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Is Ben Roethlisberger Going to Retire?

Is Roethlisberger calling it quits?

Man, that’s a hot headline we’re throwing out there and the quick answer is “no.” Ben Roethlisberger isn’t going to retire, but he’s thinking about it and that should worry Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Not for 2017, but it’s an acknowledgement that the writing is on the wall and the Steelers really need to starting thinking about their quarterback of the future.

Roethlisberger is about to turn 35, he’s won two Super Bowls, played in three, was the rookie of the year in 2004 and is undoubtedly going to the NFL Hall of Fame when he hangs up his helmet. He’s married now with a couple of kids. He’s thinking about his future. This is not great news.

“I was talking to my wife about it last night and I’ve talked to my agent about it and Coach (Tomlin) about it,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan Tuesday. “I’m going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options, to consider health and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season, if there’s going to be a next season, all those things. I think that’s, in my point of my career and my age, that’s the prudent and smart thing to do every year.”

And, again, that doesn’t mean he’s going to retire now. Roethlisberger is justifiably in the dumps after losing the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots in embarrassing fashion. The Steelers were outplayed, but more importantly, out-coaches and Roethlisberger is right to look at the upcoming 2017 season ending in much the same way.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, Tom Brady has made a career of carving up the Steelers’ style of defense, but there’s no guarantee the teams will meet up in the playoffs at all. The Miami Dolphins are finally on the cusp of being worth a shit and a new coaching regime in Buffalo could create a vastly different AFC East than the Pats have dominated for the last decade and a half.

The Steelers have made it to three Super Bowls in that span, mainly because they didn’t have to play the Patriots in the playoffs. There’s no reason to believe it can’t happen again. The shame is if the Pittsburgh coaches would actually develop a real strategy to attack the Patriots instead of “doing what we do,” they could and should beat them. Ben can’t do it all by himself.

Roethlisberger completed 64.4 percent of his passes this season for 3,819 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 picks.

Beyond that, it’s time to look at drafting the next Ben Roethlisberger and developing him in this offense under Roethlisberger. Is there a guy like that in this coming draft? One that the Steelers have an actual chance at getting? One that could actually turn into an NFL quarterback?

Miami’s Brad Kaaya looks like a potential third rounder. Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly could probably be grabbed somwhere in the fourth through sixth rounds. They’re both worth the picks.

Browns lock in Jamie Collins 

Jamie Collins might not be going to the Super Bowl with the Patriots, but he is getting paid. The Cleveland Browns and Collins have agreed on a four-year, $50 million contract extension that should hopefully begin the foundation of a new era in Cleveland.

Entering this offseason Collins was one of the few must-keep players on the Browns’ roster. They had plenty of salary cap to spend. The Browns acquired Collins from the Patriots this season for a compensatory pick. He’ll be the main cog in the implementation of new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ defense.

49ers freezing ticket prices

Looking at dwindling crowds thanks to years of team mismanagement, the San Francisco 49ers have decided to “freeze” ticket prices over the next two years in an effort to get more fans out to the stadium.

You know what helps with that? Not sucking.

“We are announcing that 49ers season ticket pricing will be frozen through the 2018 season,” the 49ers said in a letter to season ticket holders. “Invoices for your 2017 season tickets will be made available to view and pay online in the coming weeks.”

Season tickets for 49ers’ games range from $850 to $3,750  and that doesn’t count your personal seat license, some of which cost as much as $80,000.

To make a wager on Super Bowl LI, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

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