Friday, February 28, 2025, 11:10AM |  36°
MENU
Advertisement
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is likely to get an earful from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger when they meed to discuss this past season.
1
MORE

Ron Cook: No doubt Ben Roethlisberger will play on

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Ron Cook: No doubt Ben Roethlisberger will play on

Ben Roethlisberger is scheduled to meet with Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II today at Steelers headquarters. He has a dinner planned tonight with Mike Tomlin. I’m hoping Antonio Brown gets invited to both. I’d love to watch on Facebook Live. I’m guessing you would, too.

Roethlisberger made national news Tuesday on his 93.7 The Fan radio show when he didn’t commit to coming back to the Steelers next year for a 14th NFL season. “I’m going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options. To consider health and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season … if there’s going to be a next season.”

Reached by telephone later Tuesday, Roethlisberger didn’t back down from those comments. “I’m not trying to be a drama queen or whatever they say I am. And I’m not saying I’m not coming back. I just think it’s prudent for anyone who’s played the game as long as I have to talk to the people you love and make the best decision about your future for you and your family. All that says about me is that I’m smart.”

Advertisement

Roethlisberger also said he mentioned possible retirement to Tomlin in the past. “Maybe after last season I did. I’m sure we’ll have the same conversation again after next season if that’s how it plays out.”

While Antonio Brown's antics might frustrate some of his teammates, nobody can complain about Steelers wide receiver's production.
Gerry Dulac
Antonio Brown might be annoying, but he's not divisive

I’m taking Roethlisberger at his word. He has reached the point of his career when he has to start thinking about life after football. He has been incredibly successful. He has played on two Super Bowl-winning teams. He owns virtually every Steelers passing record. He will be enshrined, for sure, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has made fabulous money; his net worth has been estimated at $70 million. Maybe most of all, he has his health. He sounded almost envious of one of his best pals, Heath Miller, who retired after last season in one piece, physically. Roethlisberger, too, wants to be able to play with his three young children and live normally for the rest of his life.

But I have absolutely no doubt Roethlisberger will play next season. I know what Chuck Noll used to say, that when a player starts thinking about retirement he should go ahead and do it because his mind and heart won’t be in the job. I don’t believe that’s true with Roethlisberger. He still loves the game although he could do without a few things in it, specifically social media. He has a lot of great football left. He is too competitive to walk away from a Steelers team that went to the NFL’s final four this season and has a good chance to get back next season for another swing at another Super Bowl. And, yes, he has too much more money to make — $12 million in 2017, $17 million in 2018 and $17 million in 2019. Pro Football Talk reported he would have to repay the Steelers $18.6 million from the signing bonus in his latest contract if he retires now.

But that doesn’t mean Roethlisberger’s meeting with the Rooneys and dinner with Tomlin won’t be interesting. After every season, he tells them what he thinks is good about the team and what isn’t so good. He will have plenty to say.

Advertisement

When a team makes it to the AFC championship, there is much good. The offense, which is Roethlisberger’s primary concern, should return the entire line, which Roethlisberger adores. The Steelers are expected to try to sign Brown, who has a year left on his contract, and Le’Veon Bell, who is a free agent, to long-term deals. They could and likely will keep Bell for another year with their franchise tag. Martavis Bryant also is expected back after being suspended this season for failed drug tests. Roethlisberger was his most loyal supporter when Bryant was suspended for four games at the start of the 2015 season but soured badly on him after his season-long 2016 suspension because he felt Bryant lied to him. Roethlisberger said Bryant reached out to him late this season, presumably to start to rebuild their relationship.

But not all is perfect with the Steelers. Roethlisberger talked publicly about it at midseason when he said, “We are undisciplined and not accountable.” It became an issue again in the playoffs when Brown revealed to the world via Facebook Live the scene in the team’s supposedly sacred locker room after its win in Kansas City, an incident that infuriated Tomlin and contributed to Roethlisberger’s disdain for social media. Then Sunday night, in the loss to the New England Patriots, Brown sulked on the field and sideline because the ball didn’t come his way enough. The NFL Network’s Aditi Khinkabwala reported that Roethlisberger had to talk to Brown about it during the game, a fact Roethlisberger didn’t deny on his radio show. “I don’t remember … Maybe I got hit or something.” Roethlisberger laughed, but it was the first time all season he avoided a question on his show. His nonresponse said a great deal. So did his use of the word “pouting” when asked a follow-up question about Brown in his radio interview.

This wasn’t the first time Brown’s antics were an issue. He showed up Landry Jones and even Roethlisberger on the field earlier in the season. He ticked off many teammates by jogging back to the line of scrimmage in the first Miami game when the team was running its 2-minute drill. Brown’s selfishness isn’t expected to sabotage a long-term offer from the Steelers, but it certainly complicates the process.

 

Sammie Coates is unable to pull in a pass in the first quarter Sunday against the Patriots.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 1.25.17

Tomlin was hard on Brown after the video fiasco, saying publicly that Brown was “foolish, selfish and inconsiderate.” Maybe it’s the start of Tomlin taking a tougher stance with Brown. In his final news conference of the season Tuesday, Tomlin said he wasn’t aware of Brown’s sideline pouting Sunday night — excuse me if I have a hard time believing that — but promised to “continue to challenge” Brown to grow as a player and a person.

I’m thinking that challenge won’t include an invitation to dinner tonight.

No sense for Tomlin to take unnecessary chances, right?

Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.

First Published: January 25, 2017, 5:00 a.m.

RELATED
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a frustrating AFC championship game on Sunday.
Ed Bouchette
Is frustration getting the better of Ben Roethlisberger?
Steelers James Harrison and head coach Mike Tomlin walk off the field after losing to the Patriots in the AFC championship Sunday. Tomlin said Tuesday he will welcome Harrison back next season if the 38-year-old linebacker wants to play.
Gerry Dulac
Coach Mike Tomlin has heard Big Ben's retirement talk before
Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter was arrested following an incident Jan. 8 outside a South Side bar on East Carson Street.
Liz Navratil
Police review board drops inquiry into officer involved in Joey Porter arrest
Antonio Brown has one year remaining on his current contract.
Sean Gentille
The Antonio Brown/Steelers drama isn't going away
Ben Roethlisberger looks to the referees for a call in the third quarter of the AFC championship between the Steelers and Patriots Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Joe Starkey
Starkey's Mailbag: Why doesn't Ben Roethlisberger sneak like Tom Brady?
Steelers quarteraback Ben Roethlisberger warms up next to head coach Mike Tomlin during a November practice on the South Side.
Gerry Dulac
Mike Tomlin is taking Ben Roethlisberger's remarks 'seriously'
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic takes a timeout during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
1
sports
Penguins rally after Alex Nedeljkovic’s outburst, beat the Flyers in overtime
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Arthur Smith walks off the field after losing to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Ravens won 28-14.
2
sports
Joe Starkey: Was Steelers GM Omar Khan kidding with his Arthur Smith comments?
An example of a Real ID-compliant non-commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania.
3
news
The Real ID deadline is approaching. Here's what Pennsylvanians should know.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.
4
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits at quarterback
Deer cannot be taken from the wild and turned into pets, according to the state. This group of deer were seen in the yard of a Stanton Heights home in October.
5
news
Fayette County woman arrested for refusing to surrender pet deer
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is likely to get an earful from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger when they meed to discuss this past season.  (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story