What to do with Ben....

After the 2020 Draft, I had pegged the Browns fielding a Top Five Offensive Lineman unit. Jedrick Willis truly was the final piece to the puzzle for them. His improvement down the stretch has been instrumental without question.

 

The Steelers haven't drafted a good RB since 2013. I don't think it's easy enough to find for them

 

after that display he might play for free and help the team financially

 

I agree except RB's are easy to find in the draft. I know we need a T and C, but if Najee is there in the first that would be a steal, he has the ability to give you 1400-1600 (or more) yards a year in total offence. That kind of guy out of the back field (with a fixed line) can make a mid level QB look good.

To clarify I know the Chiefs found that rookie back in the 4th, so yes there are decent backs out there, but I believe those surrounding him make him better...we just are not there yet.

 

Just cut Ben, sign Taylor Heinicke, and let the glory roll in.

 

Mcfarland, Snell, Conner Since 2017 (Average to JAGs) Before 2013(Leveon). Steelers drafted Chris Rainey, Baron Batch, Dwyer, Frank Summers,(Rahasard 2008), Noah Herron. The Steelers Can't draft RBs( In the Ben Era) fast willie was an UDFA and Bettis via trade. It is a myth RBs being a dime a dozen. They are integral parts to an offense. Pass blocking, Catching out of the backfield, being a safety valve, churning for that extra yard. Most underrated and disrespected position in the NFL imo. The line does stink but i really don't see Snell going for a 1000 on any other team

 

I was hoping that if couldn’t pass his physical then insurance would pay his salary and there would be some cap relief. I believe that is how it works in the NHL.

 

Nothing like that exists, each contract has its own specifics, but there is no insurance against the cap. If a player goes on injured reserve that money is still counted against that years cap. If a player is injured, there is a waived injured clause, I am not sure exactly how that works, but a settlement is reached.

 

Ben isn't due 40 million, he's due 19 million, his cap hit is 41 million.

 

Cut him and his contract. Play Rudolph and Dobbs.

 

It would so dumb to bring Ben back. It's not like we're going to win it all with him. He's a shell of his former self and we're going to lose a number of starters. QB is the hardest position to fill. We have a young QB on the roster who showed some promise when he last played. He needs to be given a full year (with a new OC) to see what he can do. That way we know whether to let him go or re-sign him.

 

I want one more year with Ben, but in a situation like Manning and Elway in their last years, where they weren't the aces on the team that needed to throw 50+ times.

That would be predicated on fixing the offensive line and run game in one offseason, which might be a tall order.

 

I'll start with saying Ben has been a fantastic player for us for almost his whole career, but he was out almost all last season, probably wasn't fully healed this season, and played even worse down the stretch. I'm middle aged and I know what it looks like when a guy tries to tell his body to do something it isn't capable of anymore

He needs that old dog wake up call, we might need to give Marcellus Wallace a call, "in the off season, your ass goes down!"

 

I extend him one year to lesson the cap hit.

Non real extra money... just moving it around. If he does not want to do that then he might as well retire as they won't be a solid team around him.

HACK

 

I don't think he'd go for that since it's basically setting him up to be cut.

 

The entire point would be to take one last shot rather than have his career end on Sunday's debacle, not to get another big payday. I would have no problem with the team making the offer and telling him to take it or be gone. I don't think he is going to want to retire. Remember, John Elway was his hero growing up. He knows what reasonable people can see, that he's still at least as good as Elway was on that last Super Bowl team in Denver. He just doesn't have that type of offense around him.

That said, I think some people here are fooling themselves based on a couple of good drives by Mason Rudolph. He has moments in which he doesn't look bad, but he is not an NFL starting quarterback. Take away the deep ball, put some pressure on him, force him into shorter passes, and bad things will happen. Just understand that moving on from Roethlisberger means 2021 is very likely going to suck.

 

I’m fine with Ben coming back but not at a $41M cap hit. The team won’t be able to swallow that either based on our cap situation. Something’s gotta give. If he’s willing to restructure with a modest salary for 2022 to spread the cap hit, that’s probably the best option. We’re still a better team with him than without him. What we can’t do is keep him at the expense of letting our younger players hit free agency. That would result in a 3 win team in a few years.

With the salary cap shrinking, a lot of vets are going to get cut and will have to accept much smaller deals if they want to keep playing. If Ben wants to keep chasing a ring, he do best to accept a team friendly extension. No body is going to pay stupid money to sign Ben next season based on where he’s at in his career.

 

If that's true, then the Steelers are worse off than I thought!

 

The BIG difference to me is Elway and Manning both were men who knew their limitations. They weren't as productive, but they also weren't making the crushing mistakes Ben was (ignoring that stretch before Peyton got benched).

Totally agree though that if Ben is going to get cut we "make him an offer he can't refuse."

As for Mason, I don't think anyone thinks he's our next franchise QB but no doubt he can be a game manager. At best, he's a one-season stop gap to give us time to shore up other areas of the team, then go for the franchise QB in 2022 if we can't find one next season.

 

I'm sure Rudolph is not the answer but enough already! I'm so tired of the drama that comes with Ben and the endless "maybe next year" hopes. The Ravens knew it was time to move on from Flacco and now look at them. The Steelers needed to do the same two years ago but nope and now it's gonna cost them.

 

This. If Ben comes back, force him to use a fullback, tailback, two tight ends and one wide receiver.

 

You can't force him to do anything. He's not gonna change now, he needs to be done.