Martavis Bryant - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Steelers WR Martavis Bryant

October 23rd, 2017 at 12:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant — the subject of recent trade rumors — took to social media and responded to an Instagram user who claimed fellow Pittsburgh pass-catcher JuJu Smith-Schuster is the superior wideout, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Bryant, who has since deleted the post, “wants out” of Pittsburgh, a source tells Fowler.

“JuJu is no where near better than me, fool,” Bryant wrote. “All they need to do is give me what I want and y’all can have JuJu and whoever else.”

Bryant, who is back in the NFL after being suspended for the entirety of the 2016 campaign, reportedly requested a trade last week, although he has since denied that ask. Either way, the Steelers don’t intend to deal Bryant, although he has struggled this season and is being phased out of the club’s offense in favor of Smith-Schuster. Bryant has manged only 234 yards and one touchdown in seven games, and he essentially rotated with Smith-Schuster in Sunday’s victory. Bryant finished with 36 offensive snaps, while Smith-Schuster — a second-round rookie — played 32.

“JuJu is the future and got great talent and is going to be one of the best to play this game,” Bryant wrote after deleting the original post. “I want him to get his. I just want mines, period, point-blank. Ain’t nobody did nothing to get me back. I worked my a– off to get myself back with no help and little support, period. In due time the process will show.”

Bryant didn’t show up for required team meetings Monday, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and one teammate said Bryant “called in sick.” Whether or not Bryant’s absence today is related to his ongoing situation within the offense is unclear, but the timing would certainly hint that the two are interconnected. Bryant’s agent says the wideout did in fact see a doctor today, however, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

The Steelers don’t plan on disciplining Bryant for either today’s meeting or his comments on Smith-Schuster, as Bouchette writes in a full piece. And — reiterating previous reports to this effect — Pittsburgh “certainly” doesn’t intend to ship Bryant out of town via trade.

Steelers’ Bryant Denies Trade Demand

October 16th, 2017 at 1:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Martavis Bryant had only two catches on Sunday, but he found himself in the news when it was reported that he demanded a trade. Soon after, Bryant took to Twitter to say that he is “happy to be a Steeler.” On Monday morning, he specifically denied making a trade request (Twitter link via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

There’s no way to know for sure whether Bryant’s camp did request a trade, but either way it sounds like things have been patched up between the two sides. Bryant’s main gripe was that his role has been downsized in the Steelers’ offense. Starting on Sunday’s game against the Bengals, we may see that change.

Bryant has shown the ability to pick up yards after the catch and at 6’4″ he is also able to pull down passes in the end zone, even in traffic. Between 2014 and 2015, Bryant had 14 touchdowns. Through six games this year, however, he has only one score.

Even if Bryant does push for a deal between now and the deadline, the Steelers do not seem inclined to trade him.

Steelers Unlikely To Trade Martavis Bryant?

October 15th, 2017 at 10:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Martavis Bryant wants the Steelers to trade him. But that doesn’t mean they will. Early indications are that the Steelers do not plan on moving the wide receiver, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears.

Bryant has been frustrated with the size of his role thus far in 2017. Still, the Steelers value him highly. Bryant has proven to be a valuable complement to Antonio Brown, as evidenced by his career 16.6 yards per catch average. Trouble is, he has only 17 catches for 231 yards and one score through six games this year. The 25-year-old (26 in December) is currently on pace for less grabs, yards, and TDs than he had in 2015, and he played in only eleven games that year.

The Steelers, who are now 4-2 after topping the Chiefs on Sunday, seem determined to move forward with Bryant, even if he has soured on them somewhat. Ultimately, Bryant’s trade demand could spark offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to send more passes in his direction.

Steelers’ Martavis Bryant Requests Trade

October 15th, 2017 at 9:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Martavis Bryant wants out of Pittsburgh. The wide receiver recently requested a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (Twitter link). Rapoport adds that his teammates and coaches are “well aware that he’s unhappy.”

Bryant was suspended for all of last season after repeated violations of the substance abuse policy. The league granted him full reinstatement in September, allowing him to get back to work with the Steelers. However, he found that his role was downsized this season. After just two catches on Sunday, Bryant is itching to get more targets elsewhere.

Bryant, 25, has only appeared in 27 out of 54 possible regular season games over the course of his career, but he has been productive in his limited action. Heading into this week’s game against the Chiefs, he boasted a career average of 17.3 yards per catch over the last three years.

If the Steelers want to grant Bryant’s request, they’ll have to move quick. The NFL’s trade deadline is on Oct. 31.

NFL Reinstates Steelers WR Martavis Bryant

September 1st, 2017 at 3:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Huge news for the Steelers. Wide receiver Martavis Bryant has been fully reinstated by the NFL.

Bryant is now cleared to participate in regular season games and practices. This is the outcome that the Steelers have been expecting.

The league took an intermediate step towards welcoming Bryant back when they gave him clearance to participate in the preseason. Bryant was banned for all of the 2016 season for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy. The Steelers are undoubtedly thrilled to have Bryant back as he’ll help to take pressure off of star receiver Antonio Brown.

Bryant, 25, has only appeared in 21 out of 48 possible regular season games over the course of his career, but he has been productive in his limited action. He has averaged 17.3 yards per catch over the last three years.

The news will also have roster implications for the Steelers as they approach the 53-man deadline on Saturday. Right now, Brown, Bryant, Eli Rogers, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Cobi Hamilton figure to be the team’s top five receivers. Sammie Coates Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Justin Hunter are among the other receivers vying for a spot.

AFC Notes: Bills, Steelers, Bengals

August 31st, 2017 at 7:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills sent big-money defensive tackle Marcell Dareus home before their preseason game against the Ravens last week after he violated a team rule, leaving general manager Brandon Beane unsure if the two-time Pro Bowler is part of the solution. Asked this week if Dareus is on board with what the team is trying to build, Beane told Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (via Mark Inabinett of AL.com): “I don’t know. Time will tell. It was disappointing, as I said, after that game. He was contrite yesterday and said the right things. Actions speak louder than words. Time will tell. Hopefully, he is. We hope he’ll play to his potential. We know what kind of player he can be. We hope to see that on the field.” Even if the Bills are fed up with Dareus, who has multiple suspensions on his resume, moving on from the cornerstone defender in the near future would be extremely difficult because of the structure of his contract. The Bills inked Dareus to a six-year, $91.5MM extension in September 2015.

Martavis Bryant Gets Preseason Clearance

August 9th, 2017 at 6:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has taken a step toward full reinstatement. The NFL cleared him Wednesday to participate in preseason action, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced (Twitter link via James Palmer of NFL Network).

“Martavis Bryant has been informed by the NFL that he is now permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games,” said Colbert. “He will continue to be evaluated as to his readiness to participate in regular-season activities under the terms of his conditional reinstatement.”

The league suspended Bryant for all of last season for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy, finally granting him conditional reinstatement in April. The league decreed that Bryant would need to arrange “clinical resources” in Pittsburgh before suiting up for preseason practices or games, which he has done, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

If Bryant gets through the next few weeks without any off-field setbacks, the league figures to grant him full reinstatement in time for the regular season. The return of Bryant would give the Steelers’ Antonio Brown-led receiving corps yet another high-end weapon. While Bryant, 25, has only appeared in 21 of a possible 48 regular-season games, the 6-foot-4, 211-pounder has already amassed 76 receptions, 1,314 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns during his career.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Expect Martavis Bryant Clearance

August 7th, 2017 at 6:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers expect wide receiver Martavis Bryant to be fully cleared for return at some point this week, a source tells Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link).

Bryant, who was suspended for the entirety of the 2017 campaign following repeated violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, was conditionally reinstated in by the league in April. The NFL decreed that Bryant would need to arrange “clinical resources” in Pittsburgh before suiting up for preseason practices or games, so it’s likely those machinations are holding up Bryant’s return to the field.

“Upon his conditional reinstatement in April, Martavis Bryant was made aware it was only the beginning of a process toward a return to being a full contributing member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” general manager Kevin Colbert said last month. “We have been informed by the NFL that Martavis is still in the process of being fully reinstated. Until that time, Martavis will be permitted to take part in off-the-field team activities at training camp, but he will not be permitted to practice or play in any games.”

Bryant, of course, is one of the more dynamic pass-catchers in the NFL when on the field. In 21 career games (eight starts), Bryant has totaled 76 receptions for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Steelers, Browns

July 27th, 2017 at 5:49pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

When the NFL handed Bengals cornerback Adam Jones a one-game suspension last week, it appeared he would fight the ban. That won’t be the case, though, Jones announced Thursday. “You know, I take all accountability for what I did and my actions and my words. I accept it — the one game suspension — and I’m ready to move on, man,” Jones told reporters, including Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The 33-year-old’s suspension came after he was charged with three misdemeanors and a felony, though he was able to avoid jail time after pleading guilty to a lesser offense.

AFC Notes: A. Smith, Orr, Watson, Landry

July 16th, 2017 at 10:17am CST by Rory Parks

It was former Chiefs GM John Dorsey who ultimately pulled the trigger on the team’s draft-day trade that allowed Kansas City to climb all the way up to the No. 10 overall spot and draft quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But now that Dorsey is out and Brett Veach is in, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report says it is fair to question what the new hire means for incumbent signal-caller Alex Smith.

But according to Miller, not much will change with respect to the team’s approach to Smith. After all, Veach has been with the Chiefs for the past four years, so it’s not as if he’s coming to Kansas City with a fresh take on the situation. Plus, Miller’s league sources all said effectively the same thing: “nothing changes in Kansas City while Andy Reid is the head coach.” As such, you can still expect the team to move on from Smith after the 2017 season — and save $17MM in the process — as long as Mahomes appears ready to assume control.

Now for more from the AFC:

Kevin Bowen of Colts.com says all is quiet on the Colts/Zach Orr front, and at this point, the team has had plenty of time to sift through Orr’s medicals. Therefore, Bowen does not believe Indianapolis will pursue Orr in an attempt to bolster its linebacker corps.
Although Texans GM Rick Smith was not as definitive as head coach Bill O’Brien in declaring Tom Savage the team’s Week 1 starter, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle confirms that Savage will be under center when the regular season gets underway. Rookie signal-caller Deshaun Watson, meanwhile, is content to remain patient and wait for his opportunity. Watson said, “It’s best for the team. Coach [O’Brien] knows a lot of football. He’s been with … one of the best in NFL history in Tom Brady. He knows how everything is operated. He knows when the perfect timing will be.”
Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant recently said he took issue with the way Ben Roethlisberger spoke about him to the media earlier this summer, when Big Ben said Bryant would need to “win back everybody’s trust.” That might sound pretty rich for a player who managed to get himself suspended for the entire 2016 campaign, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com nonetheless believes that it is important for Bryant and Roethlisberger to have the sit-down that Bryant proposed. Although such meetings are often unbeneficial formalities, Fowler says Bryant, whose position in the league is fairly tenuous at this point, needs to feel like the catalyst he can be and not become a source of criticism.
The Dolphins‘ best bet may be to simply let Jarvis Landry play out the 2017 season, his contract year, and put the franchise tag on him in 2018, as Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders opines. After all, Landry is set to make less than $1MM this year, so even the projected $17MM tag in 2018 would allow Miami to keep Landry for at least two more seasons at about $8.5MM per year, which is well below the $14MM per year he would likely get with a new contract. Although that approach could create some discord between player and team, it does make short-term financial sense.
Darryl Slater of NJ.com makes a series of predictions for the Jets, with the most interesting being that he expects Christian Hackenberg to become the team’s starting quarterback no later than Week 12 (New York has a Week 11 bye), and that he expects Todd Bowles to be retained for 2018.