Even is Ben is moved this season, he isn't the real PROBLEM with this team.

Lots of you are declaring that Ben is not worth his contract or isn't as good as people think he is. But take salary out of the equation just for a moment. He is, at very least a top 15 QB. I would put him around 7 or 8th in QB rankings, but I can see how some would have him lower.

Name other players that are top 10 at their position on the current Steelers roster? There are few! Brown maybe, Timmons maybe, Troy maayyyybbeee, Pouncey sure when he is healthy, and possible Heath if you value blocking (he isn't a top 10 TE based on his receiving ability alone).

There isn't much talent on this team folks. Getting rid of Ben, even if we get 45786345348 first round picks, doesn't solve our immediate problem that our roster just isn't good.

All of this talk of dealing Ben makes me face-palm because there are 25 other players on the roster that actually SHOULD be cut or delt, but that won't happen probably since we are all, and maybe the Steelers are too, determined to make Ben the fallguy for this awful season.

If Ben takes the fall, expect to see some crap QB next year with the SAME offensive and defensive lines, with few changes to the actual roster. Tomlin will continue with his Tomlinisms, and the organization will think they made the right call. Then we actually go 2-14.

 

I would be surprised if anyone thinks that Ben is the sole problem.

I said in the off-season that what we have is about a million small problems that all add up to a big problem. I think I was probably a bit optimistic - some of the small problems are a fair bit bigger than I thought - but still, it's clear that we're in rebuilding mode at the moment.

Not sure I agree about the lack of roster changes, though. The team has changed a fair bit over the last 3 seasons.

 

You just listed most of the reason I want Ben gone. We suck. This team sucks. Our players suck. Our coaches suck. We need to rebuild in a bad way, not retool, but a complete rebuild. There is absolutely no point in rebuilding with an aging, broken down QB who seems to resist change. It's time for a new system, new coaches, new players, and a new way of doing things. Ben couldn't provide us with a top offence when he was in his prime, it's only going to get worse from here on out.

You say take salary out of the equation, but why would you do that? His salary is a huge part of the equation. That's like saying take his age out of the equation and lets pretend he's 23 again. It's an exercise in futility because Ben's salary will hold us back and his age is a huge factor and you can't just pretend those things aren't problems.

 

Get a franchise left tackle; that will be the one position of the biggest impact. When the left tackle gets a new contract that will be the time for Ben to go.

Rebuild by making others take a pay cut if they want to stay, like Woodley. If Woodley leaves there will be zero to little loss in play; I do not care who has his jersey. Ziggy goes. Kiesel restructures, because he is the only good d-lineman, and I think he will restructure. Troy takes a pay cut or goes. We'll see what we have in Ike this week. Sanders goes. Clean out the running-backs other than Bell, Dwyer, and Will Johnson.

If a franchise left tackle is taken and Ben sucks next year then next year draft a QB. If Ben is ok then there is a chance to win games next year and maybe win a championship in two years if some good changes are made. The team is bad this year, but there are players to build around.

He is not perfect, but I do not understand the hate for Ben at all. When his numbers suck then he can go too. He has earned a pass for a bad year or two especially with a terrible line and bad team around him.

The team NEEDS a left tackle now (next year).
In the next two years the team needs for sure a true nose tackle, free safety, outside receiver, cornerback, and maybe a middle linebacker and left guard.

 

Sounds like you are describing the Browns. They change players and coaches every few years.
IMO we don't need much of anything you just said.

 

i agree in theory but the reality is that ben would probably want an extension at the end of THIS season , and if you don't trade him now you will not get the same value in 2015 (means less picks to rebuild ) .

 

As hard as it is to find a QB, I think the risk is worth taking.

 

I don't think anyone hates Ben. I think those who love Ben are a bit too sensitive when others are critical of Ben.

 

so you will extended ben at the end of the season . that's will bring the decision on how much money he wants

 

Restructure Ben's contract in the off-season to free up some cap room and bring in the next QB so he can be groomed while using Ben for then next 3-4 years. Isn't this an option? I'm not caught up on the inner workings of the FO.

If he won't restructure, then I guess it get's hairy, doesn't it...?

 

I think the Rooneys and the FO sees an aging quarterback who has been heavy on physicality and light on the intellectual aspects of the position nearing the end of his contract and knowing that he's in all likelihood going to be a tough re-sign and are willing to consider any options to secure the ongoing viability of the greatest franchise in all of sport.

 

Would you care to elaborate on the "any options" part? LOL

 

Quite simply, a trade that would bring them multiple draft picks with the prospects of being able to draft a viable replacement for Ben in the 2014 draft. I've said that my preference is to keep Ben, but if some owner has a brain fart like Al Davis and decides they want to give us two or three first rounders for Ben, I'd be all over that.

 

No, that's not possible. Ben's contract expires after next season. He's going to demand a contract extension or a trade this off-season. He's not going to be happy going into the last year of his deal without a contract extension and it will just create problems. They could extend him, but he's likely going to want more than 3-4 years and he's going to want $20+ million per season. I just don't see any way in hell the Steelers will give him that. It would be one thing if he only wanted a 2-3 year deal, but I can't imagine him or his agent ever agreeing to that. That would effectively kill his career once that contract expired.

 

bens contract expires after the 2015 season.

 

Referring to the original poster, you are spot on. We have way many holes to fill, a lot of us has been saying this for sometime.So if we pay Ben R. BOATLOADS of money how do we improve our team? Pray that the cap raises substancially!

 

Top 7 or 8
i thought we all had agreed he was elite and in the top 5?

 

If Ben wants to retire as a Steeler he needs to give the team a hometown discount.

 

$13.1mil/yr otta do it. :thumbsup: