After having his best statistical season of his career, Ben Roethlisberger was rewarded by being voted to his third Pro Bowl, which will be held in Glendale, Arizona on January 25th.
Unfortunately due to inflammation in his knee, the Steelers franchise signal caller will have to miss the exhibition of the league’s best, and will be replaced by the New Orleans Saints Drew Brees.
The good news is according to Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, he will not need surgery heading into the off-season. In a statement released to ESPN on Friday, Tollner summarized the setback, and indicated there should be no long term issues with the injury.
“Ben was instructed by team doctors to avoid strenuous activity due to inflammation in his knee, thus he will not play in the Pro Bowl,” Tollner said. “His knee will not require surgery and he looks forward to an otherwise healthy offseason to improve with his teammates.”
It seems clear that Roethlisberger, who has one year remaining on his current deal, will be looking for a contract that will pay him upwards of $20 mil annually for at least five seasons. A contract in this range will place him among the highest paid players in the NFL. The Bears Jay Cutler was the highest paid player in the NFL in 2014, with a salary of $17.5 million.
With Roethlisberger looking to cash in with a long term extension this off season after passing for nearly 5,000 yards and leading the Steelers to their first division crown since 2010, it seems like a smart decision to rest and be completely healthy heading into 2015.
