Ben's decision to come back

So Ben restructures his contract to come back, but we are being devastated through free agency. We were 12-4 last season with him due to an incredible defense. If Ben retired all anyone would talk about for years is him leaving after a 12-4 season and no one will fill his shoes. Instead, the scenario is Ben comes back for a 6-10 season and retires. Our first season without Ben we go 10-6 or better and people will see the QB position as an upgrade over the declining skills of a now retired gunslinger. Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I do not have a lot of confidence for the upcoming season.

 

Looks outside- sky is definitely falling

 

I wish Ben would have retired and just started the inevitable rebuild or reload whatever you wanna call it. This upcoming season is going to be rough. It's going to be a 6-10, 7-9 type season. Ben can't throw the ball and it'll take more than a year to fix the run game. The many homers on here still think he's great and that he can take us to a SB. He's the definition of washed up. They'll say he threw 33TDs last year and claim he's top 3 in the league. They'll ignore the fact that he fell off a cliff the last 6 weeks of the season, proving his body can no longer hold up over the course of a season, (one good half in the last 6 games) and he had had multiple turnovers in the first quarter in the playoffs. Ben singlehandedly lost the playoff game against the browns. He's supposed to be a savvy veteran, not making bad throws or throwing straight into the other teams DL and getting passes tipped on every single drive. Now, to wait for the homers responses. The typical "the sky is falling" type comments will be in the thread as well

 

Ben hasn't had a 6-10 season & will get Tomlin better than .500.

 

We haven't even built our roster yet and you don't feel good about the upcoming season?

 

Wish Ben was gone but really hope he sticks it in our face and has a decent season. I'm on the side he won't and I can actually see the Steelers in 4th place in the AFC North. Must admit, deep down, I still have hope for the upcoming season. We could get lucky in the draft.

 

I believe it was a mistake to bring Ben back, but I'm not giving up on the season before we even finalize our roster.

 

I am going to wait till a few games in to see how it goes. WE do owe Ben at least that much. I think retirement was the best option for him but the Man did get us to 3 superbowls. We at least owe him a chance. If he sucks and we suck then hey we get a good draft pick out of it and hopefully can snag his replacement. It sure wasn't going to happen this year with our draft position. Lets also keep in mind Ben just came back from a major surgery in a pandemic where everything was screwed up and different. Yes the odds are not in our favor. Even if he retired we were still screwed this year cause of the cap. If he retired we might have kept Bud Dupree, i personally would rather have Ben back if for nothing else than to make sure we didn't hand out another Bad contract. And I will take the Higher draft pick next year if the sky does fall!

 

I agree 100%

 

Agreed. Except, we don't owe Ben anything. He's been well paid and brought back against some opposition. However, although it may seem him coming back and not ending on a 12-4 campaign, which is still pretty good for as ugly we looked down the stretch, I try to understand the reason why he did. We babble on here like we know what's going on up there and some/all have good insights that are pretty good reading/ information. But, what if, Ben knows something we don't and he feels we can duplicate 2020 wins? I mean, that would explain some things for me. Coaches seem to disappear in college when they know the further looks grim the next few years for whatever reason, i.e. Jimbo Fisher. Ben is back so maybe he knows something I don't. One thing that would make sense is that HE knows he was under more physical handicaps last year then was advertised and will be completely healthy next year. Plus he may know more about what the team will have coming back as well. In reality, I don't know what the hell is going on but hope something good happens between now and August.

 

Ben:

 

I would like to think Ben knows more. But realistically how could he know? he has no clue what the offseason will bring. I think this is another case of a man not knowing when his time has come. I get that totally. Its hard to walk away from what you have known all your life. Compound that with not having the same amount of fame and notoriety anymore. Now further Compound that with possibly not having any clue what you will do with your future after football. Ben has always been selfish and his decision to come back reeks of that to me. But again the Man has been our QB for almost 2 decades and we have had a lot of success with him. So i will wait till a few games and then ill flame him for being the selfish diva he has usually been. Always enjoyed watching him play but he is a selfish Diva. JUst cause i think he's a turd of a person doesn't mean i don't like watching him play. Theres alot of A hole musicians that like like to listen to also! LOL

 

I would have preferred to move on from Ben but now that the decision has been made there is zero point complaining about it.

I would prefer that they invest in the offence during this draft, at least one offensive lineman early and a good running back, not a project 4th / 5th guy. If they can move the ball on the ground and protect Ben a little better the season may not be a lost cause.

Theh have lost a lot of guys on defence, patch it up in free agency once they clear up some cap space and if a couple of guys fall to you in the draft better again.

I have been saying for a while that this upcoming draft is their most important in a long time. They have to find some contributors like they did last year.

 

I am pretty much with this thinking. I have read some comments in different places that him coming back sets us back 5 years, nonsense. The team was going to get slammed by FA losses regardless, could those few million they would have had kept a marginal player or 2, perhaps, but they are not going to be the difference makers in a long term rebuild. I do not necessarily agree bringing him back was the right move, but it was going to cost either way.

 

It's funny you chose that image.

Nobody asked him to put the world on his shoulders. It's pathetic if he thinks he has to.

 

We don't owe Ben anything other than thanks for years of entertainment. I appreciate the years of Ben-ball that gave us some great memories and tons of excitement, some grey hairs, less hair, and some painful facepalms. I wouldn't trade the Ben years for anything. I would love to have more rings, but it was still a hell of a ride.

That being said, Ben should have taken his 12-4 season and turned the team over to whomever they choose to replace him with. Last year proved that he isn't able to run a complete offense because of his physical limitations. To say that he can is ludicrous. For him to think that he can is selfish and delusional.

I don't care how great his elbow feels, how hard he can throw, or how many ice-baths he takes. His knees will not be better. Unless he has bionic knee replacement and becomes the second coming of Steve Austin, he isn't going to take snaps under center. He isn't going to threaten defenses with rpo's or being able to move out of the pocket if it breaks down. Our receivers will still be tasked with getting separation in less than 3 seconds and the mid to long-range passing game will be non-existent.

It's not about him getting better as a QB for next season. It's about him not being able to get physically better and allowing the offense to threaten defenses with options. We will once again be one-dimensional and easy to defend, regardless of how well he can throw.

 

I doubt Ben thinks he has to put the world on his shoulders, lol..........

 

Don't mind him he hates everything about the Steelers.

 

Pretty sure it was 4million. That 4 million might have allowed us to keep Hilton or Williams or whomever. Would have preferred any of those over ben.

 

Right because you're Mr. Sunshine with your constant passive aggressive sh*t.

 

I'm Mr. Sunshine.
Only thing I B!t<h about on the Steelers is T. Edmunds.

 

Hilton got 4 years and 24 million from the Bengals, the Steelers weren't about to give him a contract like that.

 

Funny all these people who are predicting a 6-10 season over several threads when the actual season will be 17 games from now on. Kind of makes them look simple minded with all their boohooing comments.