Contract Talks Between Steelers & Ben Roethlisberger Are “Progressing”

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told reporters on Wednesday that contract talks with QB Ben Roethlisberger are “progressing,” per Aaron Wilson.

• Colbert added that there is no timetable for a deal to get done with Big Ben.

Colbert confirmed last week that the two sides had begun “preliminary” contract negotiations and said that he expects a deal to eventually get done.

“It could happen quick. It could take a while,” Colbert said, per Mark Kaboly. “…Ben is going to be a better quarterback down the road than he has to this point.”

There has been talk that his next contract could leave him among the highest paid quarterbacks in the league with an annual salary of close to $20 million per year.

Roethlisberger, 32, still has one year remaining on his eight-year, $102 million contract that includes $33.2 million guaranteed. He is set to earn a base salary of $11.6 million in 2015, which is a far cry from the type of money less accomplished quarterbacks are making right now.

This season, Roethlisberger threw for a league-leading 4,952 yards while completing 67.1 percent of his passes to go along with 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 3 quarterback in the league out of 39 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding contract talks between Roethlisberger and the Steelers as the news is available.