BEN NOW SET TO BE A STEELER FOR A LONG TIME
Ben Roethlisberger signed a new contract with the Steelers that should keep him with the team for the next eight years.
Worth $102 million with bonuses, the contract (average $12.75 million a season) makes Ben the third highest paid NFL player after Eli Manning (average $14 million) and Carson Palmer (average $13.2 million.)
Quarterbacks do not come cheap and good quarterbacks are expensive. Aged 26, Ben can now look forward to a financially rewarding career with a great franchise.
He served his apprenticeship well, becoming the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in that memorable 2005 season. Ben commented at the announcement;
“This is about being a Pittsburgh Steeler for as long as I can be. I don’t want to go anywhere else. I love Pittsburgh. I love the fans. This is the best organisation and the best fans in all of sports.
I told them that I didn’t want to go anywhere the day I walked in, and that stays true. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to be here a little bit longer and hopefully finish my career, get another one of these (contract extensions) to finish my career in the black and gold.
I told them I felt I looked good in the black and gold and nothing else. I wanted to be like the Dan Marino, John Elway, the guys who play with one team their entire career.
That’s been the goal, and we have got one step closer to being able to do that. I didn’t want to go anywhere, so I am glad that we got it done and I can stay here. I don’t want to go anywhere else.
We can focus on getting more rings and a bunch more trophies for this organisation.
The commitment they have given me, I can give back. They have put me up in a more leadership role. They believe in me that I can become the best. I will trying to become the best.
I believe that the guys we have on this team right now are exceptional players. I believe that we have all the pieces of the puzzle and that we can be a championship team.
We know that with the history we have of drafting well, we will be able to bring guys in which will help fit the puzzle even more.
We have a great group of guys. It’s exciting to be a Pittsburgh Steeler this year."