Steelers/NFL
The Pittsburgh Steelers have begun preliminary talks on a new extension for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told local reporters today.
“When you have two parties that are real interested in getting the same goal achieved it usually goes quicker than not,” Colbert said.
The Steelers hope is to finalize a new deal for Roethlisberger within the next couple weeks and than set their attention to linebacker Jason Worilds on a new long-term deal for Worilds.
Worilds who made $9.5 million in 2014, had an average season with 8 sacks, 16 QB hits and 28 QB hurries. In the Steelers wildcard loss to Baltimore, Worilds was a non-factor with no sacks or QB hits/hurries in the loss.
The soon to be 27 year old is closer to Clark Haggans than James Harrison in his prime but the Steelers continue to believe he is a player that’s ascending.
Worilds last off-season sought a 5 year deal in the neighborhood of $40 million from the Steelers, leading to him playing the 2014 season on the transition tag.
Prior to the Steelers placing the transition tag on Worilds, the Philadelphia Eagles were prepared to sign Worilds and meet his demands, the Worilds camp believes.
