After weeks of speculation, future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday. Reports listed the contract at $14 million for the two-time Super Bowl winner, who was originally scheduled to make $19 million in 2021.
Roethlisberger reportedly agreed to spread the cash payment through 2022 and lower his salary cap hit for 2021 by more than $15 million. Had he stayed on the original deal for 2021, Roethlisberger would have brought a $41.2 million cap hit to the Steelers, making it impossible for the team to add free agent help.
Roethlisberger is one of five players in NFL history to throw for at least 60,000 yards with one franchise. With 60,348 yards for the Steelers, he ranks behind Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Dan Marino in that category.
The 39-year-old threw 33 touchdown passes in 2020 after returning from elbow surgery that cost him most of the 2019 season. His 608 pass attempts in 2020 were the second-most of his career, and Pittsburgh started 11-0 before limping to the finish and losing to Cleveland in the playoffs.
The Steelers can now turn their attention to 19 unrestricted free agents, including injured linebacker Bud Dupree and Roethlisberger’s favorite target, JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Pittsburgh is +350 to win the AFC North, behind Baltimore at +110 and Cleveland at +175. They are +1400 to win the AFC and +3000 to win the Super Bowl.
Brady Rookie Card Sets Sales Record
Less than a month after winning a record seventh Super Bowl, Brady set another record on Thursday as his rookie card sold for $1.32 million.
The signed 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket card sold at an online auction house, PWCC Marketplace, after being graded an eight. The autograph was graded a 10, and the sale shattered the record set by a Patrick Mahomes card in February.
The 2017 National Treasures autographed Mahomes card sold for $861,000 after being graded at a nine. Brady previously held the record as well with a card that sold for $555,988 in January.
Lelands auction house also has a Brady card up for auction, so the record may not last long. The auction has nearly a month left and is already over $700,000 with an 8.5 grade on the card and a nine grade on the signature.
Chiefs Fullback Retires
Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl fullback Anthony Sherman retired on Thursday. The 10-year veteran spent eight seasons with the Chiefs after a 2013 trade from the Arizona Cardinals.
The fullback ran for 73 career yards with 40 of those yards coming in 2017. He caught 66 passes for 552 yards and four touchdowns out of the backfield. Sherman’s only rushing touchdown came in 2017, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2018.
Saints Release Morstead
After 12 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, punter Thomas Morstead has been released. A 2012 Pro Bowl selection, Morstead ranks in the top 10 in NFL history for yards per punt (46.5) and net average (41.7). The Saints set an NFL record in 2020 by allowing just 46 punt return yards in 16 games.
The 35-year-old was the highest-paid at his position in 2020 at $3.9 million. He came back from a back injury and said on Thursday he is not ready to retire.
Morstead executed a perfect on-side kick to start the second half and key the Saints to a Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts during his rookie season.
Despite being released, Morstead will cost the Saints $2 million in dead money on the salary cap as he was set to make $3.5 million, plus bonuses. Blake Gillikin is the only other punter on the Saints roster, and he spent last year on injured reserve.
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