Roethlisberger Reportedly “Frustrated With Direction” of Steelers, Could He Be Traded?

Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

When I read the following tweets from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, I was actually not shocked in the least:

I cannot blame “Big Ben” for reportedly wanting to leave the Steelers and that he is “frustrated with the direction” (via Pro Football Talk) of the team. As a franchise, Pittsburgh is a “sinking ship” right now and the Pro Bowl quarterback deserves better than what he is getting right now from the organization.

From the firing of his offensive coordinator and friend Bruce Arians, to the hiring of Todd Haley to implement a more “ground-based” offense, to the inability to draft competent offensive linemen, to the penchant for drafting “smurfish” wide receivers instead of taller pass-catchers at the tight end and wide receiver spots, I can understand why Roethlisberger would be pissed.

Plus, it doesn’t help that the Steelers are currently in a rebuilding mode, Mike Tomlin appears to have no answers for his team’s decline, the front office and coaching staff cannot identify and develop talent like they have in years past, and the team is already “cap-strapped” in terms of payroll as it is.

While it is only speculation now, the most likely of targets for “Big Ben” would be Arizona. Roethlisberger would be reunited with Arians in the desert, and being in the NFC would mean that the Steelers would only have to face him once every four seasons during regular season play. As far as compensation goes though, it would likely take a couple of first round picks, if not more, to move the two-time “Pro Bowler” and three-time “Super Bowl” winner when one takes into account the hefty price tag which the Redskins paid for the right to draft “RGIII” two seasons ago.

Before they pull the trigger on a potential deal, I just hope that the Steelers’ brass take into account the 19 season gap between Terry Bradshaw and “Big Ben” which featured a cavalcade of mediocre to downright awful signal-callers. Most of all though, I hope that they are able to receive a hefty amount of compensation for one of their best quarterbacks in franchise history.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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