After it was revealed Antonio Brown would meet with Steelers owner Art Rooney II, the mercurial superstar took several shots at the organization on Saturday in attempting to explain the reasoning for wanting to be traded.
Answering a few questions from Twitter users, Brown addressed his issue with Mike Tomlin. Their relationship sustained a significant setback in Week 17, when a Brown practice dust-up led to a season-finale deactivation. They are not believed to have spoken since.
“After the coach tell the team I quit while nursing some bumps then invite me to watch the show with same guys thinking I quit i can not stand with that!” Brown said, on Twitter (sic). “I’m the bad guy doe we miss post season think about it.”
Prior to reports coming out about the events that led to Brown’s current situation, he appeared on the Steelers’ injury report. During his postseason news conference last month, Tomlin addressed whether or not he believed Brown did quit on his team.
“The bottom line is we were playing a significant game and he didn’t do a good enough job of communicating or being available in the hours leading up to that performance,” Tomlin said in January. “Obviously, there are some things within that you can infer.”
Over the past 40-plus days, Brown has requested a trade and been involved in a domestic dispute. He’s denied any wrongdoing in connection with the incident.
The 31-year-old wide receiver then replied to a question about again wanting a new contract (Twitter link). Brown’s four-year, $68MM deal — the second-highest AAV among receivers — has three seasons remaining. Seeking another new deal, along with the off-field incident, would stand to further limit his market.
Brown’s Saturday salvos also included one at Ben Roethlisberger, even though the receiver said there is not a current conflict between he and his longtime quarterback. Roethlisberger criticized Brown during an in-season radio interview, and although Brown denied in the moment he was miffed about it, he voiced frustration about it now.
“No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect!” Brown said, on Twitter. “He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game. #truth.”
Brown did also confirm he does plan to meet with Rooney (Twitter link). As has been the case throughout the offseason, much more will surely come from this ongoing saga.
Can someone please interpret his comment about Tomlin for me? I only understand English.
Not that hard to interpret, it says Tomlin told the team he quit on them while AB was nursing some bumps, then AB got invited to watch the Bengals game with the teammates that thought he quit on them.
Reading his quotes hurt. Need to take aspirin now…
Damn, can’t read this.
Did you know, in Washington state, my wife (9th grade teacher) cannot correct grammar anymore? They says it’s not pc
It’s a shame someone can attend a university and talk like that
Well… at least he didn’t wear orange Jumpsuits like a lot of Bengals players. Imagine how they talked.
Is “bad guy doe” a new breed of deer in PA?
Being from Pa, this is hilarious
You win
That’s funny!!
Wow it’s almost like everything I’ve been saying about Ben and him is right! It should be noted that he also tweeted this:
“Not for the money its for the love of the sport ! The commitment to win relentlessly consistently passionately ! Plus I made 70 million it’s public record not to be cocky just truth! Time to play for my own Team AB84 the family !” so not about money like some on here have said.
It also doesn’t matter how many Super Bowls Ben has won or how long he’s been apart of the team, you don’t publicly bash teammates no amount of time or rings gives you that privilege you have a problem? Keep it in the locker room.
He keeps running his mouth he is hurting his value. What was rumored as a number 1 or 2 in return continues to drop.
I’m sure he’s really broken up about the Steelers getting a lesser draft pick for him.
If it’s too low they won’t trade him
ViV If he wants out of Pittsburgh badly enough then he should shut his mouth. If his value is too low the Steelers likely won’t trade him. They won’t just dump him for nothing. The more he hurts his value the less of a chance he gets his trade.
He doesn’t care what a team he is leaving gets in return. In all honesty, it is better for him that the return is minimal because then his new team will be in a better position.
This wouldn’t be a situation if Ben learned to keep his mouth shut, like AB said Ben feels like he can call out anybody. Notice how majority of QBs don’t call out their teammates to the media like Ben, and the whole Ben has the right to cause he has rings and been with the team x amount of years is crap. Brady doesn’t do it, Peyton didn’t do it, Brees doesn’t do it.
So brown didn’t do anything wrong?
I remember Brown threw a fit on the sideline when JuJu got a TD instead of him. Maybe roethlisberger got tired of having to constantly baby him?
Okay so he threw a fit? Did he run to the media and bash Ben or Juju? Nope
What has Brown done wrong? Please tell me, notice how trade requests aren’t that big of a deal in every other sport? No ones saying “he signed a contract he should have to honor it” or any of that bull when it comes to other sports so why is football different? He’s done everything he can to distance himself from the team and make it be known he doesn’t want to be there absolutely no issue with that.
Skipped practices, didn’t show up to team walk through, shows up expecting to play and pouts when he’s benched and leaves mid game. This was all in a must win game. Doesn’t answer any calls/texts afterwards either
thankfully he used #truth
All 3 of them , Big Ben, AB and L Bell … need to shut up and play. The pro athletes world these days is so twisted. All a bunch of Whiny overpaid clowns.
How many CRIMINALS have played for Pittsburgh?? I guess Bengals are overpaid CRIMINALS??
His comments sound more like a whiny baby than a grown up. He no-shows the whole week of practice leading up to the week 17 game without notifying the team for what he describes as “bumps” and just expects to play? Also, describing your QB as having an “owner” mentality is what all teams want. They want a leader out of the most important position on the team. I’m a Steelers fan but good riddance.
Just to set the record straight, he told the Steelers he was injured, so they told him to meet with the team doctors and get and MRI/X-Ray. He refused to show for that because he was lying about being hurt. This guy is an idiot. Don’t trade him. Just make him inactive every single week. Cap hit is the same.
If the Steelers don’t get a solid draft pick or 2 back, I like that approach. Steelers owe him nothing
So… now he no shows THE WHOLE week? I stopped reading after THAT lie! LMAO
Troll being a troll. Doesn’t matter if it was the whole week or even a day, a professional should be accountable for his actions, and bottom line is AB hasn’t been and has just called out others. Thanks for the stop in though.
Bingo
Hahaha… I’m a troll for correcting your obvious LIES?? That’s funny. He didn’t show up for a month. There you go, now it sounds better! LOL!
As much as I’d love to see Mike Tomlin fired for basically being a glorified Mike McCarthy, and inept coach, I cannot blame him one bit for how he dealt with AB. AB needs to hit the road – the guy’s a total clown and his career will be over in less than 3 years now. See ya. I root for JuJu.
Reading his tweets near gave me a stroke
Ownership mentality? This coming from a guy who arrives at training camp in a helicopter and doesn’t even stay on site like the rest of the team during camp. AB mad cause JuJu got all the shine last year. Thanks of course to AB but nonetheless he’s still petty
Ben doesn’t stay on site
What was Brown’s college degree in? English?
I think it was Honors Program at South Central Eastern Upper Peninsula Michigan A&M or wherever he went, because Florida State wouldn’t even offer him a scholarship because he was too crazy even for them.
It sure wasn’t human relations.
He got a degree in CASH…
Antonio Brown would get along great with my 5 year old. They talk the exact same way.
As long as he keeps doing his talking on the field, some team will continue to put up with him. There is a double standard for stars and AB pushes that to the absolute limits.
Exactly….dude is one of the hardest workers in the game that doesn’t drink or smoke. Been in the SAME organization for 9yrs, but finally gets tired a diva QB that’s known for gaining 20-30 pounds during the season. He’s Definitely not hurting his value, but Steelers owner bringing up trading him is only thing hurting his value