AB Problems, Steelers' Underachieving Because of Team Culture

[Buzz]

IMO this isnt H.S. football
There are $$million$ of reasons why i think most of AB's teammates could accept him in the locker again.
Like Pouncey said, 'time heals all wounds'

I think it would be a big mistake for the Steelers to bring AB back. Whether they'll do it or not, I have no idea.

I can see reconciliation and healing taking place when it comes to his relationships with his teammates. The bigger problem with this situation is the way AB has disrespected (and flaunted his disrespect) for his head coach. How does Tomlin realistically have any semblance of authority over Brown if they bring Brown back? Doesn't Brown take away the message that he is bigger than Tomlin and can disregard what Tomlin says if he feels like it? Doesn't it send the wrong message to the rest of the team and undermine efforts Tomlin might make to get players under control?

I think if you're going to keep AB, you ought to get rid of Tomlin, and if you are going to keep Tomlin, you need to get rid of AB. Like I said, I don't know what the Steelers will do, but if you bring both of these men back, you can expect more acting out from Brown and more problems for the team in the future.

[Ernie]

I think it would be a big mistake for the Steelers to bring AB back. Whether they'll do it or not, I have no idea.

I can see reconciliation and healing taking place when it comes to his relationships with his teammates. The bigger problem with this situation is the way AB has disrespected (and flaunted his disrespect) for his head coach. How does Tomlin realistically have any semblance of authority over Brown if they bring Brown back? Doesn't Brown take away the message that he is bigger than Tomlin and can disregard what Tomlin says if he feels like it? Doesn't it send the wrong message to the rest of the team and undermine efforts Tomlin might make to get players under control?

I think if you're going to keep AB, you ought to get rid of Tomlin, and if you are going to keep Tomlin, you need to get rid of AB. Like I said, I don't know what the Steelers will do, but if you bring both of these men back, you can expect more acting out from Brown and more problems for the team in the future.

This right here is $$$$$.

By keeping AB, the organization is sending the wrong message to the team (about quitting). It'll be a matter of time before it happens again... and then what do you do? It's a slippery slope we are potentially traveling down (as we speak).

[Steel Maniac]

I think it would be a big mistake for the Steelers to bring AB back. Whether they'll do it or not, I have no idea.

I can see reconciliation and healing taking place when it comes to his relationships with his teammates. The bigger problem with this situation is the way AB has disrespected (and flaunted his disrespect) for his head coach. How does Tomlin realistically have any semblance of authority over Brown if they bring Brown back? Doesn't Brown take away the message that he is bigger than Tomlin and can disregard what Tomlin says if he feels like it? Doesn't it send the wrong message to the rest of the team and undermine efforts Tomlin might make to get players under control?

I think if you're going to keep AB, you ought to get rid of Tomlin, and if you are going to keep Tomlin, you need to get rid of AB. Like I said, I don't know what the Steelers will do, but if you bring both of these men back, you can expect more acting out from Brown and more problems for the team in the future.

Well said. Tomlin will look as weak as wet toilet tissue if AB is allowed back. It would set the stage for the next guy who wants to pull some shinanigans and will have a negative ripple affect down the line.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Report: Tomlin told players Brown will be gone when his production goes down

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 25, 2019, 9:14 AM EST

Mike Tomlin has reportedly been telling Steelers players for years that he’ll tolerate wide receiver Antonio Brown only so long as he’s playing at an All-Pro level.

A new report from ESPN says that Tomlin was sick and tired of Brown’s chronic tardiness, and told other players it would be addressed — just as soon as Brown stopped playing like one of the best wide receivers in football.

“[Tomlin] essentially told the group, we’ll tolerate it now because of what he brings on the field, but the minute production stops, you don’t overlook it,” one unnamed ex-Steeler said.

If that’s the case, it was foolish of the Steelers to give Brown the four-year, $68 million extension he got two years ago. If the Steelers were already preparing for a time when Brown became more trouble than he was worth, they shouldn’t have given him a big new deal that made him more expensive — and harder to move on from once they decided they couldn’t take it anymore.

But ESPN says it has confirmed with nearly 20 current or former Steelers that it’s been an ongoing problem with Brown, and that the team always knew it wasn’t going to last long.

“This has been brewing for years,” one ex-teammate said. “It’s just now coming to the surface. And it’s probably over.”

Brown’s production is still quite good — he had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games last season — but it now appears that even at the level he’s producing, the Steelers have had enough.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/25/report-tomlin-told-players-brown-will-be-gone-when-his-production-goes-down/

[Steel Maniac]

Report: Tomlin told players Brown will be gone when his production goes down

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 25, 2019, 9:14 AM EST

Mike Tomlin has reportedly been telling Steelers players for years that he’ll tolerate wide receiver Antonio Brown only so long as he’s playing at an All-Pro level.

A new report from ESPN says that Tomlin was sick and tired of Brown’s chronic tardiness, and told other players it would be addressed — just as soon as Brown stopped playing like one of the best wide receivers in football.

“[Tomlin] essentially told the group, we’ll tolerate it now because of what he brings on the field, but the minute production stops, you don’t overlook it,” one unnamed ex-Steeler said.

If that’s the case, it was foolish of the Steelers to give Brown the four-year, $68 million extension he got two years ago. If the Steelers were already preparing for a time when Brown became more trouble than he was worth, they shouldn’t have given him a big new deal that made him more expensive — and harder to move on from once they decided they couldn’t take it anymore.

But ESPN says it has confirmed with nearly 20 current or former Steelers that it’s been an ongoing problem with Brown, and that the team always knew it wasn’t going to last long.

“This has been brewing for years,” one ex-teammate said. “It’s just now coming to the surface. And it’s probably over.”

Brown’s production is still quite good — he had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games last season — but it now appears that even at the level he’s producing, the Steelers have had enough.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/25/report-tomlin-told-players-brown-will-be-gone-when-his-production-goes-down/

This pretty much says it all. Tomlin has been tolerating this all along. And AB has always been a problem. So people hammering at Ben can stop now.

[Ernie]

Boy I hate to hear that.. because it sends the wrong message... meaning... if you are a great player... you can get away with almost anything...

[Steel Maniac]

Boy I hate to hear that.. because it sends the wrong message... meaning... if you are a great player... you can get away with almost anything...

Yep..you can with Tomlin apparently. But Oviedo will come in here any moment and attack Florio's credibility and anything else he can make up. That's what "they" do.

[Northern_Blitz]

This pretty much says it all. Tomlin has been tolerating this all along. And has always been a problem. So people hammering at Ben can stop now.

Other quotes from team mates talk about AB and Ben being like brothers fighting or about them having a love-hate relationship. I think that Ben is a part of this (like Tomlin), but that the vast majority of the blame falls on AB.

[Steel Maniac]

Other quotes from team mates talk about AB and Ben being like brothers fighting or about them having a love-hate relationship. I think that Ben is a part of this (like Tomlin), but that the vast majority of the blame falls on AB.

You couldn't get rid of a franchise QB. That wouldn't happen.

[Buzz]

Florio's report agrees with earlier reports that Tomlin's mantra concerning problem players is, "I'll put up with you until I can replace you." What a recipe for dysfunction. No surprise that this team has been so often sloppy and unfocused, and has underachieved. If Tomlin is going to ever take a team back to a Super Bowl, he's going to have to make a drastic change in the way he does things.

[Northern_Blitz]

You couldn't get rid of a franchise QB. That wouldn't happen.

You definitely don't get rid of Ben for disagreeing with a player. Star players have different rules they play by, and franchise QBs are the biggest stars. It looks like AB is learning that lesson now.

The only reason you get rid of Ben is if you think there is very little chance of winning in the next 2 - 3 years. Then, trading him for a bounty of picks is probably the best play from an "asset management" perspective. But that would be a tough sell to the fan base.

[Steel Maniac]

But North, from the report, this just wasn't happening recently. This has been going on with AB for years. Years. That is independent of Ben. That's my whole point. This jives with what Emmanuel Sanders said about AB when he was with us back then.

[Northern_Blitz]

But North, from the report, this just wasn't happening recently. This has been going on with AB for years. Years. That is independent of Ben. That's my whole point. This jives with what Emmanuel Sanders said about AB when he was with us back then.

Yep. I don't see how that conflicts with what I said.

[NorthCoast]

Tomlin isn't making any decisions on AB in a vacuum. You can bank any decision is made in full agreement with the entire organization... Rooney on down. If anyone should feel disrespected by AB it's Rooney.
So if AB is not traded the Steelers must feel comfortable with how they plan to handle him.
Listen to Rooneys words, 'we've dealt with many different players and many different situations over the years'.

[Northern_Blitz]

Tomlin isn't making any decisions on AB in a vacuum. You can bank any decision is made in full agreement with the entire organization... Rooney on down. If anyone should feel disrespected by AB it's Rooney.
So if AB is not traded the Steelers must feel comfortable with how they plan to handle him.
Listen to Rooneys words, 'we've dealt with many different players and many different situations over the years'.

I agree that it's to a point where Rooney is very involved with the decision