Several NFL clubs recently asked the Steelers if wide receiver Antonio Brown was available via trade, but those inquires were met with an emphatic “no,” according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report.
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While rival teams were likely just doing due diligence, there was at least some reason to think Pittsburgh might be open to dealing Brown given his recent pattern of — as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin deemed them — “little annoyances.” Brown infamously broadcast a portion of Tomlin’s post-game speech on Facebook Live last month, while Ben Roethlisberger and former Steeler Heath Miller have reportedly addressed problems with Brown in the past.
Still, Pittsburgh doesn’t figure to part with Brown anytime soon, and Freeman writes that any potential trade would require a minimum of a first-round pick (though it’s unclear if Freeman is reporting or speculating here). Indeed, the Steelers have opened extension talks with Brown after previously following their policy of not negotiating with players who have more than one year left on their contract. At present, Brown is signed through 2017, and will earn a base salary of $4.71MM and carry a salary cap charge of ~$13.6MM.
Brown, 28, earned his third consecutive first team All-Pro nod in 2016 after putting up 106 receptions for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Just curious? What would it even take to land Brown? I feel like it would be like a MLB team trading for Mike Trout
Could the patriots and steelers work something around Brown and Garroppolo? With Big Ben probably going to retire after next year, I could see this working if Garroppolo agrees to an extension. Of course the patriots would have to trade more assets but I feel like it could be a win win for both sides
The Patriots would have to give up way more than just Garroppolo to get Brown. They’d probably also have to throw in their 1st round pick. Brown is one of the best WRs in the league if not the best.
That’s why I said “more assets”
No way the Steelers trade Brown to the Patriots. Keep dreaming.
No way the Steelers trade anyone to the Patriots.
I wish my Browns could get him. He absolutely kills us.
I’d do that deal for both of cleveland’s first rounders.
No way they trade Brown. No way in HELL they trade him to Cleveland (or New England for that matter). Cleveland has way too many holes to fill to be spending their very limited assets on a luxury WR.
Always nice to dream though…
Hope he screws up again so they trade him. The bengals hold him in check for the most part but still would be nice not seeing him twice a year. We trade you pacman for him lol
Steelers Trading one idiot for a bigger idiot.
How is it that Antonio Brown is only worth like a decent player and a first rounder? The chances of that first rounder even approaching the value of Brown is super small.
Brown isn’t going anywhere…and Ben isn’t retiring anytime soon. The season was over so he couldn’t get attention by playing hurt so he floated the retirement talk.
The guy who is tricky is Bell. One ill-timed bong hit and he’s lost for an entire season. Figuring out a contract structure for him will be very difficult.