Steelers Extend Ben Roethlisberger, Sign DeAngelo Williams
The excitement of free agency might be three days old, but in typical Pittsburgh Steelers fashion, it’s been another low-key offseason for the proud franchise. Shutdown corners, devastating pass rushers and offensive x-factors have been released and signed, with the Steelers not so much as taking a look at any player on the market.
However, the team’s biggest priority was finally addressed earlier today, as the Steelers announced they had signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a contract extension. The move will keep Big Ben in the black and gold until the 2019 season.
The financial details of the five-year deal are yet to be disclosed, but don’t be surprised to see it make Ben one of the NFL’s wealthiest players. He isn’t the best quarterback in the game, but a select few players are as pivotal to their team’s success as Roethlisberger is to his Steelers.
Come the end of this extension, Roethlisberger will be 38, and ideally turning his attention to retirement after a solid string of productive, injury-free seasons. That ‘Super Bowl or bust’ urgency hasn’t quite hit the Steel City yet, but it would be ignorant to think the franchise isn’t setting itself up for at least one more Lombardi trophy in the next half-decade.
As it stands, the Steelers boast one of the youngest and most explosive offenses in the league. A genuine franchise quarterback, the NFL’s top wide receiver, a running back renaissance man and a rapidly improving offensive line should have no problem running up scores in 2015.
Arguably the only weak spot in the offense was also addressed today, with the Steelers announcing a two-year deal for former Carolina Panthers back DeAngelo Williams. Williams is exactly the kind of second-stringer Steeler Nation was baying for following the team’s offensive implosion without Le’Veon Bell in the wild card round.
The Steelers haven’t done much this free agency period, but they’ve made their moves count. The focus will now turn to what should be a defense-heavy draft for the Steel City.
