Big Ben Is in collection for a massive Payday

SteelCityInsider.com's Ian Whetstone writes that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose rookie contract doesn't expire right up until following the 2009 season, will undoubtedly make bank or investment company on his next deal, but it won't be the possible salary-cap buster that possibly Peyton Manning or puppy murderer Michael Vick signed a few of many years ago.

In fact, many thanks in the direction of business correcting alone -- see the recent contracts of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Marc Bulger and Tony Romo for illustrations -- re-signing large Ben must get a relatively straightforward process (as straightforward as superior million-dollars deals can be, I guess).

even although Roethlisberger boasts a more powerful résumé than Romo, and could possibly be anticipated to command much more money, the Steelers retain a few of factors within their favor. First, the Rooneys don't show an affinity for writing checks just to show away their deep pockets, and brokers must realize that they're not steering to acreage an inflated windfall just as a final result of the simple fact the managers prefer to create headlines.

much over that, two many years remaining on Roethlisberger's present offer make for relatively very good leverage. it could hold payment of an $8 million bonus following the 2008 period to protected 2009, but that's still much less prohibitive compared to franchise tag, and much less incentive using the participant to ride factors out in the direction of open market.

Obviously, the Steelers offense starts and ends with large Ben. Don't think so, just hold a hold a look on the 2006 season. as well as a whole whole lot better still, relive, for all those people that will, those people glorious Tommy Maddox years. Convinced? believed so.

Whetstone predicts that it'll most probable hold $11 million annually to re-sign Roethlisberger, producing him the team's highest-paid participant with a massive margin (currently, Troy Polamalu holds that distinction). For me, this really is generally a no-brainer: you pay the Franchise.

Of course, you require individuals to shield the Franchise, which produces me believe that devoting all this loot in the direction of quarterback means Alan Faneca has even much less of the chance of coming back in '08. But hey, the set locked up Kendall Simmons for 4 much more years!