Agent: Roethlisberger, Steelers in Contract Negotiations

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...erger-contract
Agent of Ben Roethlisberger says contract discussions are ongoing
By Neal Coolong
SPN's Scott Brown quoted Ryan Tollner saying the team and his client are still committed to having Roethlisberger's career end with the Steelers. While the consequences of giving him an extension this year may be too much for the Steelers, both sides have 'a mutual respect,' writes Brown.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN's Scott Brown quoted Ryan Tollner saying the team and his client are still committed to having Roethlisberger's career end with the Steelers. While the consequences of giving him an extension this year may be too much for the Steelers, both sides have 'a mutual respect,' writes Brown.
Ryan Tollner, the agent of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, isn't making predictions, but, according to Scott Brown of ESPN, he's holding true to previous statements that his client wants to retire with the Steelers, and that both sides are committed to a contract extension that would allow him to do that.
It's just a question of when that contract will come.
"There’s been ongoing (contract) discussions for quite awhile," Toller told ESPN.com. "I think from the time we did the first extension there was sort of a plan moving forward. There’s a plan in place, but both sides are pretty committed to doing that privately and not having it be something that’s discussed in the media."
BTSC ran a feature Tuesday highlighting some of the negative consequences that would fall on the Steelers if they elected to sign Roethlisberger to an extension this offseason.
As BTSC's Simon Chester wrote, among his points why Roethlisberger receiving an extension now wouldn't be a wise financial move:
Point 2:
An extension will lower his cap hit and provide space to sign more free agents or extend contracts of others. First, it is very important to note that any extension offered to Ben will have an additional cap charge of $6.795 million against it for the prorated bonus that already exists against his contract in both 2014 and 2015 plus the financials of any new deal. Just because a contract is extended does not mean the old one goes away and the remaining amounts of any prorated bonus continue through the extended years at the pace of the old deal. Unfortunately, thanks to a number of restructures over the years, these numbers are quite high in Roethlisberger's case.
None of this precludes the notion Roethlisberger won't get an extension, nor would it mean the team's decision to not offer one to its franchise quarterback by the start of the 2014 season is indicative of the team's decision to move on from Roethlisberger after his contract expires.
What we know, at least from the public statements from both sides, they've been at work on an extension for a while, and it's possible a deal gets made before this season begins.
Tollner didn't lean one way or another, according to Brown, but did note "there is mutual respect on both parties."