Anybody got change for $102 million?

In case you just woke up (or in the case of BNG, just got out of some computer training), Big Ben Roethlisberger became Big Bank Roethlisberger and can safely hang in the company of Sultans and Emirs, and Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

But with great paydays, come great expectations. You got the money, now, bring some more of these ...

Send us your thoughts on the contract: steelersnation@post-gazette.com

But before you fire off a litany about how athletes are overpaid, we'll concede the point: they are. So talk thoughtfully about this contract, in that context. And as always, include your name and where you live.

Your thoughts:

• "A dream come true for both Ben and his fans. Lucky for Ben---AND lucky for Steeler's Nation. P.S. Tom Brady-Eat Your Heart Out!" -- Michelle M. Wieczorek, Erie

• I love this deal. After enduring the times of Malone, Stewart and Maddox, we finally have a franchise QB who is a true leader and will keep us in a lot of games. I'm glad he will be in the Black and Gold for the foreseeable future. Go Steelers!" -- Scott Oliver, Killeen, TX

• "Does the contract have a clause that provides Ben with free Laundry detergent? He'll need it cause without a line in front of him he'll get that uniform awfully dirty!" -- Mike McCorkle

• "Despite his accomplishments Big Ben is never given the respect he deserves compared to the Tom Bradys of the world. Now, if we can just get an offensive line, we'll be set." -- Gina Pickle, Edwards, CO

• "It's about time! What were they waiting for? He's the best quarterback we've ever had including Bradshaw. Now let's get an offensive line to protect him and we will win many more Super Bowls. Go Big Ben!" -- Lou Thrush, Belton TX

• "The Steelers have a QB that most teams in the NFL would love to have. He has poise, leadership, and guts. He is a natural at the position, where many 'highly ranked' prospects may look good on paper, Big Ben looks and plays well on the field. It is a great day to see that he will be around for many more years to come. If he can stay healthy behind our line, he will continue to keep us in games. Unlike many of our QB's, since Bradshaw, Big Ben is gives the team and the Steelers Nation a belief that we can do it every single week. Ben will only get better, and yes, the Steelers did a great job in signing him." -- Brian Lucas, Monrovia, MD

• "It was a contract that had to be done. Based off of his performance and his accountability I would argue that he is the third best QB in the league behind Brady and Manning. They needed to secure him and the future. Now they can focus on other areas of the team. Signing Alan Faneca to a big contract was not and should not have been a concern. Unfortunately past can not cloud the future in terms of contracts. Ben is young, at a key position and teh salaries of QBs will only grow in the coming years. Alan was a great Steeler, but age is a factor. Hopefully Ben will lead us to many more opportunities, but we still need more than a QB to win." -- T.J. Kukla

• "I like Ben and I like what he is and does for the Steelers. I totally agree with him getting this contract. We win and die by the way he plays. I do hope we keep him upright for the next years, and I think they will. He is a good person, I met him at the US Open last summer in Oakmont (actually slipped on a hill and crashed into this Really Big guy and it was Ben) talked to him for a few seconds and wished him luck. GO BIG BEN!" -- Fred DiGregory, Washington D.C.

• "Considering what is going on in the free agency market, Ben's contract is not all that crazy for a guy that has proven he can play. unfortunately, one guy is not going to do it for the Steelers and as things stand right now with known and expected off seasons loses, the Steeler as a team will be worse, not better, next season. if you take a look at their schedule which looks quite formidable, an 8 and 8 record and no playoffs is a real possibility." -- Terry Hammer

• "I hope the new money makes him through the ball or run faster. Because it appears there is no money to put quality protection around him. I've watched too many games where Simmons and Mahan (a.k.a, the sieves) give sacks by the millions. We actually gave Simmons a contract extensions and he misses more blocks than a model misses meals. With the tough schedule next year, Ben is going to need a masseuse on the sidelines." -- Mark A. Newsome

• "Well, I just hope they also took out a big insurance policy on him. Considering the O-line will be even poorer this season than last, the Rooney's may have just bought a $102 million floor mat for the opposing teams defense to clean it's cleats on." -- Steve Beall

• "Does this contract hamstring the salary cap for the Steelers in the long term?" -- Chad Wakefield

Here's what they're saying on the Blogosphere:

• Mondesi: Big Ben is the Monopoly man

• Steeler Gab: Steelers spend when it's right

• PittGirl: Ben doubles down?

• Black & Gold Blog: That settles that

• Sportsocracy: Ben gets paid

• Behind the Steel Curtain (Who picked the same Photobucket picture as us. Clearly They are brilliant.)

• SCST: Better Ben than Faneca

• MVN: Ben's contract worth more then Cleveland. The whole city.