The Pittsburgh Steelers are between a rock and a hard place. Following his Tuesday meeting with team owner Art Rooney II, it now seems like it's only a matter of time until Antonio Brown gets his wish and is traded before the start of next season. The league at large has been following the situation closely, of course, and knows full well that the relationship between Brown and the Steelers has reached the point of no return, likely driving down his trade value in the process.

But Pittsburgh won't just deal the six-time Pro Bowler for any package of players and draft picks. Rather, the team intends to wait for an offer befitting Brown's standing as one of the league's best players, and would prefer it come from a suitor who's not a “factor” in the playoff race, according to general manager Kevin Colbert.

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Brown frequently clashed with Pittsburgh players and coaches last season, including superstar quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and longtime coach Mike Tomlin. He had 104 catches, 1,297 receiving yards, and a league-leading 15 touchdowns, though, lending credence to the notion that the 30-year-old will continue playing at an elite level as his prime continues to fade.

Brown officially requested a trade from the Steelers earlier this month. Though the team was initially reluctant to consider honoring his wishes, the situation changed on Tuesday after Brown met with Rooney, with both player and owner announcing that it was time for their marriage to end.

Colbert, though openly discussing trading Brown on Wednesday, also left open the slim possibility he would remain in Pittsburgh going forward, saying no relationship is “irreparable.”