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A16 sports
Tuesday 12 January 2021
End of an era? Steelers facing big questions after loss

By WILL GRAVES surgery, he led the Steelers to an
AP Sports Writer AFC North title and threw it over
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlis- 600 times. Tomlin believes Roethlis-
berger and Maurkice Pouncey sat berger can still play at a high level.
on the bench, their 11th season to- So does the only constant he’s had
gether over. Their future uncertain. in his 14 seasons on the job. The list
Their pain obvious. of factors Roethlisberger will take
The end of the 2020 season wasn’t into account while trying to decide
supposed to come so quickly. Yet whether to return next spring isn’t
it barreled down on the Pittsburgh short.
Steelers from the first snap of a 48- “A lot of praying, a lot of talking,”
37 wild-card loss to Cleveland on Roethlisberger said. “I still have a
Sunday night, the one that Pounc- year left on my contract. I hope
ey sent sailing over Roethlisberg- the Steelers want me back if that’s
er’s head and into the end zone. the way we go.”
Cleveland’s Karl Joseph fell on it The economics, however, are
for a touchdown. The mistakes, tricky. Roethlisberger has a cap
the one the Steelers had either hit of over $41 million next year,
avoided or survived during their nearly a quarter of the entire sal-
11-0 start, rapidly piled up. One Ro- ary cap. The teams the Steelers are
ethlisberger interception became Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) sits on the bench next to competing with in the AFC all have
two. Then three. Then eventually, center Maurkice Pouncey (53) following a 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns in quarterbacks who are far younger
an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.
four. A seven-point deficit quickly Associated Press and — with the exception of Kan-
ballooned to 28. And the optimism sas City’s Patrick Mahomes — far
of an unbeaten run through No- “We are in uncharted territory, to fourth-and-1 at the Pittsburgh 46 cheaper. That flexibility gives them
vember faded into the reality of say the least,” defensive end Cam and down just 35-23, head coach chances to spend money else-
another playoff cameo in January. Heyward said. “Changes have Mike Tomlin opted to punt. where. The Steelers might not have
Three years ago, the Jaguars to be made.” The Steelers (12-5) “I wanted to pin them down and that luxury.
came into Heinz Field and stunned hoped to put off the tough ques- maybe provide a short field for Outside linebacker Bud Dupree,
the AFC’s second seed. This time, it tions about what direction the their offense,” Tomlin said. “I just wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster,
was the resurgent Browns — mak- club will head in 2021 for at least wanted to keep the momentum running back James Conner and
ing their first postseason appear- a month. Instead, they’re here fol- going in terms of field positioning.” left tackle Al Villanueva are all im-
ance in 18 years — who provided lowing a historic playoff meltdown. Like just about everything else the pending free agents, among oth-
the unexpected whipping. Cleve- Cleveland’s 48 points were the Steelers tried at a sparse Heinz ers. The holes on the roster Pitts-
land players ran off the turf shout- most ever allowed by the Steel- Field, it didn’t work. Jordan Berry’s burgh will have to fill next season
ing “Same Old Browns” knowing ers in the postseason. The defense kick hit at the 2 and trickled into the could be many whether Roeth-
they looked anything but while the that led the NFL in sacks for a fourth end zone. Mayfield quickly guided lisberger returns or not. It was a
38-year-old Roethlisberger and the straight year and has a regular-sea- the Browns 80 yards and the deficit discussion they hoped to put off
31-year-old Pouncey pondered son sack streak that dates back to was back up to 19. Roethlisberg- for as long as possible. As Roethlis-
what comes next. 2016 failed to take Mayfield down er’s final pick with 3:16 remaining berger and Pouncey got up, slowly
“I hated that it ended the way it once. “It was all terrible out there,” sealed it. “Obviously you can’t turn walked off the field and into the
did,” Roethlisberger said. “I want- Heyward said. the ball over and it kills your team, tunnel, that discussion is now here.
ed to win it for him.” Asked to clari- The offense that sputtered so much kills your chances,” Roethlisberger “It’s tough to lose guys in our locker
fy what was ending, Roethlisberger during the second half of the year said. The question is what comes room who have done great things
stressed it was just the season. May- didn’t spring to life until the Steelers next? Roethlisberger set an NFL on and off the field,” Heyward said.
be, but there’s a very real chance trailed by 28. By then it was too late. playoff record by completing 47 “And you know, that unknown just
that a major shift is on the way for The closest Pittsburgh got to mak- passes. His 501 yards were the sec- kills me. To squander an opportu-
a franchise that typically does little ing it competitive came on the first ond-most ever in the postseason. nity like that and to know we didn’t
more than tweak. play of the fourth quarter. Facing A year removed from right elbow play our brand of football.” q
Trump to honor Belichick with Presidential Medal of Freedom

By KEVIN FREKING Trump and Belichick have ceremonies have taken
Associated Press known each other for place in private.
WASHINGTON (AP) — several years with Trump Trump has generally avoid-
President Donald Trump before his campaign vic- ed the press since his elec-
will present one of the tory in 2016 reading a let- tion loss.
nation’s highest civilian ter of praise from Belichick Belichick is undoubtedly
honors to Bill Belichick, the at a New Hampshire rally. one of the most success-
football coach of the New Belichick said afterward ful football coaches in
England Patriots and the he was not a political per- NFL history and owns the
only coach to win six Super son and that he had “a most wins among active
Bowl titles. friendship and loyalty to coaches.
The presentation of the Donald.” The Bill Belichick Founda-
Presidential Medal of Free- Trump has selected a string tion also provides schol-
dom is expected Thurs- of sports figures and politi- arship and grant funds
day, a White House official cal backers for the award to help underprivileged
In this Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, file photo, New England Patriots
head coach Bill Belichick yells from the sideline during the confirmed on condition of of late. youth participate in sports
second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles anonymity because they He has often held grand programs.
Rams in Inglewood, Calif. were not authorized to dis- presentation ceremonies Politico first reported about
Associated Press cuss the matter publicly. for the award, but recent the honor for Belichick.q