On Wednesday afternoon, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster amusingly disagreed with recent rumors that he wanted to play for another team in a larger market.
Former NFL punter Pat McAfee breached the subject on-air on The Pat McAfee Show this morning. He said that Smith-Schuster allegedly came out and said that he wanted to be traded to a different team. McAfee says that the wide receiver wanted “to go to a major market to build his brand.”
The NFL punter turned sports analyst mentioned Los Angeles as a possible destination. Additionally, he also said Smith-Schuster could be interested in the New York Jets because of quarterback Sam Darnold. The pair played together in college at the University of Southern California.
Yet, Smith-Schuster seemed to shut down the alleged rumors altogether this afternoon. He came across the clip of McAfee talking about him, and made sure to chime in. The Steelers wide receiver retweeted the video and joked that his “sources” disagreed with the analyst’s assessment.
“Sources tell me this is completely 100% false lol,” Smith-Schuster responded on Twitter.
It doesn’t get much more definitive than that, coming straight from the player himself. There are plenty of other issues within the Pittsburgh organization going forward this offseason. That includes whether or not their longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play next season or retire. However, it sounds like their star wide receiver may not jump ship to a larger market. Smith-Schuster is now a free agent after four seasons in the NFL, so only time will tell.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Shares Heartfelt Message After Playoff Loss
JuJu Smith-Schuster sent out a sincere message to Steeler Nation following the team’s recent playoff loss that ended their season. Fans will be happy to hear that the wide receiver hopes to be wearing black and gold next season and beyond.
On Monday, he tweeted that he’s a “proud STEELER” and that he hopes to return to the team after free agency. He was honest about the team’s poor playoff performance, but said he wants to be part of Pittsburgh’s success going forward.
“JuJu Chapter 4 is in the books. It’s a blessing to be here, and as always, I have to thank God for allowing me to be in this position, I am so thankful,” Smith-Schuster posted on Twitter.
“Any time you end your season short of a championship, from Pop Warner up until the NFL, it always stings and this is no different. We deserved this L, and just were nowhere close to what we needed to be. The grind continues,” he added.
“Pittsburgh, I am proud to represent and fight for this city every time I step on the grass. Every time I wear the black and gold, I know I’m not just wearing a team’s jersey, I am wearing a tradition, a city, a culture, a brand, and a global fan based on my back and I am so thankful for that privilege! I am a proud STEELER through thick and thin. I would love to be back for more, to be part of the group that brings this organization where it belongs. Thank you for the support and having my back,” Smith-Schuster’s message concluded.