Antonio Brown - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

January 2nd, 2019 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not only did the Steelers produce a six-Pro Bowler team that just missed the playoffs, they are dealing with another soap opera-esque plot development involving a superstar player. Antonio Brown has been unhappy for a while, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and a Steelers source informed him the situation has “gotten worse” in 2018.

Reports Brown went AWOL on the Steelers last week have now led to teammates doubting if he was legitimately injured. Some, per NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkabwala (on Twitter), are skeptical. Mike Tomlin said the Steelers ordered a Brown MRI because of knee pain but that the All-Pro wide receiver did not show up for the exam. This has ignited Brown trade rumors, and players from other teams are making pitches.

As for a trade scenario, the Steelers would eat a $21MM dead-money hit in 2019 by shipping Brown elsewhere. This cap hit could be spread over multiple years if a deal occurs after June 1. As Tom Pelissero of NFL.com points out (via Twitter), no cap ramifications exist after 2019 — barring a post-June 1 trade — but the issue of trading the best player on the team may pose a problem for Pittsburgh’s high-powered offense. The Steelers, who frequently put money on future caps via restructures, have $28MM-plus in projected 2019 cap space.

One Steelers source’s working theory about Brown’s Week 17 actions is forcing JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was voted team MVP, to act as Pittsburgh’s top receiver, per Fowler. Smith-Schuster took a major leap forward this season, his receiving average shooting up from 65.5 yards per game to 89.1 per contest. Smith Schuster’s 1,426 yards topped Brown’s total (1,297), making it the first time Brown has not led the Steelers in receiving since 2012.

Brown still made the Pro Bowl and remains an elite pass-catcher, commanding top attention from defenses and creating better matchups for his younger sidekick. Fowler adds Brown was not happy Ben Roethlisberger — the target of his latest outburst — criticized his route-running after a November loss to the Broncos.

This century, the Steelers have only made substantial long-term wide receiver commitments to Brown and Hines Ward, reaching trade agreements to unload other talented receivers and letting other capable starters walk in free agency. Brown, 31 in July, has not requested a trade. Three more seasons remaining on the four-year, $68MM extension Brown signed during the 2017 offseason. Smith-Schuster cannot be extended until after the 2019 season.

Tomlin said Drew Rosenhaus’ Sunday-morning update his client was ready to play against the Bengals — despite leaving practice and missing Saturday Steeler activities — did not go over well with him. The 12th-year Pittsburgh coach told the high-powered agent Brown playing Sunday was off the table. Tomlin did meet with Brown on Sunday morning, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic (subscription required), but hasn’t met with him since.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward also criticized Brown’s actions, calling them “unacceptable,” while indicating the Steelers still want Brown on the team. Linemen’s responses to the Le’Veon Bell drama affected the Steelers earlier this year, and Bell is on his way to free agency.

Steelers Say Antonio Brown Hasn’t Requested Trade

January 2nd, 2019 at 3:27pm CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday, we received conflicting word on whether Antonio Brown has requested a trade from the Steelers. For what it’s worth, head coach Mike Tomlin says that Brown has not requested a trade.

Of course, if Brown did request a trade, it wouldn’t behoove the Steelers to confirm that’s the case. What is clear, however, is that Tomlin is angry with his star receiver. Tomlin explained that Brown was benched on Sunday against the Bengals after failing to report to the team on Saturday. When asked if he thought Brown quit on the Steelers, Tomlin said, “You can call it what you want to call it,” (via ESPN.com).

“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. “Obviously, there are some things within that you can infer.”

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017 and has been playing at a Hall of Fame level for several years. This year, JuJu Smith-Schuster took a giant leap forward and the two players formed a top-tier tandem. With three seasons to go on Brown’s deal, the Steelers are probably not inclined to trade him, and the wide receiver could very well cool off in the coming weeks.

Even Tomlin, who is clearly annoyed, wants to get things worked out.

“There’s disappointment, there’s no denying that,” said Tomlin about his history with Brown. “On a personal level, man, I’ve just learned over the course of time, forget my personal feelings. Or the challenges that come with the position. I don’t spend a lot of time focused on that. I better not.”

Brown, 31 in July, had 104 catches for 1,297 yards plus a career-high 15 touchdowns. Those numbers put him in the Pro Bowl, but they’re actually a step back from his finest work, which includes 1,500+ yards in 2017 and 1,800+ yards in 2015. Brown was an All-Pro every year from 2014-2017, but was unable to make the cut this year.

No Trade Request Made By Antonio Brown?

January 1st, 2019 at 1:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Despite a report indicating otherwise on Tuesday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has not requested a trade from the Steelers. Rapoport hears that Brown is frustrated, but has not made an actual request to get out of Pittsburgh.

After Brown’s practice blowup on Wednesday, he yelled, “I’m done,” according to Rapoport. Then, he posited aloud that the Steelers should trade him. Rapoport’s understanding is that Brown was venting in frustration and any talks of him actually looking for a trade are premature, at best.

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017 and has been playing at a Hall of Fame level for several years. This year, JuJu Smith-Schuster took a giant leap forward and the two players formed a top-tier tandem. With three seasons to go on Brown’s deal, the Steelers are probably not inclined to trade him, and the wide receiver could very well cool off in the coming weeks.

Steelers’ Antonio Brown Requests Trade

January 1st, 2019 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

[UPDATE: Brown Has Not Made Actual Trade Request, According To NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport]

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has requested a trade, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Brown did not demand a trade, per day, but he has asked to be dealt, JLC hears.

Brown’s request does not automatically mean that he will be traded, of course. La Canfora believes it’s very unlikely that owner Art Rooney II will give in, so the Steelers could be in for a long standoff with a star offensive player for yet another year.

The Steelers, for the most part, have operated as a well-oiled machine. However, things have fallen apart as of late. The team’s relationship with running back Le’Veon Bell took a strange turn in 2017 and, ultimately, led to a year-long holdout in 2018. Meanwhile, Brown has been at odds with several key figures in the organization, including head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Recently, Brown tossed a ball at the QB’s feet during a walkthrough and stormed out of the building. Brown did not play in Week 17, and we now know that his absence was not injury-related.

Tomlin and Big Ben are well-aligned and Brown feels that the two are a bit too well-aligned, JLC hears. Obviously, there are issues for all three men to figure out, but the good news is that they have plenty of time to mend fences between now and the start of the 2019 season.

Brown, 31 in July, had 104 catches for 1,297 yards plus a career-high 15 touchdowns. Those numbers put him in the Pro Bowl, but they’re actually a step back from his finest work, which includes 1,500+ yards in 2017 and 1,800+ yards in 2015. Brown was an All-Pro every year from 2014-2017, but was unable to make the cut this year.

Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

December 31st, 2018 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The player with whom Brown got into a heated disagreement at Wednesday’s Steelers practice was indeed Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports (on Twitter).

Brown tossed a ball at Roethlisberger’s feet and walked out of a walkthrough, per Kaboly. This was a “fairly ugly” incident, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link), with Brown being viewed as the party in the wrong. The 30-year-old wideout went off over a specific (and, as of yet, unspecified) issue, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, and has not been in the Steelers’ building in days. Roethlisberger and Brown argued, with Fowler noting Brown was the primary arguer.

It’s now believed he missed Sunday’s game against the Bengals because of this turmoil and not a knee injury.

While some of Brown’s teammates were surprised he showed up with the intention of playing Sunday, after missing meetings and a walkthrough Saturday, NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reports (video link) others in the organization expected him to play Sunday. She confirms the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s report of Brown leaving Heinz Field at halftime.

This situation affected the Steelers’ effort in Week 17, per Kinkhabwala, who adds Brown did not show up for the Steelers’ exit meeting Monday. Mike Tomlin apparently did not address Brown’s issues today, per Kinkhabwala.

Antonio Brown’s Week 17 Absence Not Injury-Related?

December 31st, 2018 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers and Antonio Brown have experienced problems in the recent past, and another appears to have cropped up.

The four-time All-Pro wide receiver was involved in an evidently significant dispute with an unnamed teammate, and that — and not an injury — caused him to miss Sunday’s season finale, Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

Brown and this teammate’s confrontation occurred Wednesday, and the receiver threw a football at this player, per the Pittsburgh duo. Brown skipped the Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough, and a team meeting, and left Sunday’s game at halftime, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting Brown surprised teammates by showing up at Heinz Field expecting to play. He did not practice last week, but several Steelers sources said Brown’s knee was not an issue.

Brown showing up Sunday with the intention to play surprised several teammates, and one source informed the Post-Gazette tandem it was the 30-year-old pass-catcher’s decision not to practice during the week. Brown was initially listed as absent from practice due to to a coach’s decision, before “knee” was added to subsequent injury reports.

Brown’s recent issues go back a bit. Brown also skipped a meeting prior to the Steelers’ pivotal Saints matchup, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting he was in the building where the meeting took place but skipped the actual meeting. The Steelers beat the Bengals on Sunday, but only by three points. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Two seasons ago, Brown ran into trouble for streaming Mike Tomlin‘s divisional-round victory address on Facebook Live. This year, he responded to a former Steelers employee’s perceived social media slight by tweeting “Trade me let’s find out” regarding how valuable he is to Pittsburgh.

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017. He and JuJu Smith-Schuster have formed an elite receiving tandem, with Brown scoring 15 touchdowns in 15 games and Smith Schuster taking a big leap from his rookie year and leading the Steelers in receiving. Three seasons remain on Brown’s contract.

Steelers WR Antonio Brown Won’t Play Today

December 30th, 2018 at 2:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers need a lot to go right today if they have any hope of making the postseason. Unfortunately, they’ll have to play today’s key game without their star wideout. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that receiver Antonio Brown is inactive for today’s game against the Bengals.

Brown missed several practices this week, and he was listed as questionable with a knee injury. The 30-year-old also underwent tests on the knee, with the injury ultimately keeping him out of his first game of the season. Brown was having another standout season for Pittsburgh, hauling in 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. Of course, the Steelers still shouldn’t have a tough time against a Bengals team that has allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL, especially with Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster still leading the passing attack.

While Brown is out for today’s game, Schefter reports that the Steelers will have running back James Conner. The 23-year-old hasn’t played since early December as he recovered from an ankle injury. In 12 games this season, Conner’s compiled 909 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores on 201 carries. He’s also added another 52 receptions for 467 yards and one touchdown.

The Steelers need more than a win today over the Bengals if they want to make the playoffs. Rather, they’ll also need the Ravens to lose to the Browns. Pittsburgh could also make the playoffs with a tie and a Ravens’ loss.

Injury Notes: Brown, Wallace, Berry, Bolts

December 28th, 2018 at 5:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Steelers enter their must-win (plus-help-required) Week 17 scenario, their best player is not certain to be available. Antonio Brown missed three practices this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. The four-time All-Pro is undergoing tests on his injured knee, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Brown has not missed a game this season. While Pittsburgh would be favored to beat Cincinnati at home without Brown, two-time reigning AFC North champions have not exactly been bastions of consistency this season or in recent years. The Steelers can clinch their fifth straight playoff berth with a win and a Ravens home loss to the Browns.

Here’s the latest on the injury front, shifting to one of Brown’s former teammates:

Although the Eagles surprisingly brought Mike Wallace back onto their 53-man roster without the usual IR-return practice routine, the deep threat will not play against the Redskins on Sunday. Philadelphia declared Wallace out because of his ankle injury, making the team’s move to activate him strictly for the playoffs. To make the playoffs, Philadelphia needs to beat Washington and have Chicago stop Minnesota. Wallace is not signed past this season, so it’s now possible he will end his Eagles tenure having played in only two games.
The Chargers are assured of a playoff spot, making a possible Hunter Henry cameo more likely. It might occur as soon as next week. Tom Telesco did not rule out his top tight end being ready to return before a possible wild-card game, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Henry participated in seven-on-seven drills with the Bolts on Friday, Williams tweets, doing so after being confined to individual work last week. The Chargers designated Henry to return from IR on Dec. 17, so they have until the divisional round — if their season extends that far — to make a call on Henry.
Eric Berry cannot shake his troublesome heel ailment. The three-time All-Pro Chiefs safety continues to battle this issue, Andy Reid said, via the Kansas City Star’s Brooke Pryor (on Twitter). Berry has been on a snap count (99 in two games) since making his season debut in Week 15, and Reid did not commit to Berry playing Sunday against the Raiders.
Ahead of the Texans‘ pivotal Week 17 game, Lamar Miller will return. Bill O’Brien said his top running back is “good to go” against the Jaguars. Miller missed much of the past two games with a sprained ankle. The Jags are unlikely to have Leonard Fournette available, with the second-year back listed as doubtful.

Steelers’ Antonio Brown Facing Two Lawsuits

October 11th, 2018 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is facing a pair of lawsuits stemming from an incident in April (via ESPN.com). Brown is being accused of throwing items from the balcony of a South Florida apartment which nearly hit a 2-year-old child who was outside near the pool area. For his part, Brown says the accusations are bogus.

“It has now been made public that two lawsuits containing false claims have been filed against me,” Brown said in a statement. “The facts will soon come out that prove my innocence. My focus will remain on football and I will not let the cases serve as a distraction.”

Meanwhile, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy says that the league is monitoring the civil suits. The NFL reserves the right to punish players even when courts find in their favor, so Brown could be subject to a suspension if the league office finds that the accusations have merit. League investigations are usually lengthy and often do not conclude before the legal process wraps up, so Brown is unlikely to face NFL discipline during the 2018 season. If anything, Brown could be looking at some sort of punishment in 2019, depending on how things play out.

This isn’t the first potential distraction that Brown has faced this year. In September, Brown missed a Steelers practice after getting into a social media spat with a former employee. Brown made reference to a trade in that exchange on Twitter, but he has since reaffirmed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh.

Brown had some down games this year (at least, by his standards) and some communication issues with Ben Roethlisberger, but everything seems to be back on track after he had six catches for 101 yards in two scores on Sunday against the Falcons. The Steelers won that game 41-17, bringing them to 2-2-1 on the year.

La Canfora’s Latest: Steelers, Bengals, Bucs

September 23rd, 2018 at 2:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Antonio Brown‘s decision to skip practice on Monday represented a culmination of months of tension between the Steelers and their All-Pro receiver, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Brown was upset earlier this year after being told that his personal trainer and social media manager would no longer be welcome on Pittsburgh’s practice field, and some within the organization believe his multi-day absence during training camp — ostensibly due to a injury — was instead related to his disappointment. Ultimately, the Steelers believe Brown simply wants to win, but there is reportedly also concern with the club that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s close relationship with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner (and his subsequent influence on play-calling) could cause more strain in the locker room.

Here’s more from La Canfora:

Bengals running back Joe Mixon could potentially return to the field in time for Week 4, per La Canfora. Mixon underwent knee surgery immediately following Cincinnati’s Week 3 Thursday night victory, and initial assessments indicated he could be sidelined two-to-four weeks. However, because the Bengals played mid-week in Week 3, Mixon’s timeline could be sped up, meaning he could return to action when Cincinnati faces Atlanta next Sunday. A second-round pick in 2017, Mixon was outstanding during the Bengals’ season opener, averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry on the ground while adding five receptions in the passing game. Backup Giovani Bernard is holding down the fort while Mixon is out, while the Bengals also have Mark Walton and Thomas Rawls on their running back depth chart.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is unlikely to be replaced as the Buccaneers‘ starting quarterback no matter how he fares against the Steelers on Monday night, reports La Canfora. While Jameis Winston will come off suspension prior to Week 4, Fitzpatrick has been among the league’s best quarterbacks through two games, as he leads the NFL passing yardage while racking up eight passing touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has internal support within the locker room (and especially from Tampa Bay’s offensive line), so the club’s coaching staff is unlikely to make a change any time soon. The Buccaneers face the Bears in Week 4 before heading into a bye the following week.
The Raiders will move to Las Vegas either in 2019 or 2020, and they could potentially need a temporary stadium for the 2019 campaign if no extension with the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority can be reached. With that in mind, the Raiders have contacted the city of San Diego about playing there next season, says La Canfora, who notes that such as possibility is viewed as remote. More likely, the Raiders will play one year in Oakland, or spend next season sharing Levi’s Stadium with the 49ers.