Rooney: ‘Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading QB Ben Roethlisberger’

Earlier today, it was reported the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would seek a trade during the offseason. Big Ben’s representatives have since denied the report, as have the Steelers themselves.

Steelers President Art Rooney II had this to say on the team’s official website:

"Contrary to erroneous reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have no plans to do so."

In response to the Steelers, an Rapoport of NFL Network, who reporter Roethlisberger would seek a trade, had the following to say, via Twitter:

"What Steelers denied, I did not report."

The Steelers have denied Rapoport’s report that they will trade Big Ben, but that is not what Rapoport actually reported. He said that Roethlisberger is “incredibly frustrated” with the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers and will seek a trade, not that the team intends to trade him. In fact, Rapoport said that the team would not trade Roethlisberger unless they found another franchise quarterback.

While it seems like everyone is confused on who does or doesn’t want to trade Ben Roethlisberger, it is looking unlikely at this point that he will be traded this offseason whether he wants to be or not.