Don't resign AB

[phillyesq]

The argument against signing AB long term isn't his antics or anybody else. The argument is that you will be paying him top 5 (at a minimum) WR money for performance that likely won't match over the course of the deal. You will be paying for past performance. AB will be 29 next year. Any new money in the extension kicks in at age 30. For a smaller, twitch WR, despite how hard he works, he's likely to lose a bit of a step and a bit of quickness. I don't think he falls off a cliff, but this season was already a dropoff from 2013 - 2015. Even in a "down" year he was 2nd in reception, 5th in yards and 2nd in TDs. But if the trend continues, or even if he keeps producing where he is, the question is do the Steelers want to pay $14.5 million for that production for a small WR who will be going into his 30s?

Put differently, what if you could trade AB, getting a mid-high first round pick and some other picks. Would you do it?

[feltdizz]

AB is our Hines Ward. At least he is to me. Dude is small but he is deadly, moves the chains and over the course of a season he can win you 4 to 5 games. That's worth 14.5 in today's NFL. Now, if we played a different defense and put that money into our CB's to play man to man I would spread the AB money around but I think there is enough to get good value on defense in the scheme we run.

Also, when Ben retires in a year or 2 we will need a few WR's to make the next QB look good until we find a franchise QB.

[SidSmythe]

Once the Media gets on to something they'll do anything to keep the ball rolling. Hence the "Pouting" incident. Makes good fodder!!

I had a guy tell me Sunday, "I don't think Brown will be a Steeler next year"!!!

Based on what??? A Facebook Live gaffe??
We have 2 time Marijuana violators on the team and now AB is going to be shipped off??

[SidSmythe]

Wah Lah!!!
Well except the reading INTO Ben's comments where he "doesn't deny" it

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/25/antonio-brown-report-had-an-error-steelers-dont-deny-he-was-pouting/

[Northern_Blitz]

I'm probably going to trade AB in my Madden season because it's super easy to get awesome WRs in Madden, especially because I'll probably get some great draft picks back.

Real life is different.

Signing AB will mean that we pay lots of money for great production early in the contract and over pay after. Ben probably won't play for too many more years. So, we have great / very good Brown when Ben is still playing. That maybe gives us a shot to win again. Paying Brown too much when he's not all world and Ben has retired makes us worse, which increases our chances of an early pick which is the best way to get a franchise QB.

We're in the part of Ben's career where we mortgage the future for the present.

[Real Deal Steel]

I think Ben has 3 good years left; So why shell out an astronomical amount of money that has to spread out in a six year deal to AB??

Some kind of team friendly 3 year deal is what I'd like so when Ben is done in 2-3 years, AB's contract will be basically done; or we can re-evaluate again at that point.

[Iron Shiek]

Did we really win a SB with those players or those players win a SB with A SB winning defense?

Neither...or both actually. Cowher's players won that SB.

[Oviedo]

I'm probably going to trade AB in my Madden season because it's super easy to get awesome WRs in Madden, especially because I'll probably get some great draft picks back.

Real life is different.

Signing AB will mean that we pay lots of money for great production early in the contract and over pay after. Ben probably won't play for too many more years. So, we have great / very good Brown when Ben is still playing. That maybe gives us a shot to win again. Paying Brown too much when he's not all world and Ben has retired makes us worse, which increases our chances of an early pick which is the best way to get a franchise QB.

We're in the part of Ben's career where we mortgage the future for the present.

Intelligent and well said, unlike a lot of the lame brain nonsense being posted on this subject

[NJ-STEELER]

The argument against signing AB long term isn't his antics or anybody else. The argument is that you will be paying him top 5 (at a minimum) WR money for performance that likely won't match over the course of the deal. You will be paying for past performance. AB will be 29 next year. Any new money in the extension kicks in at age 30. For a smaller, twitch WR, despite how hard he works, he's likely to lose a bit of a step and a bit of quickness. I don't think he falls off a cliff, but this season was already a dropoff from 2013 - 2015. Even in a "down" year he was 2nd in reception, 5th in yards and 2nd in TDs. But if the trend continues, or even if he keeps producing where he is, the question is do the Steelers want to pay $14.5 million for that production for a small WR who will be going into his 30s?

Put differently, what if you could trade AB, getting a mid-high first round pick and some other picks. Would you do it?

Love AB and his production. but if wants more then 10-12 per year. Then I would look to trade him.
Philly is already rumored to be interested.

l Beckham green and two 2nds?

A 1st and 2nd?

[NorthCoast]

The argument against signing AB long term isn't his antics or anybody else. The argument is that you will be paying him top 5 (at a minimum) WR money for performance that likely won't match over the course of the deal. You will be paying for past performance. AB will be 29 next year. Any new money in the extension kicks in at age 30. For a smaller, twitch WR, despite how hard he works, he's likely to lose a bit of a step and a bit of quickness. I don't think he falls off a cliff, but this season was already a dropoff from 2013 - 2015. Even in a "down" year he was 2nd in reception, 5th in yards and 2nd in TDs. But if the trend continues, or even if he keeps producing where he is, the question is do the Steelers want to pay $14.5 million for that production for a small WR who will be going into his 30s?

Put differently, what if you could trade AB, getting a mid-high first round pick and some other picks. Would you do it?

I agree. A salary is for work a person will do for the organization, not for what he has done. Having said that, AB is probably still worth 4 wins a season for the next few years. That's the difference between making the playoffs and not.
Bigger concern is his behavior may be getting more and more self-centered. At some point, you end up with Ocho Cinco.

[pittpete]

I love AB..
If theres one knock on his game it's that he can be taken out of a game without much difficulty.
If a defense is willing to man up on him and play a safety over the top he's a very expensive decoy.
Watching the Falcons game Sunday, Julio Jones absolutely took over that game.
If i had to choose between signing Bell and giving Brown a long term mind blowing contract i'd have go with Bell.
Bell is too special of a player to let move on.
Just my opinion.

[feltdizz]

I love AB..
If theres one knock on his game it's that he can be taken out of a game without much difficulty.
If a defense is willing to man up on him and play a safety over the top he's a very expensive decoy.
Watching the Falcons game Sunday, Julio Jones absolutely took over that game.
If i had to choose between signing Bell and giving Brown a long term mind blowing contract i'd have go with Bell.
Bell is too special of a player to let move on.
Just my opinion.

Jones took over that game because they have other weapons on offense who can stretch the field. Seneuai or whatever his name is #12 is a problem for defenses and their TE is pretty good as well.

If we targeted Rogers more often and Coates or Hamilton make a play you would see AB get more targets.

James got us to the GL and we should have scored. If we continued targeting him (and if the refs called holding/PI) the game may have played out differently as well.

AB isn't the problem. The problem is Bryant smokes weed, Wheaton and DHB were hurt half the year, Coates needs a hand transplant, Green stays dizzy and Ayers was inactive for some stupid reason.

It shouldn't be this hard to find a reliable #2 in today's NFL. Must be something in the water in Pittsburgh.

[NJ-STEELER]

you have 1 game or 1 year and get your choice for wr. If you don't take Julie Jones over Ab you're just not watching enough falcon football

[Captain Lemming]

I love AB..
If theres one knock on his game it's that he can be taken out of a game without much difficulty.
If a defense is willing to man up on him and play a safety over the top he's a very expensive decoy.
Watching the Falcons game Sunday, Julio Jones absolutely took over that game.
If i had to choose between signing Bell and giving Brown a long term mind blowing contract i'd have go with Bell.
Bell is too special of a player to let move on.
Just my opinion.

While I agree that a drug free Bell is a more valuable asset, comparing Julio to Brown based on championship game performance is ridiculous.

The Packers literally have the WORST PASS DEFENSE in the entire league. AND they were a beat up secondary. They are 32nd in yards given up and 30th in touchdown passes allowed (gave up 32). They won by out scoring people period.

It took Brown less than 10 minutes of the first quarter to get 120 yards and 2 touchdowns against the fins.

With a red hot QB slinging the ball and the wort defense in the league, without question Brown could shrewd the Packers similarly.

[Captain Lemming]

you have 1 game or 1 year and get your choice for wr. If you don't take Julie Jones over Ab you're just not watching enough falcon football

I dont even dispute this. Jones is bigger stronger AND faster. Browns IS quicker. But yes I give Julio the edge.
But it ain't THAT big a disparity, and it ain't like Brown can't EASILY shred the Packers which is my point.

And is not that Brown is easy to stop (or else everybody could do it) and Julio not some this unstoppable force that cannot be contained.