Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Plans To Play Several More Yars

While all eyes around the Pittsburgh Steelers are focused on the 2014 NFL Draft, franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still awaiting a contract extension.

Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) reacts at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

That is something that should happen soon, although the Steelers could elect to wait until after this season to do so.

However it looks like Roethlisberger plans to be around for the long haul.

While a new era of quarterbacks will be welcomed into the league beginning on Thursday, Big Ben is starting to become one of the more veteran signal callers in the NFL.

While he isn’t young anymore, Roethlisberger has a ton of productive football left in him.

"“I feel like I’m in great shape,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan. “I think I can get five, six, seven more years out of this arm and these legs.”"

That’s great to hear, but also wishful thinking on Roethlisberger’s part.

Roethlisberger just turned 32 a couple of months ago and played every snap last season, an extremely rare occurrence in his career.

Another seven years in the league means he would be playing close to the age of 40, which is doubtful, especially considering the amount of hits he has taken in his career.

The Steelers willingness to turn to the no-huddle offense more during the second half of last season limited the amount of hits Big Ben took and it would likely take something along the lines of keeping him upright very often for him to play seven more years.

Roethlisberger has two years left on his contract, the same amount of year he had remaining when the Steelers made him the highest paid player in franchise history with an eight-year, $102 million contract in 2008.

The Steelers will sign Roethlisberger and he will retire a Steeler.

It’s nice to see that he plans on being around for a while.