I don’t believe this was the “it’ll all come out soon” type of interview Antonio Brown said was coming but it’s something at the very least. In a social media post released a short time ago Brown said “its time to move on.” We here at Steel City Blitz could not agree more.
Thank you SteelerNation for a big 9 years…time to move on and forward……….✌🏽 #NewDemands pic.twitter.com/fbIoFNdqK4
— AB (@AB84) February 12, 2019
Let me first state that I take no pleasure in any of this. Brown has worked as hard if not harder than any Steeler in recent memory. He’s also provided us with amazing plays and great moments we will not forget. But as Mike Tomlin reportedly said (and I’m paraphrasing here), “once the production no longer outweighs the problems, you get rid of him.” The production is still high but so too are the issues and most if not all are of Brown’s own doing.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted the following shortly after Brown’s tweet.
This had been building. Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN a few weeks ago that he had told the Steelers Brown’s ‘position’ on things. Many close to Brown believe he was done playing scapegoat for Steelers‘ problems and wanted new start.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 12, 2019
Brown is “tired of being the scapegoat?” This has to be a reference to Ben Roethlisberger’s critical comments following the loss in Denver and as I said then, Ben is too damn forthcoming publicly sometimes for his own good. This however goes much further than just comments from Big Ben.
This is what happens when you have Terrell Owens and Chad “Ochocino” Johnson as your mentors. I can only imagine the stuff these two were putting in his ear over recent months and years. The Steelers rewarded Brown contractually not once but twice. They made concessions for him at Training Camp and they stood by him during everything from Facebook Live to speeding down McKnight Road. Yet Brown feels under appreciated.
As I said many times about Le’Veon Bell, I’d rather lose with guys who want to be on the team than win with guys who don’t. This is where I am with Brown now. If he doesn’t want to be here then I don’t want him here.
As for what the Steelers can expect to get in return for Brown? That’s going to be very intriguing. Some believe he’s already cost them the chance at a first rounder while some wonder if anyone will offer so much as a mid-round selection. If I’m the Steelers I’m not dumping him for just anything. If I don’t get offers I feel are justified then he stays. He’s still under contract and has very little leverage.
Yes, he can choose to be more difficult and even more incorrigible than he is right now but that also means he likely does so away from camp or the team facilities. He can rant and rave all he wants to via social media and the media in general but as long as he isn’t around the team can handle it. After all, look what they’ve learned from the Bell saga last year.
This is all very unfortunate and I wish it wouldn’t have come this but here we are. Antonio Brown has more than likely played his last game for the Steelers. If it means this team does in fact become more of a “team?” Then I’m all for it.
Why??? why??? are there so many players that want out and or just walk away. Is it that the front office and or coaching staff are sending just too many false promises. Is it that a smart RB knows he ain’t lasting long with 450 touches a year. Is it that a young power back was promised touches he knew weren’t coming. Or a talented FA CB watching inferior players startling in front of him. Or and aging but still capable all time great force to watch a sub par player play in front of him. I can see the problem it’s a problem that the coaching staff and front office created.
Well this AB trade that’s coming will mark the Beginning of the End for the Steelers as is. Without AB this offense will fail to produce and when Fans start to complain about it I will be on these websites saying “You wanted him gone and now look at what has happened”. JuJu is not a No.1 WR, not today, not tomorrow or for that matter at any point is he a No.1 WR. Anybody who thinks that by replacing AB by using a combo of JuJu and FA or Draft eligible WR is the best way to go then there an even bigger idiot than the FO is. Oh by the way if you don’t like what I’m saying good the whole point of this rant is for the fans and the team to suffer for this AB saga.
I think the next go to guy will be a big body guy that ben’s been asking for. Ju Ju will be fine and we will find someone or two to gobble up the [ too many targets]. We never won anything with A.B. and we weren’t going to. Time to man up and play team ball.
Sure they didn’t win anything with Ab but I can say with clear certainty that they won’t win anything without AB and that’s a fact. If anybody out there in Steeler nation thinks that JuJu can be the Steelers No.1 WR “I’m afraid I got some bad news” JuJu is real good No.2 WR but now he has the unenviable task of being a No.1 WR and I don’t want fans saying it would be a problem cause you add a FA WR or draft a WR and add in JW and the WR core will be fine, really are we in the real word or are we in Madden World.
Remember when the same was said about Bell, Ward, Holmes, Wallace and so on. People forget how well Brown did when Ben was injured, he had very mediocre numbers. We will be just fine without Brown they just need to get the money off the books as fast as possible. Who cares if you have a one or two the only thing that matters is winning.
What exactly is everybody basing there belief in JuJu on? The only way I see JuJu being the No.1 WR this: When Ben calls upon JuJu to make a big play that either sets them up for a win or wins them the game he had better make it or else. By 2011 Ward was a shell of his former self and AB had all but take over the Role of being the No.1 WR the situation for JuJu is completely different. I find it funny how Jeremy Fowler points out the back shoulder throw that Ben and JuJu connected on and how that could be there play, be honest with yourselves for just a moment: Don’t you think that opposing team are happy that AB is gone? Now the opposing CB’s will have an easier time defending JuJu and making it harder for the other Steeler WR’s to make any sort of impact in the passing game.
Now fans will counter by saying your only posting your opinion and you have no proof that opposing Defense will do what you say they will do and your right but I ask what’s to stop those defense from doing what I just said? Teams are not intimidated by guys like JW and Switzer and don’t say what about a FA WR or 1 from the draft and my response is: What about them? Fans gave JW a hard time for not blooming as fast as JuJu and don’t say otherwise cause you know it’s true so why this year be any different? A FA WR would fare no better and don’t say how would you know cause I counter with unless it’s somebody like Desean Jackson there ain’t a WR in FA that would make a lick of difference and anybody who says otherwise well it’s just your opinion.