Ben Roethlisberger is frustrated. The Pittsburgh Steelers are not having the season they expected to be having and as a result, hostility is brewing on the field and in the locker room. The Steelers may have won Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but as they sit 3-6 on the season, questions are rising about the future of certain franchise players in the organization. Roethlisberger is the first up.
The quarterback is shooting down all rumors that the Steelers may explore a trade for a younger quarterback this offseason. NFL.com reported earlier Sunday that the organization was expecting the veteran to ask about trade options. Steelers President Art Rooney II issued a short statement following the report saying the claims were "erroneous" and no sort of deal would be taking place. Roethlisberger echoed that belief.
"It's ridiculous," Roethlisberger said, via ESPN.com. "This is where I've always wanted to be. I don't want to play for anyone else. I'm a Pittsburgher-this is my home. I'm proud to raise my kids here. I don't want to play for anyone else."
The quarterback's agent then went on the defense stating that this report was extremely inaccurate and that Roethlisberger had every intention of retiring as a member of the Steelers, not another team. The report is not too much of a shock considering the past few years have been a bit off for the franchise, but Roethlisberger is the face of the team and he intends on staying that way for the foreseeable future.
"It is one of the most BS stories that I've ever heard of," Roethlisberger said after Sunday's win over the Bills, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I've always said that I want to be a Steeler for life. I love it here. I'm happy here. I don't want to go anywhere. No one in my family, our camp, agents, no one has ever said anything about that. Wherever this was made up from is totally false."
Most teammates agree that Roethlisberger will play out his entire career with the team. Defensive end Brett Keisel told reporters that the trade rumors are just a part of the business and only happen when teams are not playing their best. So, Steelers fans can rule out any chance of someone like Johnny Manziel coming to join the team.
