Ed Bouchette: Ben Roethlisberger Doesn’t Care About Salary

[86WARD]

From Ed Bouchette via Twitter just now:

Ben Roethlisberger just told me that "we agree with everything" Art Rooney II said about him returning for 2021.

Ben told me he went to the Steelers first about restructuring his contract. "I want to do everything I can and made that very clear to them from the very beginning that it was my idea to basically help the team however I can this year."

Ben Roethlisberger just told me: "I don't care about my pay at all this year!" And is willing to restructure a contract that has a $41 million cap hit for 2021 that includes $19 million in bonus and salary that can be restructured.

More Ben Roethlisberger just now to me: "I am pretty sure I want to go one more year (because) I think I can do it and give us a real chance at winning."

[DesertSteel]

After the emotion of the collapse wore off on me, I realized and knew Ben would be back. I'd rather move on, but if we get a running game and Ben doesn't throw 50 times a game, we'll have as good of a chance as any other team not named the Chiefs.

[cubanstogie]

From Ed Bouchette via Twitter just now:

Ben Roethlisberger just told me that "we agree with everything" Art Rooney II said about him returning for 2021.

Ben told me he went to the Steelers first about restructuring his contract. "I want to do everything I can and made that very clear to them from the very beginning that it was my idea to basically help the team however I can this year."

Ben Roethlisberger just told me: "I don't care about my pay at all this year!" And is willing to restructure a contract that has a $41 million cap hit for 2021 that includes $19 million in bonus and salary that can be restructured.

More Ben Roethlisberger just now to me: "I am pretty sure I want to go one more year (because) I think I can do it and give us a real chance at winning."

he has to beat out Haskins first. props to Ben for a little humbleness. The question is, does he give team best chance at winning? He might win the most games if that’s what we’re after. But we aren’t the Jets or Bengals(can’t say Browns anymore). Anything less than SB is a losing season.Time to invest for future and collect dividends in 2 years!

[ETL]

So we cut him and then he agrees to not sign with anyone else and we sign him for league minimum? He DID say he didn’t care about his salary.

[ThorndikeFFA]

Ben doesn't care, but his agent does.

[Rotorhead]

So we cut him and then he agrees to not sign with anyone else and we sign him for league minimum? He DID say he didn’t care about his salary.

We still owe him $29mil if we cut him, maybe he is willing to renegotiate to less than that . . .

[ETL]

Só best thing that Ben can do for us is to extend his contract with no additional money so that his bonus is prorated over more years. And when he is done after next year we have “dead money for Ben” on our cap for many more years?

[Mojouw]

Só best thing that Ben can do for us is to extend his contract with no additional money so that his bonus is prorated over more years. And when he is done after next year we have “dead money for Ben” on our cap for many more years?

Yes. Again, here are the options:

https://steelersdepot.com/2020/08/lo...ing-scenarios/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

We still owe him $29mil if we cut him, maybe he is willing to renegotiate to less than that . . .

Why bother posting things like numbers if they are not correct??

Ben is owed $22,250,000 ($12,500,00 in signing bonus + $9,750,000 in restructured contract funds). His dead money if released is $22.5 million.

If the Steelers keep his contract, there is an additional $19million due. ($4 million base salary + $15 million Roster Bonus).

The best thing that can be done is to spread out his contract over an extra year or 2 and lessen the annual cap hit. He isnt taking any less than the $22.5 million in GUARANTEED MONEY on the contract he signed, but it sounds noble of him to want to reduce or minimize his salary to continue to be a Steeler and get other guys signed.

Sorry if some frustration is showing thru, but I never can understand how information is all available at place like Sportrac Ben Roethlisberger Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries, Bonuses | Spotrac , yet fans generate opinions of players, based upon the wrong figures and contractual details.

[ETL]

I think Ben should still retire. That gives us the lowest cap hit possible at 22M and the Steelers can play nice by not asking for any of his unused signing bonus back. (12 mil - not chump change)

[Six Rings]

I think Ben should still retire. That gives us the lowest cap hit possible at 22M and the Steelers can play nice by not asking for any of his unused signing bonus back. (12 mil - not chump change)

Agreed. Ben might be thinking about the hall of fame. If he retires the same year Brees does, his odds of being a first ballot guy go down. I wonder if that's a factor in wanting to play one more year.

[Shoes]

Some one pin the Medal of Honor on Ben for his self-sacrifice.

[ETL]

Agreed. Ben might be thinking about the hall of fame. If he retires the same year Brees does, his odds of being a first ballot guy go down. I wonder if that's a factor in wanting to play one more year.

well if that’s true then it’s very selfish. I don’t think it is. Ben will be in the HOF and he deserves it. If he feels he needs to be a first ballot HOF then whatever.

Part of me wishes be would consider retirement just because of all the QB flux that is going on right now. There are so many QBs moving. I don’t think we should blow our wad on trading for a Deshaun Watson or Stafford or Rodgers but if they move around - there will be some very talented guys who will get displaced and would want a starting opportunity. That is why this year seems ideal

[Mojouw]

So weird take. And I am all over this message board saying I think Ben is done as a high-end QB...so take that as background. BUT...if he plays one more season...not all bad? Why? Here are some stray thoughts?

1. The things you need to have an old diminished QB succeed and a young inexperienced QB are basically the same - good OL, running game, and skill position talent. So outside of the QB position, you build with similar priorities.
2. IF all those rumored "on the move" QBs really do swap teams...then that is a high % of the league that between the draft, trades, and other maneuvers will enter the 2022 Draft with only 1 season under their new starting QB. MAYBE that opens up the opportunity to move up in the draft to like 10-12 range and snipe the #3 rated QB or something.
3. Mac Jones looks like Andy Dalton from a better school to me. Anything that prevents them from drafting him as the answer is likely a good thing long term (I am certainly wrong, but that is the vibe I get).
4. Never have to say "Mason Rudolph - starting QB."

[Rotorhead]

Why bother posting things like numbers if they are not correct??

Ben is owed $22,250,000 ($12,500,00 in signing bonus + $9,750,000 in restructured contract funds). His dead money if released is $22.5 million.

If the Steelers keep his contract, there is an additional $19million due. ($4 million base salary + $15 million Roster Bonus).

The best thing that can be done is to spread out his contract over an extra year or 2 and lessen the annual cap hit. He isnt taking any less than the $22.5 million in GUARANTEED MONEY on the contract he signed, but it sounds noble of him to want to reduce or minimize his salary to continue to be a Steeler and get other guys signed.

Sorry if some frustration is showing thru, but I never can understand how information is all available at place like Sportrac Ben Roethlisberger Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries, Bonuses | Spotrac , yet fans generate opinions of players, based upon the wrong figures and contractual details.

My fault, I thought it was $29m not $22m

[Rotorhead]

So weird take. And I am all over this message board saying I think Ben is done as a high-end QB...so take that as background. BUT...if he plays one more season...not all bad? Why? Here are some stray thoughts?

1. The things you need to have an old diminished QB succeed and a young inexperienced QB are basically the same - good OL, running game, and skill position talent. So outside of the QB position, you build with similar priorities.
2. IF all those rumored "on the move" QBs really do swap teams...then that is a high % of the league that between the draft, trades, and other maneuvers will enter the 2022 Draft with only 1 season under their new starting QB. MAYBE that opens up the opportunity to move up in the draft to like 10-12 range and snipe the #3 rated QB or something.
3. Mac Jones looks like Andy Dalton from a better school to me. Anything that prevents them from drafting him as the answer is likely a good thing long term (I am certainly wrong, but that is the vibe I get).
4. Never have to say "Mason Rudolph - starting QB."

Your #1 has been my thought all along plus we won’t have to deal with his contract after that.
Rebuild the OL and RB, get a new QB starting in a better position. Plus I think Ben will have a decent year next season, with a full off season and training regiment.

[86WARD]

Why bother posting things like numbers if they are not correct??

Ben is owed $22,250,000 ($12,500,00 in signing bonus + $9,750,000 in restructured contract funds). His dead money if released is $22.5 million.

If the Steelers keep his contract, there is an additional $19million due. ($4 million base salary + $15 million Roster Bonus).

The best thing that can be done is to spread out his contract over an extra year or 2 and lessen the annual cap hit. He isnt taking any less than the $22.5 million in GUARANTEED MONEY on the contract he signed, but it sounds noble of him to want to reduce or minimize his salary to continue to be a Steeler and get other guys signed.

Sorry if some frustration is showing thru, but I never can understand how information is all available at place like Sportrac Ben Roethlisberger Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries, Bonuses | Spotrac , yet fans generate opinions of players, based upon the wrong figures and contractual details.

Sounds more like Ben wants to rip up his current contract and start over...

[Mojouw]

Sounds more like Ben wants to rip up his current contract and start over...

He may want to do that. But unless he also rewrites the CBA in the next couple of weeks, he can't change much about the overall numbers.

Ben Roethlisberger is owed $22.5 million dollars by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is money already earned by the player and pledged by the team from previous contractual agreements. That hits the Steelers 2021 Salary Cap sheet no matter what. There are zero mechanisms under the current NFL CBA that allow that cap amount to be changed, moved, or altered in any way. Play, retire, or get hit by a bus -- Ben R will count for at least $22.5 million of previously earned money on the 2021 salary cap.

What can be messed around with is the #19 million Ben Roethlisberger is currently schedule to earn in the 2021 season for playing for the Steelers. That money can be maneuvered around in a variety of ways to create up to $14.34 million in 2021 salary cap space in exchange for $14.34 million in dead money for 2022.

[Rotorhead]

Is it possible for him to sign a new contract so he is just paid the $22M, then maybe add some incentives or something like that? The the other $$’s are just basically cancelled?

[Mojouw]

Is it possible for him to sign a new contract so he is just paid the $22M, then maybe add some incentives or something like that? The the other $$’s are just basically cancelled?

Sort of. IF...Ben was basically willing to play for free in 2021, he could agree to play for the $22.25 million he is owed + a CBA mandated minimum salary of $1.075 million. That creates just shy of $18 million in 2021 cap space and means there is no more money on future cap sheets. HOWEVER...I believe this would be a totally unprecedented move on any pro athlete's part ever. I can not find any example of a player of Ben's caliber agreeing to leave that much money on the table and play for a million bucks.

So is there a way? Sure. Is it about as likely as the Steelers hiring me to coach the QB's? Yes.

[Rotorhead]

Sort of. IF...Ben was basically willing to play for free in 2021, he could agree to play for the $22.25 million he is owed + a CBA mandated minimum salary of $1.075 million. That creates just shy of $18 million in 2021 cap space and means there is no more money on future cap sheets. HOWEVER...I believe this would be a totally unprecedented move on any pro athlete's part ever. I can not find any example of a player of Ben's caliber agreeing to leave that much money on the table and play for a million bucks.

So is there a way? Sure. Is it about as likely as the Steelers hiring me to coach the QB's? Yes.

Well, maybe not QB coach, but you couldn’t do worse at OC than the last guy!

[RunNGun]

From Ed Bouchette via Twitter just now:

Ben Roethlisberger just told me that "we agree with everything" Art Rooney II said about him returning for 2021.

Ben told me he went to the Steelers first about restructuring his contract. "I want to do everything I can and made that very clear to them from the very beginning that it was my idea to basically help the team however I can this year."

Ben Roethlisberger just told me: "I don't care about my pay at all this year!" And is willing to restructure a contract that has a $41 million cap hit for 2021 that includes $19 million in bonus and salary that can be restructured.

More Ben Roethlisberger just now to me: "I am pretty sure I want to go one more year (because) I think I can do it and give us a real chance at winning."

You've gotta respect Ben for restructuring and showing a little bit of humility. I do want the Steelers to move on, but Ben has earned his right to play out his contract. In an ideal world...Ben would show Haskins how to be a pro and Haskins could take over at the midway point. Not a likely scenario, but damn that'd be great.

[hawaiiansteeler]

In an ideal world...Ben would show Haskins how to be a pro

maybe they could ride motorcycles together or spend some time in Georgia bars...

[Edman]

Well, that's right nice and noble of Ben to do the right thing.

Unfortunately, unless something drastic happens. It's only delaying the inevitable.

[oneforthetoe]

Ben says restructuring. That might or might not be in his mind the same thing as playing for significantly less money. He might be thinking more as too spreading out his 19 mill over the next 3 years. Listening to Art Rooney I think he means significantly less money overall. We shall see what comes of this. I'm ok with dead years on the contract but some of the info had us swallowing 14 million in dead money next year. That's too much.
's

[86WARD]

He may want to do that. But unless he also rewrites the CBA in the next couple of weeks, he can't change much about the overall numbers.

Ben Roethlisberger is owed $22.5 million dollars by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is money already earned by the player and pledged by the team from previous contractual agreements. That hits the Steelers 2021 Salary Cap sheet no matter what. There are zero mechanisms under the current NFL CBA that allow that cap amount to be changed, moved, or altered in any way. Play, retire, or get hit by a bus -- Ben R will count for at least $22.5 million of previously earned money on the 2021 salary cap.

What can be messed around with is the #19 million Ben Roethlisberger is currently schedule to earn in the 2021 season for playing for the Steelers. That money can be maneuvered around in a variety of ways to create up to $14.34 million in 2021 salary cap space in exchange for $14.34 million in dead money for 2022.

So Ben could nullify his roster bonus and play for $4M this season. He could also tear it up and restructure a deal for $1M over the next four years with the option that the last three years are voidable. Meaning he plays for $1M this season. If he is willing to take a cut, which it sounds like he is, then really anything is possible in structuring a new deal.

He could also tear it up, sign a one year deal for whatever and leave no dead money on the Steelers in 2022. He can change the overall numbers big time as far as anything aside from the $22.5. If he’s really willing to do so...

[Mojouw]

So Ben could nullify his roster bonus and play for $4M this season. He could also tear it up and restructure a deal for $1M over the next four years with the option that the last three years are voidable. Meaning he plays for $1M this season. If he is willing to take a cut, which it sounds like he is, then really anything is possible in structuring a new deal.

He could also tear it up, sign a one year deal for whatever and leave no dead money on the Steelers in 2022. He can change the overall numbers big time as far as anything aside from the $22.5. If he’s really willing to do so...

Tuatsy understanding. Be interesting to see what he chooses.

[Craic]

So here's something to think about. The Steelers had 30 drops this year. That is second highest in the league. Now, there were four dropped balls that Rudolph threw. So, 26 of those drops were on Ben's passes. If you count those as catches as they hit the receivers in the hands, Ben's comp. rating of would be .697 or basically, 70 percent. Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Deshaun Watson had 70.7, 70.5, and 70.2 percent. Moreover, Ben threw the third most passes in the league this year. Now the problem is that he is 33rd out of 35 for yards per catch, although a bit higher when factoring in other things the pro-football likes to do in their adjusted yard per attempt column.

So, all of that to say, might the problem have been playcalling + dropped balls and not so much Ben R.?

[pczach]

So here's something to think about. The Steelers had 30 drops this year. That is second highest in the league. Now, there were four dropped balls that Rudolph threw. So, 26 of those drops were on Ben's passes. If you count those as catches as they hit the receivers in the hands, Ben's comp. rating of would be .697 or basically, 70 percent. Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Deshaun Watson had 70.7, 70.5, and 70.2 percent. Moreover, Ben threw the third most passes in the league this year. Now the problem is that he is 33rd out of 35 for yards per catch, although a bit higher when factoring in other things the pro-football likes to do in their adjusted yard per attempt column.

So, all of that to say, might the problem have been playcalling + dropped balls and not so much Ben R.?

It's a combination of everything.

Ben himself.
The offense he played in.
The blocking schemes and the execution.
Play calling.
Drops by receivers and some young guy mistakes.
No running game.
Having to throw the ball a million times coming off of elbow surgery.
The surgery itself and underlying short-term effects could have been a factor. Can't know for sure. Experience says it could be.

I think all of the above contributed in some way.

[86WARD]

Tuatsy understanding. Be interesting to see what he chooses.

Yeah. Should be interesting to see what he actually does...I'd be happy with a $4M/year Ben...lol