Steelers’ Roethlisberger ponders retirement.
As a general philosophy, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin treats each individual season as a unique entity, with no direct through line from one to the next.
Considering his quarterback’s current state of mind, probably a good idea.
While Tomlin believes the Steelers have a “championship caliber” team a couple days removed from an ugly blowout loss to New England in the AFC title game, his franchise’s most important player isn’t guaranteeing a return in 2017. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Tuesday that he needs time to reflect before coming back for a 14th season.
“I’m going to take this off-season 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,” Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger will turn 35 in March and is under contract through 2020. Knee injuries have forced him to miss time in each of the last two seasons and while Pittsburgh ripped off nine straight wins on its way to the AFC North title and its first appearance in the National Football League’s final four in six years, Roethlisberger wasn’t terribly sharp.
He threw 10 interceptions over Pittsburgh’s final seven games, though the two-time Super Bowl winner didn’t receive much help on Sunday against the Patriots, as dropped passes, a groin injury to running back Le’Veon Bell and occasionally questionable play-calling played significant factors in the worst postseason loss of his career.
While Roethlisberger cautioned he’s “not by any means saying he’s not coming back,” the father of three considered it “prudent” to take a step back before deciding if he has the energy to make another push.
That’s fine by Tomlin, who wasn’t alarmed by Roethlisberger’s admission.
“That’s football,” Tomlin said. “Obviously I’m hopeful that he returns and the potential of his return or not returning will weigh heavily on our planning. That’s life.”
San Francisco keeps searching: San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York is preaching patience as the team’s search for a new coach and general manager enters its fourth week.
York fired first-year coach Chip Kelly and longtime general manager Trent Baalke on Jan. 1 after the team matched the worst record in franchise history with a 2-14 mark.
“We have to make sure that we get the right person,” York said.
York has interviewed six coaching candidates with Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan the only remaining candidate. The Niners will meet again with Shanahan this week but can’t sign him to a contract until after the Falcons play in the Super Bowl.
There also have been nine interviews with potential general managers with Minnesota assistant GM George Paton and Arizona vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough expected to get second interviews this week as well.