Ben Roethlisberger: Kevin Colbert is ‘ready to move on’

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Head coach Mike Tomlin with Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In May 2022, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers writer Gerry Dulac said that it was “very, very safe to assume there was ‘bad blood’ between longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers on how to end his 18-year career. that. Many Pittsburgh fans scoffed at the suggestion, even after former Steelers assault security guard Ramon Foster offered a possible explanation for the so-called bad blood.

On Friday, July 22, Roethlisberger indirectly addressed the matter when he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook that the Steelers leadership wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about his return for the 2021 season.

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Ben Roethlisberger: Kevin Colbert is ‘ready to move on’

“Mostly Kevin [Colbert]. He’s ready to move on,” Roethlisberger told Cook, referring to the organization’s longtime general manager, who made the decision to retire in January 2022 and was officially replaced by Omar Khan 4. next month.

“I think Mike [Tomlin] Roethlisberger added about the team’s head coach.

But because the team’s president/owner Art Rooney was the referee, Roethlisberger returned a season ago, albeit with a reduced salary.

“I think Mr Rooney really wanted me back to play last year,” concluded Roethlisberger, who went on to say his arm feels pretty good and he’s “quite confident” he can still do it. play at a high level.

Roethlisberger: ‘I never wanted to stay too long’

Ben Roethlisberger went on to address how his career ended, saying, “I think I ignored my terms. I never wanted to stay too long. I know some people might think I did. ‘You stayed last year.’ But I think I played pretty well last year,” he concluded, a season in which he won nine of his 16 starts and threw 3,740 yards but finished with an 86.8 pass, hit level. third lowest price tag of his career (except for 2019, when he appeared in just two games).

At the same time, it’s easy to see why Colbert & Co is skeptical he’ll be back in the season at the age of 39, especially after he’s lacked for the period in 2020 – and after what unfolded. out in the first half of a January 2021 playoff loss against the Cleveland Browns.

However, Big Ben to be could play in high form, at least as far as the 2021 season is concerned. He had an emotional round of wins before leaving Heinz Field for the last time after his home team’s final win over the Browns, then beating the Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season finals.

“It was really a stroke of luck,” he said, after the Steelers were doubled in the playoffs by second-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, 42-21.

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Mike Tomlin in Life After Ben Roethlisberger

Now the Steelers face the prospect of moving forward without Roethlisberger in midfield for the first time since 2003. The team has signed former No. 2 player Mitch Trubisky in free agency, who will compete against 2022 first pick Kenny Pickett and reserve veteran Mason Rudolph for the right to be the opening day starter.

Mike Tomlin recently said the prospect of trying to replace Roethlisberger is “scary, but exciting,” and he hopes the organization will maintain its success regardless of who is at the center into 2022 and beyond.

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