Steelers Set Deadline for Roethlisberger Decision
Reports out of Pittsburgh indicate that a solution to the Ben Roethlisberger returning or retiring question will be decided soon. Steelers president Art Rooney II even went so far as to release a statement this week and to speak publicly while setting a deadline.
Rooney declared that March 17 is a hard deadline to have a decision as that day starts the league’s new year. In addition to the new year beginning, Roethlisberger, 38, is due to receive a $14 million bonus if he is on the Steelers roster on March 19.
Pittsburgh will spend the next two weeks attempting to restructure the future Hall of Famer’s contract. Roethlisberger’s current deal hits the team with a $41.25 million cap hit for 2021, which makes it virtually impossible for the team to make any free agent moves.
The Steelers sit $19 million over the cap floor of $180 million, and they are hoping for a higher final cap for the league. If a deal isn’t struck and the Steelers release the two-time Super Bowl champion, he will likely have his fair share of suitors. Roethlisberger threw for 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2020 while completing 65.6 percent of his passes.
The Steelers, who lost in the playoffs to hated-rivals Cleveland, are +3000 to win the Super Bowl next season. They are +1400 to win the NFC and +375 to win the NFC North. Both the Browns (+175) and Baltimore Ravens (+105) have better odds to win the division.
Giants Solder is Ready to Play
Veteran left tackle Nate Solder is returning to the New York Giants after sitting out the 2020 season with family health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Giants will attempt to get the two-time Super Bowl champion to restructure the deal that made him the highest-paid lineman in 2018.
Solder left the Patriots for the Giants before the 2018 season and signed a four-year deal worth $64 million. He is scheduled to count for $16.5 million against the cap in 2021, and the team saw rookie first-round pick Andrew Thomas start 15 games in Solder’s spot in 2020.
The Giants are +6600 to win the Super Bowl next season and +2800 to win the NFC. They are +400 to win the NFC East behind the Dallas Cowboys (+105) and Washington Football Team (+375).
Patriots Trio Returns
Perhaps no team was hit harder by COVID-19 opt-outs in 2020 than the New England Patriots. Not only did they see Tom Brady leave for Tampa Bay, but Bill Belichick had to do without linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Ching and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon. Now all three are ready to come back and help the Patriots return to the top of the AFC East.
The Patriots, who went 7-9 in 2020, are +500 to win the division next year with the Buffalo Bills (-150) and Miami Dolphins (+200) ahead of them. They are +2000 to win the AFC and +4000 to win the Super Bowl.
New England led the NFL with eight opt-outs last year and also lost starting wide receiver Julian Edelman to a knee injury. Edelman played just six games in 2020 and is currently rehabbing his knee with hopes of being ready for the 2021 season opener.
Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and betting pick previews at NJ SportsBook.