http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3274467

Steelers reward Roethlisberger with 8-year, $102M deal
By Michael Smith
ESPN.com
(Archive)

The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a new eight-year, $102 million contract, according to sources.

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Big Ben among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal.

Roethlisberger's agents, Ryan and Bruce Tollner of REP 1 Sports, traveled to Pittsburgh and finalized the deal with the Steelers late last night. The team is expected to announce the move Monday in a press conference.

Roethlisberger, who turned 26 on Sunday, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he completed more than 65 percent of his passes with a tean-record 32 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 104.1, leading the Steelers to an AFC North title and the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons.

Roethlisberger, who two years ago became the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, grew as a team leader last season and bounced back from a disappointing 2006 where his offseason was marred by a serious motorcycle accident.

In addition to a pay raise, the Steelers are also in the process of adding another weapon to Roethlisberger's arsenal. Pittsburgh hosted former Vikings running back Mewelde Moore on Sunday and his signing appears imminent.

Moore will provide Pittsburgh's offense with the legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield it had lacked. He's also likely to serve as the team's primary kickoff and punt returner.

Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Great news, they lose an O-lineman on already weak line, don't pick up anyone to replace him in FA, and blow their wad on Gay Ben and another RB. They gotta be praying for a huge draft success just to break even with their losses on both sides of the ball. This bodes well for the Browns this year!!!

Is there a new motorcycle in that contract?

Suddenly, the 3 year 24 mil we're giving Anderson doesn't look so bad..

quote:

Originally posted by Riceloft:
Suddenly, the 3 year 24 mil we're giving Anderson doesn't look so bad..

Indeed, can you imgaine the effect that would have had if we were still trying to negotiate with DA right now? I'm glad that was settled as quickly as it was. Funny how Phils moves are frequently criticized immediately but then look better and better as time goes by. (in this case just a few days)

quote:

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Big Ben among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal.

Let's hope Big Gay lives up to Vick's high standards.

WSS

quote:

Originally posted by Guardian:

quote:

Originally posted by Riceloft:
Suddenly, the 3 year 24 mil we're giving Anderson doesn't look so bad..

Indeed, can you imgaine the effect that would have had if we were still trying to negotiate with DA right now? I'm glad that was settled as quickly as it was. Funny how Phils moves are frequently criticized immediately but then look better and better as time goes by. (in this case just a few days)

Maybe, but if Phil had to work that hard to explain to DA the difference between his status after one pretty good year and a guy who just had a 104 rating and won the division--two years after winning the Super Bowl, then one of them is clearly mentally deficient.

Dennis

Gotta be honest...

DA got ripped off big time.

He's better than Big Flamer and deserved a contract AT LEAST comparable to this.

We're going to be sorry when he takes off for a contract he deserves.

quote:

Originally posted by Dencyguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Guardian:

quote:

Originally posted by Riceloft:
Suddenly, the 3 year 24 mil we're giving Anderson doesn't look so bad..

Indeed, can you imgaine the effect that would have had if we were still trying to negotiate with DA right now? I'm glad that was settled as quickly as it was. Funny how Phils moves are frequently criticized immediately but then look better and better as time goes by. (in this case just a few days)

Maybe, but if Phil had to work that hard to explain to DA the difference between his status after one pretty good year and a guy who just had a 104 rating and won the division--two years after winning the Super Bowl, then one of them is clearly mentally deficient.

Dennis

Granted nobody will ever confuse DA with Kosar for football knowledge, but agents are the ones that drive the prices up and blow smoke up the players a$$ as to what they are worth. I'm just glad that Gay Ben's signing wasn't another factor with regard to DA's negotiations.

How much do you think DA would have gotten if he signed his deal after Big Flamer?

I'd say 6 years, $72 million.

Your ridiculousness factor is completely off the charts, Bradie.

quote:

Originally posted by bradiequyn:
How much do you think DA would have gotten if he signed his deal after Big Flamer?

I'd say 6 years, $72 million.

... not here, thats for sure. If he was worth that much, he'd have been signed and we'd have a 1st and 3rd pick by now.

quote:

Originally posted by AdaM:
Your ridiculousness factor is completely off the charts, Bradie.

What's so ridiculous?

DA > Ben

Therefore he deserves more money than Ben

Ben behind our O-line last year wouldn't have choked in cincy.

The Steelers may soon learn that there is a big difference in what your quarterback can do with as opposed to without a top 5 defense, outstanding o-line, and pro-bowl caliber offensive weapons. Though they may still have some of that.

As someone else noted, they better pray for a magical draft and their defense to be dominant.

If not, it might not be long until they're hiring back that one doctor of theirs.

How dare you slander the man who has brought 10 wins to the Browns last year? When's the last time that happened?

This guy is the face of our franchise and will lead us back to our glory days.

Just because he was on the team doesn't mean he "Brought" anything. Tim couch would have done as well with these weapons and o'line.

We got 10 wins in spite of DA.

A "good" QB would have given us 13 wins with that pansy schedule.

I can't believe you're saying DA hindered the team.

'in spite of him' huh

So you're basically saying the rest of the team was so good you or I could have been the starting QB last year and gotten the same results?

you're off your rocker, nutjob.

You should probably start a poll to see who is in fact, off their rocker.

quote:

Originally posted by AdaM:
Just because he was on the team doesn't mean he "Brought" anything. Tim couch would have done as well with these weapons and o'line.

We got 10 wins in spite of DA.

A "good" QB would have given us 13 wins with that pansy schedule.

The Steelers had almost the exact same schedule and only got 10 wins too. Heck they even started 7-2. They lost 3 of their last 4 and then BenRot threw 3 INTs in the first half of their playoff game.