Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s representatives and team general manager Kevin Colbert had initial dialogue geared toward a new contract.

Colbert made the admission to reporters Tuesday, several weeks after Roethlisberger said he was ready to discuss his next deal.

Roethlisberger, who is entering the final year of his contract, did not participate in the Pro Bowl but shared the passing title with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Roethliberger had a career best 103.3 passer rating with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Several quarterbacks — Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears, Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions, Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals and Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers — have signed lucrative deals in the past two years that pay an average annual salary that exceeds Roethlisberger’s scheduled 2015 salary of $11.6 million.

Roethlisberger turns 33 in March and his salary cap figure is over $18.3 million. He tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards.

“Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later,” Roethlisberger said last month.

Roethlisberger apologized publicly for his play in the 30-17 wild-card playoff loss at Heinz Field last Saturday, the first home defeat in the postseason against the Baltimore Ravens in his career. He left the game in the fourth quarter after a hard hit from outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw that kept him out of the Pro Bowl in Arizona.

Roethlisberger has made his reputation in the postseason with two Super Bowl rings in 11 seasons since he was drafted in the first round out of Miami (Ohio), and owner Art Rooney II said he wants Roethlisberger to retire with the Steelers.

Age is not necessarily a restriction to a $100 million deal. Peyton Manning signed a five-year, $95 million deal at age 36 in March 2012. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady averages more than $14.1 million salary on a five-year deal that expires after the 2018 season. Brady led the Patriots to a fourth Super Bowl ring in 14 seasons and was 37 years old when he hoisted his fourth Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 1.