Pittsburgh Steelers Considering Trading Ben Roethlisberger?

Even though Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback (for now) Ben Roethlisberger will not be charged stemming from a sexual assault allegation in Georgia, it looks as though he’s already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion — and perhaps inside the Steelers’ organization.

The Steelers haven’t come out and publicly given any backing to Roethlisberger, and have in fact condemned his actions, but team owner Dan Rooney may have started the writing on the wall when he was asked if he and the Steelers support Roethlisberger.

“I’m not making any comment on that,” was all Rooney would say.

At the very least, it’s putting Big Ben on notice that a trade is certainly a possibility, and could be a clue to other teams that Roethlisberger might be available for the right price.

Rooney, of course, can’t come out and say the team is looking to trade Ben and risk killing his value or creating a rift amongst the team if they’re unable to move him, but this feels like an ultimatum for Roethlisberger to either clean up his act, or he’ll find himself on the first flight to Oakland.

Any team in need of a quarterback will most likely be phoning the Steelers about Roethlisberger, but a deal actually getting done seems unlikely for a couple of reasons: 1) Roethlisberger is more valuable to the Steelers than he is to anyone else, and 2) his off-field baggage and looming suspension will scare off teams willing to pay the ridiculous price the Steelers are likely to place on him.

There’s already talk that the Steelers would want two first-round picks for Roethlisberger, at the very least, but that’s a price most teams would not be willing to pay — mainly because he’s not worth it.

Yes, he has two Super Bowl rings, but the stats simply aren’t there to warrant such a high price tag. A lot of his success, as far as winning games and the Super Bowls go, can be attributed to having a good team around him than it is a testament to his skill as a quarterback.

As much as Roethlisberger would love it, this is not a story that will go anyway anytime soon. The Steelers have shown they’ll ditch a player for far below market value, Roethlisberger should at least be very nervous about his long-term future in the Steel City.