Ben Roethlisberger is done talking about the trade rumors that picked up Sunday after NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers would request a trade from the struggling team. Everyone from the quarterback to his agent to the team president has denied this with multiple statements, but still Roethlisberger continues to get asked about his future.
Outside of calling the entire trade rumors report "b.s." Roethlisberger said he would rather retire before he played football for another team other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I'd retire before I'd accept a trade," Roethlisberger said, via CBSSports.com. "I mean, it would have to be something really, really unbelievable for me to even consider it. I have talked to my wife about that. I don't want to be anywhere else. This is where we want to be."
Rapoport has gone on to defend his story noting that neither side has demanded a trade nor have they explored one, but that sources "close to Roethlisberger" say the quarterback is frustrated with the direction the team is headed in as they sit 3-6 on the season. Roethlisberger reportedly felt the need to apologize to the Rooneys for what he calls ridiculous stories that hold absolutely no truth.
"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.
Roethlisberger is vowing to never quit on the team no matter how bad things get. He told reporters that he stands by his commitment and he was nowhere near jumping off the ship with the Steelers, no matter if the team wins another game or not.
