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Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

December 31st, 2018 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The player with whom Brown got into a heated disagreement at Wednesday’s Steelers practice was indeed Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports (on Twitter).

Brown tossed a ball at Roethlisberger’s feet and walked out of a walkthrough, per Kaboly. This was a “fairly ugly” incident, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link), with Brown being viewed as the party in the wrong. The 30-year-old wideout went off over a specific (and, as of yet, unspecified) issue, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, and has not been in the Steelers’ building in days. Roethlisberger and Brown argued, with Fowler noting Brown was the primary arguer.

It’s now believed he missed Sunday’s game against the Bengals because of this turmoil and not a knee injury.

While some of Brown’s teammates were surprised he showed up with the intention of playing Sunday, after missing meetings and a walkthrough Saturday, NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reports (video link) others in the organization expected him to play Sunday. She confirms the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s report of Brown leaving Heinz Field at halftime.

This situation affected the Steelers’ effort in Week 17, per Kinkhabwala, who adds Brown did not show up for the Steelers’ exit meeting Monday. Mike Tomlin apparently did not address Brown’s issues today, per Kinkhabwala.

Antonio Brown’s Week 17 Absence Not Injury-Related?

December 31st, 2018 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers and Antonio Brown have experienced problems in the recent past, and another appears to have cropped up.

The four-time All-Pro wide receiver was involved in an evidently significant dispute with an unnamed teammate, and that — and not an injury — caused him to miss Sunday’s season finale, Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

Brown and this teammate’s confrontation occurred Wednesday, and the receiver threw a football at this player, per the Pittsburgh duo. Brown skipped the Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough, and a team meeting, and left Sunday’s game at halftime, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting Brown surprised teammates by showing up at Heinz Field expecting to play. He did not practice last week, but several Steelers sources said Brown’s knee was not an issue.

Brown showing up Sunday with the intention to play surprised several teammates, and one source informed the Post-Gazette tandem it was the 30-year-old pass-catcher’s decision not to practice during the week. Brown was initially listed as absent from practice due to to a coach’s decision, before “knee” was added to subsequent injury reports.

Brown’s recent issues go back a bit. Brown also skipped a meeting prior to the Steelers’ pivotal Saints matchup, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting he was in the building where the meeting took place but skipped the actual meeting. The Steelers beat the Bengals on Sunday, but only by three points. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Two seasons ago, Brown ran into trouble for streaming Mike Tomlin‘s divisional-round victory address on Facebook Live. This year, he responded to a former Steelers employee’s perceived social media slight by tweeting “Trade me let’s find out” regarding how valuable he is to Pittsburgh.

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017. He and JuJu Smith-Schuster have formed an elite receiving tandem, with Brown scoring 15 touchdowns in 15 games and Smith Schuster taking a big leap from his rookie year and leading the Steelers in receiving. Three seasons remain on Brown’s contract.

Dolphins, Packers Request To Interview Steelers’ Mike Munchak

December 31st, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Munchak was part of the 2018 coaching carousel but opted to stay on as the Steelers’ offensive line coach. A demand for meetings with the longtime assistant and former head coach has increased this year.

After the Broncos requested an interview with Munchak, two more teams — the Dolphins and Packers — have joined this pursuit, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).

Denver has received permission to meet with Munchak, per 9News’ Mike Klis (on Twitter). The five-year Steelers O-line coach will consider the Broncos’ job, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link). Munchak, 58, backed out of the Cardinals’ HC search last year.

Munchak served as the Titans’ coach from 2011-13 and has overseen one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in recent years. Pittsburgh’s front helped turn Le’Veon Bell into a star and James Conner into a quickly capable replacement while also aiding Ben Roethlisberger to four straight Pro Bowls and a 2018 5,000-yard season.

Steelers WR Antonio Brown Won’t Play Today

December 30th, 2018 at 2:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers need a lot to go right today if they have any hope of making the postseason. Unfortunately, they’ll have to play today’s key game without their star wideout. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that receiver Antonio Brown is inactive for today’s game against the Bengals.

Brown missed several practices this week, and he was listed as questionable with a knee injury. The 30-year-old also underwent tests on the knee, with the injury ultimately keeping him out of his first game of the season. Brown was having another standout season for Pittsburgh, hauling in 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. Of course, the Steelers still shouldn’t have a tough time against a Bengals team that has allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL, especially with Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster still leading the passing attack.

While Brown is out for today’s game, Schefter reports that the Steelers will have running back James Conner. The 23-year-old hasn’t played since early December as he recovered from an ankle injury. In 12 games this season, Conner’s compiled 909 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores on 201 carries. He’s also added another 52 receptions for 467 yards and one touchdown.

The Steelers need more than a win today over the Bengals if they want to make the playoffs. Rather, they’ll also need the Ravens to lose to the Browns. Pittsburgh could also make the playoffs with a tie and a Ravens’ loss.

Steelers Could Make Staff Changes

December 29th, 2018 at 6:02pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • It’s been a frustrating year for the Steelers, and despite some fans and media types calling for Mike Tomlin’s removal, the 12th year head coach isn’t going anywhere, according to Rapoport. That being said, Rapoport writes there could be a staff shakeup, and defensive coordinator Keith Butler could be on his way out, while “several assistants could be changed out” as well.

Antonio Brown Undergoing Knee Tests

December 28th, 2018 at 5:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Steelers enter their must-win (plus-help-required) Week 17 scenario, their best player is not certain to be available. Antonio Brown missed three practices this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. The four-time All-Pro is undergoing tests on his injured knee, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Brown has not missed a game this season. While Pittsburgh would be favored to beat Cincinnati at home without Brown, two-time reigning AFC North champions have not exactly been bastions of consistency this season or in recent years. The Steelers can clinch their fifth straight playoff berth with a win and a Ravens home loss to the Browns.

Steelers Place K Chris Boswell On IR

December 28th, 2018 at 9:24am CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers are making a significant change ahead of their biggest game of the season. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team is placing kicker Chris Boswell on injured reserve. The team has signed kicker Matt McCrane to take his place.

After making the Pro Bowl last season, Boswell has struggled mightily in 2018. Through 15 games, Boswell has converted only 13 of his 20 field goal attempts, with his 65-percent mark ranking dead last among eligible kickers. The 27-year-old even struggled on extra points; after having made at least 94-percent of his attempts through the first three seasons of his career, that number dropped to 89.6-percent (43-for-48) in 2018.

Boswell seemed to have a rebound game during last weekend’s loss to the Saints, as he made his two field goal attempts and two extra point tries. Many attributed the kicker’s struggles to the yips, and his placement on the IR doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s been dealing with a nagging injury throughout the campaign. It’s more likely that the coaching staff still didn’t feel good about Boswell’s prospects heading into Week 17 and the postseason, and his placement on the IR allowed the organization to keep him on the roster.

McCrane, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas State, has bounced around the NFL this season, spending time with the Cardinals and Raiders. He appeared in four total games with the two organizations, connecting on five of his nine field goal attempts and all five of his extra point tries.

Update On James Conner

December 25th, 2018 at 12:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • The Steelers are on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention, and need a win over the Bengals and a Browns victory over the Ravens in Week 17 to win the AFC North and sneak into the postseason. They’ll need all hands on deck, and could be getting a big boost on offense for the must-win game. James Conner has missed the last few weeks with a high ankle sprain, but has a “realistic chance” to play this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Jaylen Samuels has filled in admirably in the backfield, but getting Conner back would still be huge.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18

December 24th, 2018 at 9:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Cincinnati Bengals:

  • K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino

Detroit Lions:

Indianapolis Colts:

Kansas City Chiefs:

New York Giants:

  • DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)

Pittsburgh Steelers:

  • QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT

Tennessee Titans:

Washington Redskins:

This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.

Ben Roethlisberger Suffered Cracked Ribs; James Conner Expected To Return In Week 16

December 16th, 2018 at 9:35am CST by Rory Parks

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a rib injury in last week’s upset loss to the Raiders, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Big Ben actually cracked his ribs (video link). Pittsburgh was reportedly unable to make that determination during the game due to a faulty X-ray machine in Oakland, but Rapoport says the injury should not limit Roethlisberger going forward. The Steelers face a critical matchup against New England this afternoon, so they will need Roethlisberger to battle through.

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