If last week’s stories regarding the possibility of trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were leaked by the Steelers in order to get Roethlisberger to commit to taking less money to stay with the team, the strategy has worked.
“Obviously, I would do whatever I needed to do,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday, via KDKA-TV. “But that’s something that can be discussed when the time comes. And that’s not really my thing. I play football. I have people that deal with that stuff, so I’ll do whatever it takes to stay here and to be a part of this team and to help this team out.”
That’s the first time Roethlisberger has made such a commitment, despite previously commenting several times about his contract -- and generally pleading ignorance on such matters.
Even though Roethlisberger has uttered the magic words aimed at helping the Steelers reduce his $18.895 million cap number for 2014 without paying him $20 million per year, Roethlisberger is bracing for the next wave of reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
“[Jerricho Cotchery] asked me today what’s the new rumor this week,” Roethlisberger said, “so we’re always excited to see what Ian’s gonna make up this week.”
Eventually, reporters likely will be reporting the very real fact that Roethlisberger has a new contract that will keep him in Pittsburgh indefinitely into the future.