PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says his contract situation won't be a distraction as he prepares for the 2014 season.
Roethlisberger told The Associated Press on Saturday he plans to play in Pittsburgh as long as team president Art Rooney II will have him.
Rooney announced Friday the Steelers were not going to pursue a new deal with Roethlisberger until 2015. Roethlisberger has two years remaining on the $102 million contract he signed in 2008.
The 32-year-old Roethlisberger has a base salary of $12.1 million this season, a relative bargain compared to some of his contemporaries.
Roethlisberger says he doesn't worry about the money and understands the Steelers have needs in other areas as they try to bounce back from consecutive 8-8 seasons.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
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