Ian Rapaport, of NFL.com, reported Sunday morning that Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is “incredibly frustrated” with the current landscape of the organization and the locker room, and would like to be traded in the offseason. Rapaport also notes that the team fielded offers before this season and may explore again.
Roethlisberger has had notable issues with offensive coordinator Todd Haley and is struggling to find rhythm and success in an offense that has a depleted offensive line, a poor running game, and a considerably less-talented receiving corps than he is used to having. Speculation on social media is that the quarterback asked his agent to leak this news so that he can try to force the Steelers into making big changes instead of trading the captain and most recognized face on the team.
Whether or not that is true, having a star player this frustrated and ineffective while still in the prime of his career is not good for an organization not used to dealing with such troubling times. How the team plays in the second half of the season may determine if Roethlisberger really wants to continue wearing the black and gold or if he would rather spend his remaining playing years elsewhere. Roethlisberger is in tenth year with the team, ninth full year as starter, and is under contract until the end of the 2015 season. He has stated previously that he plans to retire as a Steeler.
Our Derek Markovitz explored this a few weeks ago, as he asked if Roethlisberger would head out to Arizona before he retires. The Cardinals were one of the teams listed in the initial report. Check Derek’s article out HERE
