Skip Bayless thinks Ben can play for three more years if he rededicated himself

[hawaiiansteel]

Skip Bayless thinks Ben Roethlisberger can play for three more years if he rededicated himself

Longtime NFL analyst and writer John Clayton was on 93.7 The Fan last week and surprisingly said that he thinks Ben Roethlisberger at the age of 39 will play for two more years.

Most analysts and fans are under the assumption that 2021 will be the final ride for Roethlisberger. But one national sports analyst agrees with Clayton's assessment on Roethlisberger playing for at least two more years, and that's Skip Bayless of FS1. Bayless actually thinks Roethlisberger can play for three more years.

Bayless says he's known Clayton for years and that when he says two more years for Roethlisberger, he fully believes it.

"So, Ben Roethlisberger is 39 years of age, if I'm Pittsburgh, I'm trusting him and I would root for him to play three more years," Bayless said on "Undisputed" earlier this week. "Because I believe if he rededicated, he's capable of playing three more years. Because you know what? He knows how to play that position. He has instincts that are right up there with Brady's except he's got the bigger body and he's gotten away with brushing off pass rushers, creating time and space in the pocket just because he's such a huge naturally strong human being. I'm not talking about weight room strong, it's almost like country strong."

Roethlisberger got major elbow surgery in September of 2019 and Bayless thinks having the second year of recovery might help him in 2021.

"What if it was just the elbow surgery, and you just on sheer rest through the offseason you come back with a stronger arm that you trust more just because time healed it," Bayless said of Roethlisberger's elbow. "Maybe you don't rededicate. Maybe you don't work out any hard than you used to work out, but you always got away with it because you just know how to play the position. His instincts are of the highest order to me. He gets it. He sees it and feels it."

Bayless' co-host Shannon Sharpe just doesn't see a situation where Roethlisberger's arm gets stronger and he pushes the ball down the field. Roethlisberger averaged just 6.3 yards per attempt in 2020, which was the lowest of his career minus the 2019 season when he played just six quarters.

To help the 39-year-old quarterback, Bayless thinks the Steelers need to select a top-tier running back in the draft.

"(Roethlisberger) will be better if they can draft a running back of the highest order," Bayless said. "Like Najee Harris, they have to. It's just sitting on a platter for them. ... Your first priority is to draft a running back. And Najee Harris would be qualified with that pick. It would be worth that pick."

https://www.renegadeblitz.com/post/skip-bayless-thinks-ben-roethlisberger-can-play-for-three-more-years-if-he-rededicated-himself

[NorthCoast]

Unfortunately Bayless has lost his mind. Roethlisberger will not play another season (at least for the Steelers).

[hawaiiansteel]

Unfortunately Bayless has lost his mind. Roethlisberger will not play another season (at least for the Steelers).

what if Ben plays really well this year?

[Flasteel]

Unfortunately Bayless has lost his mind. Roethlisberger will not play another season (at least for the Steelers).

I agree with both Clayton and Bayless in that I do not necessarily feel this is Ben's last ride. The 6.3 yards per attempt was a direct product of the play-calling and had nothing to do with Ben's arm strength. I do believe his deep throws last year were largely off the mark, but in many cases the ball was overthrown...again nothing to do with arm strength. At the midway point of the season, Ben was in the conversation for MVP. If it wasn't for the Alex Smith story, he likely would have been comeback player of the year.

I simply do not see the overall digression in Ben's game to say that this will be his last season. I do agree that his play seemed to tail-off towards the end of the year, culminating with the 4 picks against Cleveland in the playoffs. But none of us know if that was the beginning of the end or if it had something to do with recovery from surgery, the complete lack of a running game, the piss-poor play-calling, or any other factor. What if he has a good to great year and the Steelers go deep into the playoffs? How do we feel about him retiring then?

I say wait and see, but by no means do I think this will necessarily be Ben's last season in the black and gold.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I agree with both Clayton and Bayless in that I do not necessarily feel this is Ben's last ride. The 6.3 yards per attempt was a direct product of the play-calling and had nothing to do with Ben's arm strength. I do believe his deep throws last year were largely off the mark, but in many cases the ball was overthrown...again nothing to do with arm strength. At the midway point of the season, Ben was in the conversation for MVP. If it wasn't for the Alex Smith story, he likely would have been comeback player of the year.

I simply do not see the overall digression in Ben's game to say that this will be his last season. I do agree that his play seemed to tail-off towards the end of the year, culminating with the 4 picks against Cleveland in the playoffs. But none of us know if that was the beginning of the end or if it had something to do with recovery from surgery, the complete lack of a running game, the piss-poor play-calling, or any other factor. What if he has a good to great year and the Steelers go deep into the playoffs? How do we feel about him retiring then?

I say wait and see, but by no means do I think this will necessarily be Ben's last season in the black and gold.

Agree Fla. Ben was playing well to start the season. It got to a point where I think he became a victim of his own success. Once he became the short pass guy he couldn't go away from it. On top of it all it kept him clean. Then two things happened 1) the OL completely disintegrated and 2) the entire team went in the collective dumper. Neither gave him much confidence to hold on to the ball longer.

Give him more time, add some innovation to the offense, watch the drops decrease, watch a RB go for more than 2 yards every once in awhile, Ben gets some more confidence and steps into his throws, and success follows. If this happens, and I don't think it's a stretch, no need to hang 'em up after 2021.

[NorthCoast]

Arm strength wasn't a question. Accuracy was not good. He was the 21st ranked QB in the NFL in 10-20 yd range.... behind Andy Dalton . He was 25th in the NFL >20 yds passing.

And he can't move away from harm any more in the pocket. His knees are cooked. Did you watch him attempt to recover the snap in the playoff?? Some of you need reminded how bad things were.

[Steelerphile]

Ben is not Brady. He is not at that level of finding the best passing option and delivering an accurate ball on time. Brady is special. Ben still has some abilities at passing. But I think that losing mobility and his ability to extend plays makes him a slighty above ordinary qb at best. I don't think he will or can rededicate himself to another level.. IF the Steelers can establish a good running attack, that could make a difference. But I am not sure that even a top RB will make that big of difference. The teams with good rushing attacks usually have a QB who has running ability or another rushing threat.

An upgrade at OL could help. We'll see this season. I expect the Steelers to draft to help the running game, with a RB or OL. If we don't see Roethlisberger or team success go to another level, I think Big Ben is done. The Steelers would be foolish to continue coming back with him.

[Buzz]

Ben 'till he's 50, baby!

[NorthCoast]

Ben is not Brady. He is not at that level of finding the best passing option and delivering an accurate ball on time. Brady is special. Ben still has some abilities at passing. But I think that losing mobility and his ability to extend plays makes him a slighty above ordinary qb at best. I don't think he will or can rededicate himself to another level.. IF the Steelers can establish a good running attack, that could make a difference. But I am not sure that even a top RB will make that big of difference. The teams with good rushing attacks usually have a QB who has running ability or another rushing threat.

An upgrade at OL could help. We'll see this season. I expect the Steelers to draft to help the running game, with a RB or OL. If we don't see Roethlisberger or team success go to another level, I think Big Ben is done. The Steelers would be foolish to continue coming back with him.

Someone who gets it. Roethlisberger's game has come and gone. No more throws on the run extending plays. No more standing in the pocket to take a beating. An upgraded line might help but I'm not expecting some miracle rebirth.

[Northern_Blitz]

Unfortunately Bayless has lost his mind. Roethlisberger will not play another season (at least for the Steelers).

Yep. Hopefully this year is more than just a victory lap.

[Blitzburgh]

Ben is not Brady. He is not at that level of finding the best passing option and delivering an accurate ball on time. Brady is special. Ben still has some abilities at passing. But I think that losing mobility and his ability to extend plays makes him a slighty above ordinary qb at best. I don't think he will or can rededicate himself to another level.. IF the Steelers can establish a good running attack, that could make a difference. But I am not sure that even a top RB will make that big of difference. The teams with good rushing attacks usually have a QB who has running ability or another rushing threat.

An upgrade at OL could help. We'll see this season. I expect the Steelers to draft to help the running game, with a RB or OL. If we don't see Roethlisberger or team success go to another level, I think Big Ben is done. The Steelers would be foolish to continue coming back with him.

I must admit, I was disappointed when Ben didn't even make an attempt to recover Pouncey's bad snap in the playoff game against Cleveland.

[pfelix73]

what if Ben plays really well this year?

Yup. which, i think is going to happen. I can very easily see Ben being here way past 2021. In fact. I expect it, unless they win the SB, then he could go out like Bettis.

[feltdizz]

Yup. which, i think is going to happen. I can very easily see Ben being here way past 2021. In fact. I expect it, unless they win the SB, then he could go out like Bettis.

I also think Ben will play a few more years.

[NJ-STEELER]

I wouldn't bet on it

but I do think we will see this year if the arm is better another year after surgery/rehab. if it is, i think he'll want to play after 2021

[Steel Maniac]

Arm strength wasn't a question. Accuracy was not good. He was the 21st ranked QB in the NFL in 10-20 yd range.... behind Andy Dalton . He was 25th in the NFL >20 yds passing.

And he can't move away from harm any more in the pocket. His knees are cooked. Did you watch him attempt to recover the snap in the playoff?? Some of you need reminded how bad things were.

Your right... now that a little time has passed, people are romanticizing about Ben. He was baaaad at the end.

And Ben didn’t want to have anything to do with that bad snap.