The Facts: By the start of training camp, we might look back at Roethlisberger's retire-or-not-to-retire waffling as a silly storyline. But in Pittsburgh, Steelers brass is taking Big Ben's hints at retirement as a sign that it's time to evaluate the QB position. Asked if Pittsburgh has been considering life after Roethlisberger, HC Mike Tomlin responded, "I think we've been in that mindset for the last several years, that's what this business tells us to be in. ... So yes, we have."
Diehards Line:
Tomlin added, "I think because of (Roethlisberger's) durability and how he plays, I don't know that we have that level of urgency, but we are taking ourselves mentally through the process. Not an easy one, obviously, but it is what it is. It's an element of the business. Guys can't play forever and he acknowledges that and we acknowledge that." Big Ben's durability has masked the reality that the lumbering QB has incurred a laundry list of injuries throughout his career, his latest one a foot ailment that limited him down the stretch in 2016. With Roethlisberger approaching his age-36 season and whispering about retirement, it's only natural that Pittsburgh would look to secure a legitimate franchise quarterback to take up his mantle. It's safe to say they've decided Landry Jones, their fourth-round pick in 2013, isn't that guy.