Steelers Start Contract Talks with Ben Roethlisberger

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Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert acknowledged the contract talks Tuesday, saying that Ben Roethlisberger still has growth potential even though the star quarterback turns 33 in less than a month.

No timetable has been set to complete a contract extension for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the organization has started preliminary negotiations with their franchise quarterback.

Colbert said on Tuesday that he expects a deal to come together swiftly because both sides are motivated in getting it done.

“As I have always said, when you have two parties that are real interested in getting the same goal achieved it usually goes quicker than not,”€ Colbert said. “It could happen quickly. It could take a little while.”€

The 8-year, $ 102 million contract Roethlisberger signed in 2008 runs through next season. The Steelers typically re-sign quarterbacks two years out, but the Steelers informed Roethlisberger last summer that they would re-do his deal with only a year left because of impending free agent that they wanted to sign in Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert and Cortez Allen.

Roethlisberger had the best statistical season of his career in helping the Steelers to an 11-5 record.

Roethlisberger started every game for the second consecutive season and tied Drew Brees for the most passing yards in the NFL with 4,952 , which was a Steelers team record. He also threw a team-high 32 touchdowns.

Colbert thinks Roethlisberger’s age (he will be 33 in March) won’t be an issue in getting a long-term deal done.

“I think Ben is a franchise quarterback that is getting better with age,”€ Colbert said. “You have seen it with a couple great players that are playing in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. There games have certainly have not deteriorated. I think Ben is going to be a better quarterback down the road than he has been to this point.”€

Colbert, who spoke to select members of the media on Tuesday, also said:

– The organization was happy with how linebacker Jason Worilds played. “He is still a young player. He is still probably an ascending player. I don’t think you have seen the best of Jason Worilds as a Steeler or a potential player for someone else,”€ Colbert said. “He is definitely somebody we will consider keeping. We will see where the market goes.”€

– The organization will have its first formal meeting on Wednesday where they will discuss their plans of moving forward including the futures of Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Ike Taylor and Brett Keisel.

– Colbert isn’t sure what the salary cap is going to be yet, but doesn’t anticipate needing to make major offseason moves to get cap-compliant by the new year of March 10.

– Colbert would not discuss if wide receiver Lance Moore asked for his release.