The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Contract talks on an extension for Roethlisberger are in the “preliminary stages,” but both sides are here at the NFL combine and working toward a new deal that could happen soon, according to a source.

Diehards Line: Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, has met with the Steelers during the combine to discuss a new contract that is expected to run at least through the 2022 season. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert, asked the other day about a new deal for Roethlisberger, said on the team’s website, “I’m pretty positive that will happen sooner rather than later.” Roethlisberger, who turns 37 on Saturday, has one year remaining on a contract that will pay him $12 million in base salary and carry a cap number of $23.2 million in 2019, according to overthecap.com, a website that tracks player contracts. While that number doesn’t sound high for a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, consider Roethlisberger was paid $35 million in the first year and $53 million over the first two seasons of the contract he signed prior to the 2015 season.