The Pittsburgh Steelers, with a Hines Ward roster-bonus deadline fast approaching, have decided not to keep the veteran receiver, the NFL Network has reported, citing unnamed sources.

Ward, who lost his starting job in 2011, was scheduled to make $4 million in the last two years of his contract but has said he was willing to take a pay cut.

"I don't normally like to respond to rumors, but as I've said all along, I want to finish my career with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Ward posted Saturday on his Facebook page, referring to reports of his possible retirement.

Ward reiterated he's already told the Steelers he's willing to work with them on altering his deal so he can remain with the team.

A decision is required in March to satisfy a clause in his contract. ESPN.com earlier had reported that the decision was required by March 1, but the exact date of the clause in Ward's deal is unclear.

"I plan on playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and going from there," Ward said Thursday during Super Bowl week.

Asked at the media center in Indianapolis

if he wanted to play three, four or five more years, Ward laughed and said, "I don't know about that long."

Ward, who turns 36 next month, became the eighth player in league history to reach 1,000 career receptions in the regular-season finale against Cleveland. He and Jerry Rice are the only players in league history to reach 1,000 receptions and win multiple Super Bowls.

Yet Ward's role within the offense diminished as Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders passed him on the depth chart and Mike Wallace became a Pro Bowler.