Antonio Brown is the root of the latest off the field storyline in what was a season to forget for the boys in black and yellow. Ownership was unwilling to pay up for star running back Le’Veon Bell over the last few seasons, which caused headaches for everyone in the Steelers organization all the way through the first ten weeks of the season. While James Connor was able to pick up most of the slack, news of whether Bell would return or not clouded the team for most of the season. Many lineman spoke out against Bell and led the team to be at least partially divided.
Now, Antonio Brown is creating waves in Pittsburg. After missing practices during the week, and skipping a team meeting Saturday before a must-win game, Brown was benched on Sunday. He reportedly left the stadium at half-time and did not show up to exit-interviews on Monday.
Brown requested a trade on Tuesday, according to Jason La Canfora:
It appears as if Brown is on the way out. Keeping him around would just create more drama at this point, even as good as he is. Juju Smith-Schuster looks more than ready to take over as the number one, go-to Wide Receiver in Pittsburg. James Washington has impressed in the Steel City, showing promise as a future number two Wide-Out. That said, Antonio Brown is the best Wide Receiver in football and losing him will cost the Steelers offensively next season. Brown is under the Steelers control through 2021, leaving him to the mercy of the Steelers upper-management.
Scott Neville – Co-Owner – WTF Sports