While stressing Roethlisberger "did a lot of really good things" in 2020, general manager Kevin Colbert on Wednesday stopped short of wholeheartedly endorsing the idea of Roethlisberger being in the fold in 2021.
Roethlisberger currently holds a $41.25 million salary-cap hit in 2021, the highest of any player in the league. Both sides have taken turns in recent weeks talking about the need to lower that number considerably, particularly with the Steelers facing the difficult prospect of navigating a salary cap that might be $15 million to $20 million less than in 2020 thanks to a significant decline in gate revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're making guestimates on what we can do to put the best team together, for our sake," Colbert said. "For Ben's sake, what team can he anticipate being around him if we decide we can move forward together?" "We need to be able to finish and having a strong running game helps teams finish year," Colbert said.
It fell apart against the Browns. The Steelers turned it over four times in the first half while falling behind by 28 points and never recovered. That left a bitter taste in Colbert's mouth. While Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs six times since losing to Green Bay in the Super Bowl a decade ago, the Steelers are just 3-6 in the post-season over that span.
"Fortunately willing to work with me on a year-to-year basis," he said. "Quite frankly that's all I deserve because we have to prove ourselves each and every year."
That's not a ringing endorsement. Father Time waits for no one (except Tom Brady it appears)