The Steelers’ options may be narrowing. More teams are either bowing out of the Antonio Brown sweepstakes or not too serious about a push to acquire the All-Pro wide receiver.
After reports indicated the Broncos and Eagles were not going to make proposals, the Cardinals, too, will not enter the mix, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Suitors do remain, however.
The Raiders are the team most consistently linked to staying in this pursuit the whole way, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Washington has also shown interest, though its cap situation ($16.9MM in space) obviously limits the franchise’s ability to take on Brown’s contract. Washington’s front office is also believed to be divided on Brown.
As for the Jets’ interest: it depends. Mike Maccagnan said he would probably contact the Steelers about Brown, and Rapoport notes the Jets are in the mix. The team had previous done internal work on a possible Brown offer. However, the Jets’ entrance into this derby may be cautious, with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweeting Gang Green does not have strong interest in trading for Brown.
New York has the most cap space of any team connected to Brown, at $102MM-plus, and could accommodate a new contract. But the soon-to-be 31-year-old wideout’s odd offseason may make a long-term investment difficult, especially considering the Steelers are set to eat $21MM-plus in dead money two years after authorizing a Brown extension.
The Raiders, however, hold more than $72MM in space and are desperate for receiver help. Their three first-round picks also puts them in position to outmuscle other buyers, but this might not be an extensive market.
If Raiders give up a first for him they are the worst front office in the league. I don’t even think he is worth a second given his behavior through this process. That interview where he said teams have to play by his rules should be a major red flag. If he can be had for a 4th or 5th though….why not?
He won’t be had for that. It will get ugly but Pittsburgh would rather offer him a spot on the bench should he show up.
Lmao no, the damage is far too much to even consider bringing him back and he has no interest in playing for them. Did you not read the article yesterday? They would rather get a 7th than cut him and get nothing that absolutely applies to keeping him and having him sit on the bench they want at least something for him
He wouldn’t be sitting on the bench he would be sitting home at least for next year
No. If brown shows up, he gets paid. Brown will show up. Like in week 17.
Like he did this past season?
Not if its one of the late first. The odds of getting a better player than AB with that pick are extremely low
Why not? Because they’re gonna bring in a bunch of young guys & the roster thing you can do is have a guy in the locker room who is going to be a distraction & bad example as you try to teach them what it takes to be a good team.
He is saying what he is saying so he could be released and free to negotiate with who he wants
That plan will backfire because if the Steelers don’t get a deal they can live with he will be on the Steelers roster
I wish the Steelers would get rid of Ben I am tired of his nonsense. The so called leader. You never seen Farrior, Heath, Hines, Hampton, Troy, Faneca, Dawson, etc act like him
I won’t shed a tear for Tomlin either when he leaves but that’s another story.
People on here are actual idiots I swear WHY WHY WHY would they still want him on their roster? There’s been reports that they’d rather get almost nothing than nothing for him. If you think what he’s said recently is bad I can promise you if he’s still on the roster it’s gonna be way way way worse. When it comes to sports you do not bring baggage or drama into the next season, what good does it do the team? We sure got him guys! Got nothing for him and he’s at home still talking about how bad our organization is.
Having him sit on the bench and releasing him, which is what the article from yesterday is referencing, are two COMPLETELY different things. Forcing Brown to sit and watch offers the Steelers a moral victory, where is they release Brown, they let him win. He can either play football or not. It’s up to him. But he doesn’t make the rules, the team does, and if he needs to rot on the bench to learn that, it’s fine by the Steelers and their fan base.
Only it’s literally the same by cutting him they get nothing, by keeping him on the roster they get nothing. People on here need to get it through their dense head the Steelers will NOT keep AB and force him to sit, he will 100% get traded. So just stop cause you sound incredibly dumb
Because calling everyone dumb and spouting the same point over and over makes you seem any smarter? Unless you’re a part of the Steelers organization, you don’t know a thing about what the Steelers will or won’t do. It’s okay to have your own opinion, but you can’t just say everyone else is dumb because they disagree with you. The Steelers organization is a business, and they will do what’s best for their long-term views. Is getting a 7th round player that you’re likely going to cut anyway worth trading a star? You tell me
They do get some cap relief by cutting him. They will still have the $20M in dead cap space due to his upfront money but they do save some cap space by cutting him.
They don’t get cap relief at all if they cut him after June 1st the cap hit gets spread out over 2 years instead of the hit all this year but at that point what good is the saving of money it would be hard to use most good FA would be signed by then and at that point most guys available would be available for suspect reasons
They don’t get relief. Any receiver taking his spot will cost atleast half of the savings.And it’ll only be around half,if he’s replaced by a day 3 draft pick or a rookie free agent.If they drafted a wr in the 1st, the pick would cost more than the cap savings.
You tell them. Truth.
– L. Bell
Ben isn’t the problem, it’s Brown’s attitude. Feeling entitled will get him nowhere. Respect is something earned. Acting like a spoiled child doesn’t help his cause.
Theres rumblings of a Bell, Brown, Murray “super team” so trade Carr for a 1st probably Washington’s and send one of 24, 27 or 35 for AB. IF AB is their guy, I don’t think Raiders fans would even mind that much at least they’d have a reason to go to the games next season.
lol. What rumblings?
In his tum tum apparently.
Just google Brown Bell and Murray there’s several articles. But based off the majority of people on here I’d be surprised if any knew how to use google including you.
Google is less credible than traderumors. I could google how to teach a cat to swim and find 10 sites Truth. Your better than this.
He and Bell are both self destructing their careers… Brown will be … Emanuel Sanders light … without a strong QB. Same for Bell .. He will be somewhere between Carlos Hyde and Lamar Miller .. it’s a joy to watch
I wonder if the Steelers would be up for a straight up one for one trade. I could see the Jets offering Darron Lee for him.
He’s the NFL’s version of Jimmy Butler. He’s definitely talented, but most teams don’t want the drama and a cancer in the locker room. Teams shied away from Dez Bryant for the same reason. He’ll get traded but I don’t think anyone is gonna give up a lot to get him. Teams know they have the advantage because Pittsburgh has to get rid of him.
Well stated
Seems like Brown isn’t too serious about being traded with his comments. He thinks he can make the Steelers trade him to New England, but they’ll force him to play or sit out next season rather than give him away or send him to the Patsies.
That’s exactly why the Steelers would keep him home because it would prevent AB from going to a team that has the ability to hurt them
Especially while they would still be paying him for the year. You mean to tell me a 7 th rounder would be worth watching AB play with a team that goes on to play Pittsburgh in the playoff
Lining up againts the best WR in football that you are still paying ?
Why is there so much drama in Pittsburgh? I understand that players want to make the most money they can, but why is this team so in the spotlight with these issues?
Money is part of it but really this is all about certain players trying to bring the Steelers culture out of the dark ages. Rooney has created a situation where everyone has to watch their back and no trust or respect exists. He has a set of rules for those that go along and drink his kool-aid and different rules for those who resist. It’s no wonder some players have no interest in being a part of this kind of culture.
They get banged with dead cap space either way, I’d love to see them just make a point and suspend him for the year for conduct detrimental to the team. He sees himself as an all time great, take away a years worth of stats. Threaten his hall of fame credentials with a year long suspension. How many hall of famers were suspended for a year by their teams? Forget about “f.u. trades”, give him the ultimate f.u. and take his helmet away
Who are the three new teams on brown! Except the raiders, jets and cardinals