Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown continues on the offensive against his current team and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In a media tour bordering on the bizarre, AB continues to look like a petulant child determined to get his way.
The Steelers to their credit, have not aided Brown in his desire for a public spat. While media outlets continue to provide him an open mic and air time, Pittsburgh has gone mostly radio silent. In the meantime, AB continues to do a bang-up job in hurting his own cause for a new employer, even suggesting he doesn't need football.
Antonio Brown: “I don’t even have to play football if I don’t want. I don’t even need the game. … Obviously I want the game but I don’t need the game.”
AB out here doing everything to kill his trade value for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/bdsCKd3yIp
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 2, 2019
Crazy town.
You would be smart to not buy the virtue of Antonio Brown. He's the consummate narcissist playing the victim card to anyone willing to deal him in. Whether he's talking to Lebron James and Maverick Carter, or someone from ESPN, it's the same narrative with a different network logo and chyron.
Ultimately, Brown will be dealt. At least that's the smart bet. The road from Pittsburgh to AB is charred wreckage from a top line player whose feelings are hurt, and in the climate he's created, this doesn't get walked back. Unless of course there is a payday to be had from his old team.
Don't count on that Steelers fan.
Brown is damaged goods. He's managed to run down one of the premier organizations not just in the National Football League, but in all of professional sports. And while his remarkable talent will land him a new city to throw fire at, a new deal making more money may be harder to come by.
Which is what this is all about for Brown.
Teams will be wise to watch, then re-watch the media tour and know the potential cancer they bring into the locker room. Love Roethlisberger or hate him, he's better than 90% of the league quarterbacks right now. Mike Tomlin, who has underachieved the last few seasons also has been at the center of the wrath.
No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game. #truth https://t.co/MsSyBVd3Ny
— AB (@AB84) February 16, 2019
Bottom line, AB is persona non grata in the Steel City.
Pittsburgh has a legitimate problem on their hands. Team's wanting to make a deal will reasonably reference the language Brown has tossed around. They will look for a better deal that may not be conducive to the talent he brings to the table. The Steelers should have a high price tag, but with every occasion AB uses to slander Pittsburgh, that price tag loses value.
By all reasonable metrics, Brown had a solid 2018. He would play in 15 games, have 104 catches for 1297 yards and score 15 touchdowns. He’s the goods. A bonafide superstar receiver.
That's all underscored by a man who is also a world-class malcontent.
Antonio Brown will be elsewhere in 2019. Whatever team ultimately decides to roll the dice on him will do so knowing the the upside can be huge. Unfortunately so can the downside.
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