Pittsburgh Steelers ink Antonio Brown to 5 year 42.5 million dollar extension

[toddjammin]

per PFT. I love this move

[DukieBoy]

Also on ESPN and on 93.7 radio.

[RuthlessBurgher]

So the Jim Wexell/Weslye Saunders tweets got the money right, but the player wrong? That's just weird...

[D Rock]

hahahaha what a slap to Mike Wallace. Maybe this will convince him to show up. No doubt about it the Steelers were doing this to make a statement.

[DukieBoy]

Anyone think that may be Wallace's ceiling for a contract ???

[RuthlessBurgher]

Terms here...the signing bonus is the most important aspect of a deal, and a $8.5M signing bonus for Brown is an absolute coup...awesome.

Steelers ink Antonio Brown to long-term deal
Posted by Mike Florio on July 27, 2012, 6:27 PM EDT
The good news is that a Steelers receiver has gotten a new contract. The bad news is that his name isn’t Mike Wallace.

Per a league source, the Steelers have signed receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year, $42.5 million extension.

Brown, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, was the team’s MVP in 2011.

Signed under the old CBA, Brown was eligible for a new contract after two seasons. Players drafted in 2011 and beyond must play three years before doing new deals.

The contract helps the Steelers avoid in 2013 another Mike Wallace-style standoff. Since both players signed three-year contracts, each player was eligible for restricted free agency.

Brown gets a signing bonus of $8.5 million plus a base salary of $540,000 in 2012. In 2013, he receives a $2.5 million roster bonus and a $2 million base salary.

In 2014, the salary increases to $6 million. It stays at $6 million in 2015 before increasing to $8.25 million in 2016. Finally, he receives $8.71 million in 2017.

It remains to be seen whether this will make the Steelers more likely or less likely to do a deal with Wallace, who is scheduled to earn $2.7 million in 2012. It’s possible that the Steelers, exasperated by the negotiations with Wallace, offered to Brown the deal that had been on the table for Wallace.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/27/steelers-ink-antonio-brown-to-long-term-deal/[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Looks like Antonio's cap his for this season should be $2.24 million...that still leaves room to extend Wallace as well...

[SteelBucks]

Anyone think that may be Wallace's ceiling for a contract ???

Wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers offered Wallace a similar deal. I'm glad they got Brown extended before the season.

See Mike Wallace??? The Steelers will work with you if you report!!!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Wait...just noted that it is a 5 year extension (in addition to this one already), so we've got him locked up for 6 seasons. If the cap hit is distributed over 6 years rather than 5, that would make his cap hit for this year $1.95 million.

[williar]

Bittersweet! Love that we have Brown locked down but I still want #17 on board.

[D Rock]

I don't remember that many touchdowns, but he's definitely a heckuva player!

[D Rock]

Wait...just noted that it is a 5 year extension (in addition to this one already), so we've got him locked up for 6 seasons. If the cap hit is distributed over 6 years rather than 5, that would make his cap hit for this year $1.95 million.

signing bonuses have a maximum proration term of 5 years no matter how long the contract is

[SidSmythe]

LOVE THIS!!!

Love this kids attitude, all around playing ability.......he's something special.

If it came down between Wallace and Brown for the exact same contract i'd go with Brown.

[Flasteel]

hahahaha what a slap to Mike Wallace. Maybe this will convince him to show up. No doubt about it the Steelers were doing this to make a statement.

I think it says more about what the Steelers think of AB then anything else, but I can't help but feel the same way.

Obviously things have been going on behind the scenes -in terms of negotiating this contract- but getting this "secret" deal done the day after you publicly end negotiations with Wallace is a big slap. It not only sends the message that we already have a top-tier receiver we are willing to pay, it pretty much sets a limit on what he can expect to get. There is no way he will earn significantly more than what Brown just got. AB is coming off an MVP year where he set an NFL combined yardage record. Many would argue that he is a better all-around receiver than Wallace. Despite the extra year of service, you would have to treat these players very similarly, as far as how you pay them. Do you guys not agree?

I would be very interested to know what the Steelers latest offer to Wallace is. If it's in any way, shape, or form better than this deal, he would be a fool to hold out for more...'cause he ain't going to get it. This deal could also serve as the impetus for getting Wallace into camp. Now his agent has a contract which should serve as the barometer, one way or another. The Wallace camp won't be able to negotiate anything however, unless he reports.

Regardless...great job of locking up a top receiver and avoiding this same mess next year.

[Steelgal]

Very excited about this contract getting done!!!! Didn't want the same result with him next off season, not that I think it would have went down the same way. I predict my next jersey will be #84!!!