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Big Ben irked by Arians' departrue

Upsetting ol' Big Ben remains a trainwreck of an idea.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is agitated over the swift departure of Bruce Arians, who announced his retirement this month after five seasons as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator.

Arians later claimed that he wasn't wanted back by the team, but Steelers president Art Rooney II refused to give him a reason why.

The "it's not you, it's me" line won't fly with a stung Roethlisberger, currently in Hawaii for Sunday's Pro Bowl.

"When I get back, I'm going to go up to Mr. Rooney's office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that's a viable question for him," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday. "He's our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I'd like to tell him where I see us going."

Roethlisberger has looked out for his mentor in the past, lobbying to keep Arians on staff following Pittsburgh's disappointing 2009 season and inviting him to be his guest for Sunday's Pro Bowl. Arians politely declined, and now the two part ways.

"Change is always different," Roethlisberger said. "It doesn't mean it's good or it's bad. You just don't know yet. I think the (Steelers') mind was made up, and B.A. was kind of ready to move on as well."

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