AB Problems, Steelers' Underachieving Because of Team Culture

[Buzz]

He was held accountable, he skipped a walk through and got benched.

C'mon, that was NOT holding AB accountable. That was him pushing Tomlin so far that he was finally forced to do something ... because if he hadn't benched him there were teammates who were ready to drag AB off the field. C'mon -- Brown didn't even lose his paycheck for that game. Held accountable? What a joke.

The fact that he is a diva is not a problem that I feel he needs to suffer any discipline for.

Don't kid yourself, being a diva is a big problem when you continually demand special treatment, break team rules, and disrespect your head coach and undermine his authority. Being a diva is a huge problem when you go AWOL to prove a point because you didn't get voted team MVP. Discipline, applied early and properly, would have not only been appropriate, but it may well have headed off the fiasco that ensued.

The guy goes out there on the field and does what he gets paid to do, he is not getting paid to love everyone in the locker room. I'm sorry but you put up with attitude from a guy who just had 104 catches 1297 yards and 15 tds, that is guy you sit down with and try and work out issues with. You don't chase your best offensive weapon out of town because you don't like who he is, that is not accountability and it is not leadership.

No one is denying AB's tremendous production over the years. Terrell Owens (ironically, AB's "mentor") was very productive. Were teams in the wrong for moving him on? Was it a lack of accountability and leadership on their part to let him go?

[Buzz]

Yes if Brown was asking for a trade.

No ... if he was making "minimal negative impact" on the team, you can be sure the team would NOT be exploring trade offers for AB, whether he was talking about wanting a trade or not.

[Ernie]

No ... if he was making "minimal negative impact" on the team, you can be sure the team would NOT be exploring trade offers for AB, whether he was talking about wanting a trade or not.

exactly.... I think wizard is pretty much by himself on this one

[Mr.wizard]

No ... if he was making "minimal negative impact" on the team, you can be sure the team would NOT be exploring trade offers for AB, whether he was talking about wanting a trade or not.

That's not true, you can't sit there and tell me AB being a diva over the years has had a huge negative impact on the team, he has been here for 9 years and has signed 2 long term deals. You also can't discount the positive impact he has had on the team over that time period. If AB said he wanted to be traded then the team would certainly explore that but it doesn't mean that he has been negatively impacting the team. Also let's be honest here the Steelers didn't start listening to trade offers until AB asked to be traded.

[Mr.wizard]

C'mon, that was NOT holding AB accountable. That was him pushing Tomlin so far that he was finally forced to do something ... because if he hadn't benched him there were teammates who were ready to drag AB off the field. C'mon -- Brown didn't even lose his paycheck for that game. Held accountable? What a joke.

Don't kid yourself, being a diva is a big problem when you continually demand special treatment, break team rules, and disrespect your head coach and undermine his authority. Being a diva is a huge problem when you go AWOL to prove a point because you didn't get voted team MVP. Discipline, applied early and properly, would have not only been appropriate, but it may well have headed off the fiasco that ensued.

No one is denying AB's tremendous production over the years. Terrell Owens (ironically, AB's "mentor") was very productive. Were teams in the wrong for moving him on? Was it a lack of accountability and leadership on their part to let him go?

Teammates ready to drag AB off the field?? Come on man you are just making stuff up. The guy missed a walk through and he got benched, A team can't just bench a guy on the active roster and decide not to pay him, the players are under contract, not to mention that Mike Tomlin can't decide whether or not a player gets a game check. Like I said I don't care that he is a diva, his positives on the field outweigh the negatives off the field.

[Ernie]

If you want to talk "Collective contributions" over the years, there's little doubt that AB's positives outweigh the negatives. Sadly, that's not the world we live in though. If you went on Social Media and mocked one of your bosses, how would that be received by your employer? Do you think they'd be taking into consideration all of your past accomplishments when handing you your walking papers?
There's such thing as a "Severe Clause", and I believe AB's conduct falls under that... I have a feeling that Mr. Rooney does also... because he has stated that he didn't see a situation in which AB was a Steeler next year.
Has he softened that stance somewhat since then? Maybe... most believe that the Steelers are conducting their business in a manner that will generate maximum return on their investment (concerning trades/draft picks).

[Mr.wizard]

Depends on the Mocking, i don't have many "bosses" but I can tell you we have been involved in many heated disagreements. I am the director of operations for a fairly large export company, with distribution locations in 3 different countries, I oversee about 150 employees so i can speak to the "boss" perspective. If an employee was mocking me for the most part i wouldnt care because when you are my position its a given some guys aren't going to like you. If i felt like i needed to discipline the employee then it absolutely matters that employees tenure and avcomplishments, if its a new guy he's might be gone if its a 20 year vet i will try and work that out.

[Ernie]

sounds like you are a "1%er". lol.. for the other 99%... it seldom works that way

[Steel Maniac]

Depends on the Mocking, i don't have many "bosses" but I can tell you we have been involved in many heated disagreements. I am the director of operations for a fairly large export company, with distribution locations in 3 different countries, I oversee about 150 employees so i can speak to the "boss" perspective. If an employee was mocking me for the most part i wouldnt care because when you are my position its a given some guys aren't going to like you. If i felt like i needed to discipline the employee then it absolutely matters that employees tenure and accomplishments, if its a new guy he's might be gone if its a 20 year vet i will try and work that out.

Well, your theory will be put to the test very soon. Very soon.

[Buzz]

Depends on the Mocking, i don't have many "bosses" but I can tell you we have been involved in many heated disagreements. I am the director of operations for a fairly large export company, with distribution locations in 3 different countries, I oversee about 150 employees so i can speak to the "boss" perspective. If an employee was mocking me for the most part i wouldnt care because when you are my position its a given some guys aren't going to like you. If i felt like i needed to discipline the employee then it absolutely matters that employees tenure and avcomplishments, if its a new guy he's might be gone if its a 20 year vet i will try and work that out.

I can tell you that any sports team that I've been on, or seen, it is absolutely counterproductive to have the player openly mocking, disrespecting and disobeying the coach. And at any of the levels I've been involved with, that player would have been dealt with quickly.

[Buzz]

Teammates ready to drag AB off the field?? Come on man you are just making stuff up. The guy missed a walk through and he got benched, A team can't just bench a guy on the active roster and decide not to pay him, the players are under contract, not to mention that Mike Tomlin can't decide whether or not a player gets a game check. Like I said I don't care that he is a diva, his positives on the field outweigh the negatives off the field.

I didn't make it up. I read a report, a few days after that week 17 fiasco, that said some teammates were so upset that if Brown would have showed up to play they would have ripped off his uniform. Or something to that effect. Can't remember where I read it, but I'll try to find it.

I did find this -- from PG report:
According to several sources, Brown showed up at Heinz Field expecting to play against the Bengals. That surprised several players, including one who called the situation “embarrassing” and “the worst I’ve seen.” That player said the entire situation and the way it was handled affected his desire to play in the game.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2018/12/31/antonio-brown-dispute-steelers-news-nfl/stories/201812310108?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_PGSportsNow

Doesn't sound like "minimal effect" to me.

And maybe the team can't dock his paycheck, but seems like he could be hit with the maximum allowable fine.

[Ernie]

you didnt make it up buzz... I saw that report as well.

[Buzz]

OK, found the article I was looking for:

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/01/dunlap-there-would-have-been-mutiny-if-brown-dressed-sunday/

That article was in essence corroborated by this report from Dulac:
[video]https://steelersdepot.com/2019/01/dulac-teammates-were-angered-over-possibility-of-brown-playing-in-season-finale/[video]

[Ernie]

doesnt sound like minimal effect to me either

[Steel Maniac]

doesnt sound like minimal effect to me either

Wizard doesn't want to hear that because that goes against his philosophy. He does not believe that players were upset with Brown and felt he quit on the team. The worse thing you can do in sports is quit. It's an almost unforgivable thing.

He thinks players would want Brown there because that's getting them closer to winning; that only applies if you act like a man. Players would rather struggle then to have a guy on the team who quit on them. That's the competitive side in men that he can't seem to relate to.