of 34...if he even makes it that far. ben is a ticking time bomb. we need to get rid of him, and get something for him before he retires/gets cut/gets a career ending injury. I think its unrealistic to think he will be both productive and healthy for much longer

An extension won't help the cap for any dead money. Plus, you have to be careful with his contract, might make him unattractive in a trade. It is sad that the Steelers have come to this. In such a short time. I just don't see a reversal without a major overhaul.

[steel9guy]

Still insisting that Ben is the ONLY problem with this team?

Get real, please.

That's why I continue to say that many in this fanbase deserve another Stoudt/Malone/Brister/Stewart/Maddox.

Exactly. In my opinion I don't ever want to see Ben in another uniform. He's not the problem. If he had a decent oline maybe things would be better. Ben is the last thing this team needs to lose right now.

[Shoes]

An extension won't help the cap for any dead money. Plus, you have to be careful with his contract, might make him unattractive in a trade. It is sad that the Steelers have come to this. In such a short time. I just don't see a reversal without a major overhaul.

I think one could see it coming in years pasted….the bandaids have just run out. Like Tomlin's talk.

[Count Steeler]

Exactly. In my opinion I don't ever want to see Ben in another uniform. He's not the problem. If he had a decent oline maybe things would be better. Ben is the last thing this team needs to lose right now.

Yeah, but let's be fair to Ben. I don't think this team gets back to the SB in his career.

[stillers4me]

Exactly. In my opinion I don't ever want to see Ben in another uniform. He's not the problem. If he had a decent oline maybe things would be better. Ben is the last thing this team needs to lose right now.

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

[Lambert_Loonie]

Exactly. In my opinion I don't ever want to see Ben in another uniform. He's not the problem. If he had a decent oline maybe things would be better. Ben is the last thing this team needs to lose right now.

On the field, IMO Ben is one of the few positives. he's certainly doing his part. But his contract... and as bad a spot the Steelers are in with the salary cap... ugh.

Trust me, I'm one of the last guys you'll meet that wants to see Ben play for anyone else. But sentimentality won't get you anywhere in this league.

[salamander]

Our problems go way beyond just Ben.

[steel9guy]

Yeah I agree with the salary cap issue and the fact that changes are coming to resolve that but I've said the whole year that I'd rather lose with Ben and know we have a chance since he "usually" makes things exciting than have a Kordell Stewart, Landry Jones or Tommy Maddox playing. Ben is a tough guy and I think he can play 4-5 years yet. Also believe this team can get the ship righted and hopefully let Ben have an Elway finish to his career. Maybe I'm thinking to positive but the team can be turned around quickly if the right people make the right decisions which might not happen.

[Lambert_Loonie]

Yeah I agree with the salary cap issue and the fact that changes are coming to resolve that but I've said the whole year that I'd rather lose with Ben and know we have a chance since he "usually" makes things exciting than have a Kordell Stewart, Landry Jones or Tommy Maddox playing. Ben is a tough guy and I think he can play 4-5 years yet. Also believe this team can get the ship righted and hopefully let Ben have an Elway finish to his career. Maybe I'm thinking to positive but the team can be turned around quickly if the right people make the right decisions which might not happen.

So what the heck's Landry Jones done to get lumped with Kordell or Tommy Maddox? I get the point you're trying to make, but at the very least, Landry hasn't even gotten a shot to be a game 1 starter on this team. Lumping him into that crowd really isn't fair to him.

[GBMelBlount]

Considering this team's track record in that department, I'd say that's being overly optimistic. Took us 2 decades+ the last time we tried replacing one.

But if I'm Ben, I'm probably requesting a trade at this point. Why continue to get the shit kicked out of himself behind substandard offensive lines year after year only to continue to be berated by a largely hypercritical and unappreciative fanbase that has historically been rough on QBs anyway? Do people really think that Bradshaw didn't have a reason for dissing Pittsburgh for a good 20 years after he retired?

If I'm Ben, my attitude at this point is "Who needs it?"

How many truly top tier quarterbacks have even been drafted in the last 10 years?

Statistically it is very unlikely.

[steel9guy]

So what the heck's Landry Jones done to get lumped with Kordell or Tommy Maddox? I get the point you're trying to make, but at the very least, Landry hasn't even gotten a shot to be a game 1 starter on this team. Lumping him into that crowd really isn't fair to him.

Got excited with my point. Insert any other mediocre QB that we've had in that slot. I'm just trying to say that the Bradshaw's and Roethlisberger's should not be taken lightly even if we think they will never win with us again. I still think we can make a run at it if we can hang on to Ben for a few years.