Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has three years and $46 million remaining on the five-year contract he signed in 2015, but he said Tuesday he did not give team president Art Rooney II a commitment beyond the 2017 season when he informed him last month that he would return for his 14th NFL season.
"I never commit to anyone more than one year," Roethlisberger said after the first OTA of the spring. "That's how we always commit to this sport. If we look past this year we're cheating ourselves and we're cheating other people. We have to give this year everything we have because ultimately what we have is right here and right now."
Roethlisberger contemplated retirement earlier this winter following the 36-17 loss to New England in the AFC championship. He first mentioned the possibility of retiring a few days after the title game when he told 93.7 The Fan that he was going to think long and hard about his future.
"I'm going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options, to consider health and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season _ if there's going to be a next season," he said in his weekly radio spot on the station
Few took Roethlisberger's retirement talk seriously, and he announced April 7 via his Twitter account that he planned to return for the 2017 season. Last week, former Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon told Pro Football Talk Roethlisberger did seriously consider walking away from the game.
When Roethlisberger was asked Tuesday about Colon's statement, he said: "Did you think I was lying?"
But Roethlisberger wasn't much in the mood to answer questions about the details of the process regarding the decision to return to the team. He conducted an interview with Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook earlier this month when he touched on a number of topics, including his dance with retirement. But he had little to say Tuesday when he met reporters for the first time since after the New England game.
_How close did he come to retiring? "Doesn't matter. I'm here now."
_Any concerns about being fully committed after contemplating retirement for such a long period? "No. I'm here on Day 1. You see me here taking every rep I'm supposed to take and then some. I actually took some reps with the rookies today. I'm 100 percent committed like I said I was."
_Why did you come back? "It doesn't even matter. I'm happy to be back with the team. I love this city. I love these guys. I love being out here. Football is a passion of mine. It's what I love to do."
Roethlisberger was more expansive when the topics turned to his teammates and ex-teammates. He learned last week that he would not have tight end Ladarius Green for the upcoming season. The Steelers released Green, who only played in six games last season, with a failed physical designation after he struggled with concussions last season.
"It'll be tough, especially because we were excited about what he could bring ... some of the flashes we saw last year in practice," Roethlisberger said. "It'll be tough because we were just starting to get on the same page. But we have a lot of faith in Jesse (James) and what he can do, and (Xavier Grimble and David Johnson). I think they'll be just fine."
While the Steelers are thinner at tight end, they are loaded at receiver. Tuesday marked the return of Martavis Bryant, who immediately stepped back in with the Steelers after a year-long drug suspension. Bryant joins All-Pro Antonio Brown, slot receiver Eli Rogers, rookie Juju Smith-Schuster, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, Demarcus Ayers and Cobi Hamilton.
"I'm excited," Roethlisberger said. "We have a lot of guys. It's fun to be able to rotate through guys. I want to throw to each one to see what they can do and develop some chemistry, but I also realize my arm won't last that long so it's a fun problem to have right now, but it's early."
