Colbert Non-Committal on Ben Return; Fans Rejoice

[zeke5123]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

[K_C_]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

His “meh” game against the Browns was better than Ben’s “shitty” turnover filled game VS the Browns one week later though.

So.....there’s that.



Again, nobody’s saying Rudolph’s the answer long term or that he’ll ever come close to the highs Roethlisberger once reached, but it seems to me that even the front office seems more than a little concerned about Roethlisberger and his capabilities of winning at a high level going forward.

....and they’re clearly making that known.

But it seems the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers.

Man.....this is sure gonna be interesting to say the least.

[zeke5123]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

His “meh” game against the Browns was better than Ben’s “shitty” turnover filled game VS the Browns one week later though.

So.....there’s that.



Again, nobody’s saying Rudolph’s the answer long term or that he’ll ever come close to the highs Roethlisberger once reached, but it seems to me that even the front office seems more than a little concerned about Roethlisberger and his capabilities of winning at a high level going forward.

....and they’re clearly making that known.

But it seems the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers.

Man.....this is sure gonna be interesting to say the least.

The front office isn't making that know. The front office said Ben says he wants to play, we are considering our options because the cap hit won't fly. That is a contractual point (i.e., we like Ben but not at 40m). It was BS reporting by a BS reporter.

Also, unlike you I do my best not to make analysis off of one game.

[K_C_]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

His “meh” game against the Browns was better than Ben’s “shitty” turnover filled game VS the Browns one week later though.

So.....there’s that.



Again, nobody’s saying Rudolph’s the answer long term or that he’ll ever come close to the highs Roethlisberger once reached, but it seems to me that even the front office seems more than a little concerned about Roethlisberger and his capabilities of winning at a high level going forward.

....and they’re clearly making that known.

But it seems the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers.

Man.....this is sure gonna be interesting to say the least.

The front office isn't making that know. The front office said Ben says he wants to play, we are considering our options because the cap hit won't fly. That is a contractual point (i.e., we like Ben but not at 40m). It was BS reporting by a BS reporter.

Also, unlike you I do my best not to make analysis off of one game.

I was talking about the last 6 games or so of Roethlisberger's season. And it was troubling to say the least.

If you're talking about the one game that Rudolph played damn well in (even according to those who hate him here and there are several), sorry those beautiful deep balls sure didn't look like luck to me. To play that well against a desperate team who had to win to make their first postseason since fucking Millard Fillmore was president ( or at least it seemed like it!) there's nothing wrong with simply saying the guy played a really good game. To come in cold having not started all year, he was impressive. That isn't earth shattering news. It's reality.


Nobody's saying Rudolph should be the guy to replace Ben Roethlisberger. Nobody.

But again, I'm far, far, far more concerned about Roethlisberger going into next year, then I am about Mason Freaking Rudolph.

We'll find out if the end of last season and Ben's shittiness was due to his supporting cast and coaching, or if it were on Ben himself.

[zeke5123]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

[K_C_]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

I think if both stayed healthy and started ALL of next season, the Steelers would likely go 6-10 against a far more difficult schedule with Rudolph at QB.

With Roethlisberger? I'll put the Steelers at 9-7. But 8-8 wouldn't shock me in the least.

I think a lot of folks here are going to find out that Ben isn't the Ben they believe him to be anymore.

Next season is going to be very, very difficult.

Oh and I'd like to add, I believe Roethlisberger gets beat to shit physically next year and doesn't come close to starting 16 games.

[jewelsongs]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

[955876]

I wrote this exact thing on Twitter.

I can't wait for the Rudolph era to begin..And for Ben to be starting for the SF 49ers! LOL...

I wonder how much San Fran will enjoy the 4 picks he'll throw if they make the playoffs?

Have you watched how SF runs their offense? It is actually coordinated and has purpose. Plays set up other plays later.

They blend the run & pass really well and also incorporate diversity within their run game.

None of which we do in our telegraphed do what we do just try to stop this 2 yard crosser on 3rd & 12 cluster fuck.

IF Ben was in that offense and did exactly as they wanted he’d likely look better than he has here of late.

I personally think Ben pretty done. However, he has plenty of arm left that in a capably schemed offense could work still.

Ben + Tomlin + whichever OC is calling Tomlin’s attrition offense flat out doesn’t work.

Ben running an offense like SF and doing so as it is scripted & intended would help.

Watching Ben play football in Tomlin’s offense is like watching someone trying to swim upstream with one arm tied behind their back.

Ben needs a coach that’s going to say ummmm we need you under center Ben in order to execute this. We need you to execute that fake better to sell this.

Hey Big guy, it’s 4th & inches, please put your head down and fall forward.

Ben + Tomlin isn’t working.

[955876]

I cannot believe how many people outside our fan base and across the league actually think he’s a great coach.

So true. Wife’s brother was in town from out of state this weekend and haven’t seen him for a few years.

He brought up Ben. Soooo what you guys going to do with Ben?? That guy is done. He is missing wide open receivers. He’s throwing picks etc etc etc.

I was like ya, but none of that really matters as long as that dipshit Tomlin is in charge?

His eyes bout popped out of his head. Huh??? What??? Are you crazy???

Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the league. Everyone thinks that he says. Nobody talks shit about Tomlin he says.

Outside this fan base he is looked at as top tier.

I said dude you don’t watch the Steelers and only feel that way because of the narrative out there.

Watch the man coach weekly for long enough and you’ll eventually figure out he’s a fraud.

[DP39]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

His “meh” game against the Browns was better than Ben’s “shitty” turnover filled game VS the Browns one week later though.

So.....there’s that.



Again, nobody’s saying Rudolph’s the answer long term or that he’ll ever come close to the highs Roethlisberger once reached, but it seems to me that even the front office seems more than a little concerned about Roethlisberger and his capabilities of winning at a high level going forward.

....and they’re clearly making that known.

But it seems the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers.

Man.....this is sure gonna be interesting to say the least.

As someone that (for years now) has been disappointed with Ben by the feeling he doesn't outwork the elite QBs to reach his fullest potential, the bolded is not what I've recently read here. Of those here that want Ben back, it seems most think he'll still be better than what we have behind him (or could bring in with a very limited cap) and that they feel he deserves a farewell season, in front of fans. It also seems most here want/expect him to rework his cap hit/contract in some positive fashion.

Sorry, but I don't remember seeing that - "the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers." That's my take anyway.

[R_S]

Paul Alexander does make some good points.

Paul Alexander doesn’t know crap about football. A QB like Ben can play in any system Mason F Rudolph can play in, with any supporting cast, and he’ll win more games doing it.

Well that retort is not relevant to his comment. IF in fact Ben does not want take snaps under center, run play action or do a simple qb sneak, then Ben certainly is the problem. It has nothing to do with whether he can play in any system but is he willing. Seems he's not from the outside looking in. Skinny, 43 year old Tom Brady runs QB sneaks for 2 yards. If Ben doesn't want to, he's a pussy. And IF he would gladly do it, but doesn't because a coach doesn't want him too, then he's a pussy.

[zeke5123]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

Well, there is a 20m cap hit if Ben is cut. So the real question is Mason + the delta between what Ben would agree to play for and 20m v. Ben.

If that delta is 20m? Maybe. But 5m? No way.

[zeke5123]

I can't wait for the Rudolph era to begin..And for Ben to be starting for the SF 49ers! LOL...

I wonder how much San Fran will enjoy the 4 picks he'll throw if they make the playoffs?

Have you watched how SF runs their offense? It is actually coordinated and has purpose. Plays set up other plays later.

They blend the run & pass really well and also incorporate diversity within their run game.

None of which we do in our telegraphed do what we do just try to stop this 2 yard crosser on 3rd & 12 cluster fuck.

IF Ben was in that offense and did exactly as they wanted he’d likely look better than he has here of late.

I personally think Ben pretty done. However, he has plenty of arm left that in a capably schemed offense could work still.

Ben + Tomlin + whichever OC is calling Tomlin’s attrition offense flat out doesn’t work.

Ben running an offense like SF and doing so as it is scripted & intended would help.

Watching Ben play football in Tomlin’s offense is like watching someone trying to swim upstream with one arm tied behind their back.

Ben needs a coach that’s going to say ummmm we need you under center Ben in order to execute this. We need you to execute that fake better to sell this.

Hey Big guy, it’s 4th & inches, please put your head down and fall forward.

Ben + Tomlin isn’t working.

The whole "under center" thing is a bit blown out of proportion. Key in my mind was less about whether playing out of shotgun or under center and more whether the Steelers were trying to attack or "stay on schedule."

Seems that when Ben was calling the plays in no huddle, there was more "attacking" which (i) added some more splash plays and (ii) open up cheap throws underneath.

Seems when we were trying to "stay on schedule," it was difficult because the defense was sitting on everything underneath.

[K_C_]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

His “meh” game against the Browns was better than Ben’s “shitty” turnover filled game VS the Browns one week later though.

So.....there’s that.



Again, nobody’s saying Rudolph’s the answer long term or that he’ll ever come close to the highs Roethlisberger once reached, but it seems to me that even the front office seems more than a little concerned about Roethlisberger and his capabilities of winning at a high level going forward.

....and they’re clearly making that known.

But it seems the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers.

Man.....this is sure gonna be interesting to say the least.

As someone that (for years now) has been disappointed with Ben by the feeling he doesn't outwork the elite QBs to reach his fullest potential, the bolded is not what I've recently read here. Of those here that want Ben back, it seems most think he'll still be better than what we have behind him (or could bring in with a very limited cap) and that they feel he deserves a farewell season, in front of fans. It also seems most here want/expect him to rework his cap hit/contract in some positive fashion.

Sorry, but I don't remember seeing that - "the vast majority here expect a huge year for Ben and that he’ll really show the naysayers." That's my take anyway.

I'm one of the people that, from the earliest we've known of this possible schism between the front office and Ben (some believe there isn't any schism but they definitely aren't sucking Ben's dick and begging him back and praising him anymore up one wall and down the other) that said I DEFINITELY want Ben to have his farewell tour. I have said I wanted Ben back......for a final season....oh and that Ben needs to understand THIS IS IT. If he wants to continue playing after 2021, it needs to be elsewhere.

I want the guy to have his farewell tour and have said so numerous times.

...but the posts I've seen after that definitely seem to be saying that things are going to go VERY WRONG after Ben leaves and that hurrying him out the door would be crazy. I don't give a fuck enough to start combing threads for each post, but they're there. Make no mistake, the vast majority of folks here seem to think we will still be contending next year with Ben Roethlisberger under center.

.....okay more realistically, in shotgun.

I believe the Steelers will either finish 3rd or 4th in the division next season and I will definitely put that on record.

[955876]

I wonder how much San Fran will enjoy the 4 picks he'll throw if they make the playoffs?

Have you watched how SF runs their offense? It is actually coordinated and has purpose. Plays set up other plays later.

They blend the run & pass really well and also incorporate diversity within their run game.

None of which we do in our telegraphed do what we do just try to stop this 2 yard crosser on 3rd & 12 cluster fuck.

IF Ben was in that offense and did exactly as they wanted he’d likely look better than he has here of late.

I personally think Ben pretty done. However, he has plenty of arm left that in a capably schemed offense could work still.

Ben + Tomlin + whichever OC is calling Tomlin’s attrition offense flat out doesn’t work.

Ben running an offense like SF and doing so as it is scripted & intended would help.

Watching Ben play football in Tomlin’s offense is like watching someone trying to swim upstream with one arm tied behind their back.

Ben needs a coach that’s going to say ummmm we need you under center Ben in order to execute this. We need you to execute that fake better to sell this.

Hey Big guy, it’s 4th & inches, please put your head down and fall forward.

Ben + Tomlin isn’t working.

The whole "under center" thing is a bit blown out of proportion. Key in my mind was less about whether playing out of shotgun or under center and more whether the Steelers were trying to attack or "stay on schedule."

Seems that when Ben was calling the plays in no huddle, there was more "attacking" which (i) added some more splash plays and (ii) open up cheap throws underneath.

Seems when we were trying to "stay on schedule," it was difficult because the defense was sitting on everything underneath.

Taken all by itself maybe. Taken along with all the other aspects of QB play that Ben seemingly does less of (sneaks, rollout sometimes, move the pocket, take snaps under center, run play action etc) it doesn’t seem to be overblown.

I’m not saying he need to morph into a running QB. I’m simply saying a couple designed rollouts, move the pocket a little etc helps.

How many batted balls did we see down the stretch?

Other teams coaches recognized Ben is going to take snap and fire. So they told their
players to get their hands up.

We countered by continuing to swim upstream with one arm tied behind our backs.

A simple move of the pocket cools some of that. Or hey, if the man can lumber for a couple of yards any longer how bout more planned pump fakes?

[zeke5123]

Have you watched how SF runs their offense? It is actually coordinated and has purpose. Plays set up other plays later.

They blend the run & pass really well and also incorporate diversity within their run game.

None of which we do in our telegraphed do what we do just try to stop this 2 yard crosser on 3rd & 12 cluster fuck.

IF Ben was in that offense and did exactly as they wanted he’d likely look better than he has here of late.

I personally think Ben pretty done. However, he has plenty of arm left that in a capably schemed offense could work still.

Ben + Tomlin + whichever OC is calling Tomlin’s attrition offense flat out doesn’t work.

Ben running an offense like SF and doing so as it is scripted & intended would help.

Watching Ben play football in Tomlin’s offense is like watching someone trying to swim upstream with one arm tied behind their back.

Ben needs a coach that’s going to say ummmm we need you under center Ben in order to execute this. We need you to execute that fake better to sell this.

Hey Big guy, it’s 4th & inches, please put your head down and fall forward.

Ben + Tomlin isn’t working.

The whole "under center" thing is a bit blown out of proportion. Key in my mind was less about whether playing out of shotgun or under center and more whether the Steelers were trying to attack or "stay on schedule."

Seems that when Ben was calling the plays in no huddle, there was more "attacking" which (i) added some more splash plays and (ii) open up cheap throws underneath.

Seems when we were trying to "stay on schedule," it was difficult because the defense was sitting on everything underneath.

Taken all by itself maybe. Taken along with all the other aspects of QB play that Ben seemingly does less of (sneaks, rollout sometimes, move the pocket, take snaps under center, run play action etc) it doesn’t seem to be overblown.

I’m not saying he need to morph into a running QB. I’m simply saying a couple designed rollouts, move the pocket a little etc helps.

How many batted balls did we see down the stretch?

Other teams coaches recognized Ben is going to take snap and fire. So they told their
players to get their hands up.

We countered by continuing to swim upstream with one arm tied behind our backs.

A simple move of the pocket cools some of that. Or hey, if the man can lumber for a couple of yards any longer how bout more planned pump fakes?

Well that goes back to my point. When it seems Ben was calling plays, the passes weren't "snap and fire." He would bring out the famous pump fake, etc. I don't think you need a QB under center to attack; I think you need to attack to attack. Tomlin is always most comfortable playing attrition style because he thinks it limits mistakes and protects his defense. But what it does is magnify the cost of mistakes and puts your defense in key situations.

The Steelers defense is at its best when it can attack without having to worry about the run. Tomlin's offensive strategy doesn't allow that.

[955876]

Well that goes back to my point. When it seems Ben was calling plays, the passes weren't "snap and fire." He would bring out the famous pump fake, etc. I don't think you need a QB under center to attack; I think you need to attack to attack. Tomlin is always most comfortable playing attrition style because he thinks it limits mistakes and protects his defense. But what it does is magnify the cost of mistakes and puts your defense in key situations.

Oh I agree.

As I said, Ben is clearly near the end but he’s closer to the end playing for Tomlin than competent coaches.

Put SF’s offensive coaches on our sidelines when the team was loaded with talent and our results would be quite different I think.

We play two teams each time we step on the field. The opponent and our own system.

[bradshaw2ben]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

[K_C_]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

Which vet back up QB, specifically?

I say this because when Ben went down, they added NO veteran backup and went with Mason and Duck.

Being that Mason is now most certainly a "veteran" and they have Haskins who was a first rounder just a few years ago and who they're going to try and rehabilitate and they obviously have Dobbs who they like well enough to make sure he got snaps during the Cleveland game late in the year....so I'm not sure they make a move on a veteran QB should Ben retire.

I believe that had the FO not had faith in Rudolph to be Ben's backup, then that "veteran QB" would have been added ages ago.

Instead....they add a project with first round upside in Haskins to challenge Mason.

[jewelsongs]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

I don't think Dobbs will take that much to sign.

[zeke5123]

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

I don't think Dobbs will take that much to sign.

Okay. So now you have 4m and change. Do you think Ben is better than Rudolph + 4m and change?

[Scunge]

If Ben retires I don't see the Steelers signing a veteran QB at all for the 2021 season.

Rudolph will be entering his 4th season, he has started 9 games the past two seasons.
Dwayne Haskins is a former first round pick who has started 13 games the past two seasons for Washington.

Rudolph would be the starter and Haskins would be the backup.

Why would they go out and sign some veteran QB for $5 million? Who doesn't know the system?

I think that is delusional thinking, the Steelers are clearly showing what their contingency plan is, they plan on rolling with Rudolph and Haskins. I don't think they would rule out drafting a QB in the first round this year if somebody fell.

So, if the Steelers moved on, parted ways with Ben they would STILL have $19 million to use to keep the remaining team together because in their eyes they have their short term #1 and #2 QBs already on the roster, no need to sign any free agent vet QB.

You may not like that idea, but you should get used to it, make your peace with it because that appears to be the Steelers plan.

[K_C_]

If Ben retires I don't see the Steelers signing a veteran QB at all for the 2021 season.

Rudolph will be entering his 4th season, he has started 9 games the past two seasons.
Dwayne Haskins is a former first round pick who has started 13 games the past two seasons for Washington.

Rudolph would be the starter and Haskins would be the backup.

Why would they go out and sign some veteran QB for $5 million? Who doesn't know the system?

I think that is delusional thinking, the Steelers are clearly showing what their contingency plan is, they plan on rolling with Rudolph and Haskins. I don't think they would rule out drafting a QB in the first round this year if somebody fell.

So, if the Steelers moved on, parted ways with Ben they would STILL have $19 million to use to keep the remaining team together because in their eyes they have their short term #1 and #2 QBs already on the roster, no need to sign any free agent vet QB.

You may not like that idea, but you should get used to it, make your peace with it because that appears to be the Steelers plan.

Hear, hear!

[anpsteel]

The really annoying thing is the revisionist history going on. Ben was an MVP contender through 10 weeks. Now there are some morons who believe Mason Rudolph is better after a "meh" game against the Browns.

Keep in mind that while Ben wasn't great the final number of weeks there was also some bad cases of the drops that would've turned a couple of those into decent games.

Real annoying case of recency bias going on here.

Not sure where the revisionist history is.

Ben sucked most of the season. He managed to keep the turnovers to a minimum, but they certainly weren't scoring a bunch of points or moving the ball effectively.

So... The normal "bad" Ben didn't show up until the playoffs, but prior to that, we had just plain old crummy unproductive Ben.

[DP39]

If Ben retires I don't see the Steelers signing a veteran QB at all for the 2021 season.

Rudolph will be entering his 4th season, he has started 9 games the past two seasons.
Dwayne Haskins is a former first round pick who has started 13 games the past two seasons for Washington.

Rudolph would be the starter and Haskins would be the backup.

Why would they go out and sign some veteran QB for $5 million? Who doesn't know the system?

I think that is delusional thinking, the Steelers are clearly showing what their contingency plan is, they plan on rolling with Rudolph and Haskins. I don't think they would rule out drafting a QB in the first round this year if somebody fell.

So, if the Steelers moved on, parted ways with Ben they would STILL have $19 million to use to keep the remaining team together because in their eyes they have their short term #1 and #2 QBs already on the roster, no need to sign any free agent vet QB.

You may not like that idea, but you should get used to it, make your peace with it because that appears to be the Steelers plan.

In his recent PC, KC stated that their philosophy is to always have a veteran backup QB in the room with a young starting QB or to have young backup QBs in the room with a veteran starting QB.

I guess the real question is whether the FO views Mason as a veteran QB yet? As conservative as they are, I would guess not. If my guess is correct, they would normally go get a veteran backup QB if Ben moves on. Their current huge team FA player dilemma, even with the extra cap relief from Ben leaving, could prevent/change that norm, though.

Edit: I guess they could view Dobbs as that vet QB, as they view him to have a high football IQ, although he's only 6 months older, I think.

[Charles Demarr]

KC...Do you think it is likely that Mason Rudolph is better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point in time? Simple question.

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

No way, they would roll into the season with Rudolph, Haskins and someone like Dobbs.

[Jizz Mop]

Maybe we could get Duck back

Losing Ben isn’t the end of the world....it would just be another excuse as to why we didn’t win SB

But...

“Excuses are tools of the incompetent.” - Mike T

[RemoAZ]

If Ben is gone, we won't be good enough with Rudolph or anyone else on the roster to win anything. With the defense we have, we won't be bad enough to get a high pick either. That would make the goal mediocrity. Oh wait. Mediocrity and non-losing seasons is pretty much the same thing. So we're good.

[bradshaw2ben]

This is a terrific question. Of course Mason isn't better than Ben. But an equally good question (since football is a team game) is "Is Mason plus whomever we can retain with the money we save by moving on from Ben better than keeping Ben?" In my opinion, that is a much harder question to answer.

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

No way, they would roll into the season with Rudolph, Haskins and someone like Dobbs.

This is presupposing Haskins makes the team... no sure thing. Even so, Dobbs is still going to get in the order of $1M/per and Ben's re-worked deal might have him within a million of that. Is it worth dumping Ben before he's done so you can save $1M? And making your team worse in the short-term? That seems weird to me.

[jewelsongs]

If Ben "retires", they'll immediately spend at least as much for a vet QB backup as they would spend on Ben.

I don't think Dobbs will take that much to sign.

Okay. So now you have 4m and change. Do you think Ben is better than Rudolph + 4m and change?

You get $19M if Ben retires. They can get Ben down to $4M if they extend his contract with voidable years, but we get the rest of the cap hit next year. In my earlier question, I am considering the whole $19M. If I get Dobbs for $1.5M, I have $17.5 Million to sign Bud. I am fine either way, but it is something to think about.