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Steelers say Roethlisberger's contract will be addressed after season

Steelers president Art Rooney II says the team will not begin working on an extension for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger until after the season.
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Ben Roethlisberger has two years left on the eight-year, $102 million contract he signed in 2008, but Steelers president Art Rooney II says the team will not begin working on an extension until after the season. 

Rooney said the decision to wait on an extension was motivated by the number of other expiring contracts Pittsburgh has, as well as its salary cap situation.

"I talked to Ben, and then we talked with his agent Ryan Tollner about where we are and the fact we intend on addressing Ben’s contract situation after the season, so that we could address a number of players who were going into their last year in 2014," Rooney told Steelers.com. "I think Ben understands that’s our intention and the way we’d like to proceed. I think we had a good conversation.”

Roethlisberger will make $12.1 million this season and $11.6 million in 2015 under his current contract. 

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Rooney said in January that the team wants Roethlisberger to retire as a Steeler, but Rooney was noncommittal about the timeframe for an extension. 

Roethlisberger, 32, was a first-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2004. He has won two Super Bowls with the team and holds a number of franchise passing records. 

Roethlisberger threw for 4,261 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season as the Steelers went 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. 

- Dan Gartland