AB now with ZERO trade value.......

I would too. He might be regretting asking for a trade If they send him to Buffalo. Maybe he will come begging them not to trade him?

 

He's got until Wednesday to sabotage it. Expect another temper tantrum to be reported soon

 

Little nervous at the moment

 

Not sure what to think at the moment

 

Beats me but i think teams now backing out are posturing for their fans. They can play the we decided we didnt want brown card rather than the we lost out to team x card.

 

Guess this wouldn't be the first time Rapoport broke incorrect news on the Steelers. I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow with Brown becoming the newest Buffalo Bills WR...Or Oakland WR...Just want this chapter to be closed.

 

Golic and Wingo were saying the Bills rumor is old and no longer an option

 

So looks like AB played some part in nixing the offer because he didn't want to go to Buffalo (understandly-lol), and now feels like he can dictate what team he goes to AND what amount he plays for. Unreal. If I were Rooney I would (but he won't) call his agent and remind him of the discussion they had a few weeks ago and that he MEANT what he said in stop trying to hurt his trade value.......and reiterate that cutting him is NOT an option..............not this year............not next year............NEVER. He's under contract for THREE YEARS! The MOST IMPORTANT THING for Pitt is to NOT give AB what he wants, which is a new contract with bigger guaranteed money up front, or to be cut so he can pick/choose where he goes. Even if it comes at the short term expense and success of the organization..........you can't let him get what he wants and set precedent.

If you can't feel you can get what you want for him, then you bring him back for the season, and you let him be admonished by teammates, local media, and the fans.........if he even plays. If he refuses to, you deactivate him and don't pay him. What's one more with drama? And if he threatens to walk away from football altogether...................GOOD.................CALL HIS BLUFF! Watch him walk away, and tell him on the way out..........."Remember AB, every dime you've ever made is because of this game, and if you reconsider and decide you want to play again...........we still have you under contract for 3 years. We'll work with you to let you play elsewhere, but you better work WITH us to make the situation amicable and allow us to obtain what WE WANT for you, otherwise its not happening".

It would be different if it was his final year..........fine..........take a mid-rounder and move on. The guy is under contract for 3 years, and you can't have players in the league........even the best of the best just deciding any given day........."I've had enough, I want out and I'll make things as bad as possible for the team and myself so that they just cut me". You can't allow that to happen.

 

At this point I say don't trade him and see if he shows up to play under his existing contract. If he doesn't you don't have to pay him. I would also go after his signing bonus.

 

While they dont have to pay him if he doesnt play I think he still counts against the cap.

 

yeah, the $21 million has already been paid, and the $2.5 million will be paid this on the 5th day of the new league year

 

It's time for the Steelers to suspend Antonio Brown indefinitely and start legal proceedings to recoup whatever they can in regards to his signing bonus. If he says he's going to retire good. Take him to court to try and recover as much of his signing bonus possible. Brown thinks he's an entrepreneur??? The only reason he has any marketing value is his success in the NFL. Once that is gone he will be just as irrelevant as TO.

At this point Brown could be considered in violation of the NFL personal conduct policy.
Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL personnel.
If a player is allowed to pull of what Brown is trying to do then what is the precedent with player contracts going forward? Organizations will have no security or guarantees that their contracts will be honored. Players going out and making the media rounds trashing the organization, NFL, teammates and making demands while under contract. If the NFL and owners are smart they will put an end to this sooner than later.

 

Guys.........conduct detrimental and suspension be it from the team or league means the player isn't paid, and you recoup that pro-rated cap amount of base salary. Remember years ago when Keyshawn was deactivated and didn't play or get paid the remaining 6 games............they were credited back in terms of cap carryover the following Spring.

They need to play hardball with this, if they can't trade him and get what they feel they should and he thus remains a Steeler..........even if it hurts the team dynamic next year. You CANNOT let him get what he wants in this case. That is paramount to the long term success of the team. You can't set a precedent and risk having this happen again.

 

I completely agree with you Blackngold! This isn't just about precedent with the Steelers. This is precedent for the whole NFL.

 

I wouldn't defend Brown at all because I think he's got his hand deep in the idiot trifecta happening with the steelers. At the same time, what you wrote about there being no guarantees that contracts will be honored is precisely the arguement players use for why they want new and guaranteed deals. Heck the Ravens just chose to not honor the last year of Weddle's deal. It's abundantly commonplace across the league.

 

And is very common for players nearing the end of their career, or in the final year of their contract, or when they aren't playing up to that contract, or been chronically injured, or a team has a bad cap situation. Its part of the business and done all the time.............and that's ok. AB is still a top producer, has been paid for it TWICE with big money extensions (had his last contract restructured to front him more money two years in a row, and then again last year after signing an extension to make him the highest paid WR in football), and is still the 2nd highest paid player at his position in the league. He is still in his prime...................and has THREE YEARS left on his contract, after which he'll probably be in a position to sign yet another short term deal at 33 for good money.

There's no comparison there. AB has simply decided he's worth EVEN MORE two years after signing a 4-year extension and that HE HAS DECIDED how he wants it to be now. He wants more money up front, wants to play for a different team and QB, and play for the team/management he chooses. And the only way to get all that is have Pitt cut/release you outright. And he's willing to do whatever to make that happen, despite them saying that's not an option. So call his bluff and if he wants to not show up or walk away from football entirely.............let him do and recover his base salary and sue him for the pro-rated portion of his signing bonus.

 

That is a real issue in the NFL Kid! It's probably going to be the single biggest issue when the negotiations for the next CBA start.

In my opinion there are players who get severely screwed over with the rookie contract structures. Players frequently out perform their rookie deals. On the flip side there are guys who are complete busts but get most of their rookie deal guaranteed. Until the new CBA it's not going to change.

Brown is a guy who has always been taken care of financially by the franchise.

 

Next cba could cause a long work stoppage. I dont see the owners wanting to pay a lot of guaranteed contracts and I think many of the player do not want to play without them. Of course the owners can usually hold out longer than the players as they make their money in multiple ways.

 

Reports are coming out that Gilbert will be traded or cut. Marcus Gilbert has played 12 games in the past two seasons but he's been paid over 13 million during the past two seasons. Gilbert is an example of why teams often cut guys before they play out their contract.

The current salary cap structure does a pretty good job of keeping the league competitive and financially stable. Guaranteed contracts would require changes to the current salary cap structure. I expect a long work stoppage in the next CBA. Players are going to demand guaranteed contracts and to be equal partners in revenue.

Once again... Antonio Brown has always been treated more than fair financially by the Steelers. Crazy that he's the guy demanding a guaranteed contract when he's already been paid more than he's earned according to the contract he signed.

 

Gilbert to Zona for 6th round pick