Ben Roethslisberger claims he approached the Pittsburgh Steelers about taking a pay cut to help their cap situation. 

Roethlisberger recognized that his $41.25 million cap hit was untenable, and he asked the front office for a pay cut so it could fill the roster holes around him.

"It was my idea," Roethlisberger said Tuesday, speaking publicly for the first time since that postseason loss. "I told them I want to help the team out however we can, and so I went to them and told them that I would do whatever I could to help the team sign the guys that are going to help us win football games. ... In order to do that, to get guys here, I felt that it was necessary to do that."

Roethlisberger reduced his salary by $5 million.