Big Thank You to a former player

[RuthlessBurgher]

Letting Antonio walk in his prime would be like letting Troy Polamalu walk in his prime...he's a foundation piece. It simply won't happen, especially since the cap seems to be rising by 10 or more million dollars each year. He deserves the raise we will give him. We'll let Wheaton walk...he's replaceable. The big question in the future will be Bryant. We'll have a few more seasons to see how his game develops further to determine what he'd be worth in terms of an extension or as trade bait if we ultimately cannot afford him and Brown together.

[Oviedo]

For the most part, WRs are easy to replace. However, Brown is one of those unique talents that makes him special compared to others. I think you can replace Wheaton and Bryant although I think you could retain the former with a reasonable contract. The key with Bryant is whether he gets stupid ala Stupidio Holmes again.

What is really crazy about the best receiving corps in the NFL is the workhorses are a 6th round, 4th round and 3rd round pick. IMO just shows what a difference maker Ben is and I give a lot of credit to Haley who put the right plays together.

[Captain Lemming]

AB is gone after he plays out his current contract. Enjoy him while you can. The Steelers will never give him what he is worth or even close to it and I am good with that.

I agree. Not because the team doesn't value Brown, the league OVERVALUES top receivers. Top receiver contracts bust the cap and NEVER result in championships. It is a fact. Name one top signing receiver that resulted in a championship in the last decade?

Ben won with Hines and ARE, neither was a track star. Ditto NE last season and the Seahawks before that.

We are better with Brown no doubt. But we will be WORSE with Brown with a ridiculous contract he can demand based on how stupid teams pay receivers because of what wed have to give up to accommodate it.

[Starlifter]

the steelers will not give AB a ridiculous contract. it remains to be seen if he prefers to go to a ridiculous contract and suffer on a losing team that can't surround him with playmakers as the result. I think however it's more likely than not they will quietly negotiate a new deal with one year remaining.

as for wallace, I never blame a player for being 'greedy'. these guys have a very short window to make a lifetime of earnings - so get as much as you can, while you can. randel el going to the skins for an absurd amount is not a reflection on him, it's a statement on the idiocy of snyder. that miami wanted to pay a 'one trick pony' that kind of money - shoot, take it and don't look back.

it worked out for the steelers. it worked out for wallace. that being said, he's not seeing any more premium pay days - but I don't think it matters anymore. the dolphins set him up for life.

if he's smart with his money that is.

[Shoe]

I agree. Not because the team doesn't value Brown, the league OVERVALUES top receivers. Top receiver contracts bust the cap and NEVER result in championships. It is a fact. Name one top signing receiver that resulted in a championship in the last decade?

Ben won with Hines and ARE, neither was a track star. Ditto NE last season and the Seahawks before that.

We are better with Brown no doubt. But we will be WORSE with Brown with a ridiculous contract he can demand based on how stupid teams pay receivers because of what wed have to give up to accommodate it.

Wheaton is gone. He is another Manny Sanders. He has the ability to establish himself as a good #2 WR in this league, and he simply shouldn't get that opportunity with AB and Bryant in the mix.

Byrant though, is the x-factor. He has been unbelievable. If we get to the playoffs and beat the *, he will be a key reason why: NO ONE has been able to stop him, and we didn't have him back in Week 1. If he gets just a little more consistent in catching and routes, he's right there with AB, AJ, Dez, Damaryus, Julio...

[Captain Lemming]

Wheaton is gone. He is another Manny Sanders. He has the ability to establish himself as a good #2 WR in this league, and he simply shouldn't get that opportunity with AB and Bryant in the mix.

Byrant though, is the x-factor. He has been unbelievable. If we get to the playoffs and beat the *, he will be a key reason why: NO ONE has been able to stop him, and we didn't have him back in Week 1. If he gets just a little more consistent in catching and routes, he's right there with AB, AJ, Dez, Damaryus, Julio...

I see Brown getting ridiculous BANK elsewhere, and we sign Bryant to a reasonable deal early while he is being overshadowed by Brown, and just like Brown he flourishes as a dominant number one. If that happens we CAN afford to keep Wheaton.

Bryant has the deep skills of Wallace, but has some of Browns quicks and elusiveness, shockingly so at his size. He blends their skill sets. That game Landry replaced Vick he showed it all. Too bad his hands are more Wallace than Brown. Hopefully that changes.

[Ernie]

There's something to be said about AB's relationship with Ben. The question is, will he be willing to take less pay to stay...and have Ben throwing to him for the rest of his career, as opposed to a Tannehill type? AB has the chance to be one of the, if not THE best of all time. Just wondering if he's the type to put Legacy over money.

[Oviedo]

I see Brown getting ridiculous BANK elsewhere, and we sign Bryant to a reasonable deal early while he is being overshadowed by Brown, and just like Brown he flourishes as a dominant number one. If that happens we CAN afford to keep Wheaton.

Bryant has the deep skills of Wallace, but has some of Browns quicks and elusiveness, shockingly so at his size. He blends their skill sets. That game Landry replaced Vick he showed it all. Too bad his hands are more Wallace than Brown. Hopefully that changes.

Bryant also has Wallace's unreliable hands and Stupidio's poor decision making. IMO he is a risk going forward. He could be Demariyus Thomas or Josh Gordon. I'm just not convinced yet that he can keep it together off the field when away from the structure of the team.

I'm not sure that Brown gets ridiculous bank as a 30+ receiver. His best situation may be to stay with the Steelers.

[SteelSpain]

There's something to be said about AB's relationship with Ben. The question is, will he be willing to take less pay to stay...and have Ben throwing to him for the rest of his career, as opposed to a Tannehill type? AB has the chance to be one of the, if not THE best of all time. Just wondering if he's the type to put Legacy over money.

This is the BIG question. Look at the games Ben´s missed. AB´s been missed too. If he prefers money he´s gone. A lot of tems are paid waaay more money that Steelers are willing to do. But in any of these teams Big Ben or any elite QB isn´t throwing to him.

[Mr.wizard]

No the biggest mistake was falling in love with the hype about his speed and not recognizing how much he was lacking as a WR.

Ben created an illusion of Wallace being a top WR and he cashed in on that

I don't buy that, in two years in Miami with a below average QB Wallace posted almost 1800yds and 15 tds. This year he is just part of a Vikings passing attack that is boring at best. I think Mike Wallace is very good, he is just a receiver who is not going to do a lot of damage underneath so when he gets on a team like the Vikings who rarely goes down field it drastically cuts into his production.

[Captain Lemming]

Bryant also has Wallace's unreliable hands and Stupidio's poor decision making. IMO he is a risk going forward. He could be Demariyus Thomas or Josh Gordon. I'm just not convinced yet that he can keep it together off the field when away from the structure of the team.

I'm not sure that Brown gets ridiculous bank as a 30+ receiver. His best situation may be to stay with the Steelers.

I hope You are right, I Really do. I hope he stays for reasonable coin. Two concerns.

1. Nothing I've seen leads me to believe Brown will choose legacy over money. Perhaps closing in on legacy numbers makes staying more compelling.
2. When it comes to a 30 plus receiver..........never underestimate the stupidity of other teams.

[SS Laser]

I hope the games with LJ was enough for brown to stay for good money so he has Ben throwing him the ball! Not a second rate QB! Brown has shown me with his work he wants to be talked about like rice! Need Ben for that! Home town discount I hope! Plus after they win this super bowl and AB is still under contract it could pressure him to sign a discounted deal to go for back to back Super Bowls! Then the history of Ben and Brown go to another level! lol

[papillon]

Here's my plan for all three WRs. Determine a way to keep all three for 4-5 more years, because at that point Ben will be done and the Steelers will be rebuilding regardless.

Pappy

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I'm gonna go with this. It'd be like letting Ben walk. (Almost).

or Hines, back in the day... I'm also going with this.

[Captain Lemming]

I'm gonna go with this. It'd be like letting Ben walk. (Almost).

Not really. Ben has not one but TWO rings pre-Brown. Ben made SANTONIO HOLMES look like an ALL TIME GREAT in the Super Bowl.
Ben benefits from Browns excellence but he does not NEED Brown to win.
We would not lose all hope if Brown got hurt.
We would be toast without Ben.

I repeat in over a decade THERE IS ZERO CORRELATION BETWEEN ELITE WR TALENT AND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

They are great to have, but if it requires top WR money to keep one ANY receiver is expendable because they get paid too much. Elite QBs are WAY more crucial to championships and it ain't close. It is the only position worth breaking the bank over. I don't mind paying top dollar for other elite positions. But top receiver money is not commensurate to the actual value of the position.

In today's NFL they are cap killers.

If age limits his value elsewhere, or he gives us a discount, I would love to keep him. But IF it requires elite WR dough it would be a mistake, and I don't see the Steeler doing it.