Realistically....what can we get for AB?

[brothervad]

I see you Pete but I don’t think so. He punked Tomlin real bad. And he’s still not returning calls to Rooney or Tomlin. He’s teying to distance himself.

I have to agree Pete, I think there comes a point of no return. I think this thing has escalated to a point where it's going to be tough to come back from. Do you really think AB has the ability to show contrition?

Does the organization really think that there will be a 180 from 84? What happens next year when he is still double teamed and frustrated?

Pretty interesting web article at triblive on Thursday that outlines how the Steelers have options. The numbers are there from restructuring (Ben, Haden) and purging (Dupree).

There are others as well but some of them they won't be doing (like Tuitt at 3M and McDonald at $750k)

But here is a really interest example with regards to Ben's restructuring...

Roethlisberger has a $5 million roster bonus that could be turned into a signing bonus in his anticipated new contract.

https://triblive.com/sports/steelers...hit-on-antonio

brothervad

[Ernie]

I hate for us to try to keep guys that quit on the team. AB could have cost us the playoffs.. time for him to go.

[fordfixer]

This is not entirely the case. It depends mainly on how the trade/cut is handled. Way too many threads on this topic lol. I posted on one of the many threads on our favorite topic lately AB...

if you have some time you should read the article. The author is suggesting the Steelers shouldn't do it or rather it is out of character, but also alludes that it can be done.

Here is a link to an article about Brown/Steelers at Overthecap.com

https://overthecap.com/the-steelers-options-with-antonio-brown/

Here is a little (?) tease

Wait I read that they will save $15.2 million if they cut him and millions more in the future? What gives?

The $15.2 million is the amount of cash that the team saves this year if they release Brown in March. From a salary cap perspective this is money that is saved for the future though it is not realized this year. The best way to visualize this is to do a quick scenario analysis based on when the Steelers move on.

Year	Cap if Cut in 2019	Cap if Cut in 2020	Cap if cut in 2021
2019	$21,120,000	$22,165,000	$22,165,000
2020	$0	$14,080,000	$18,340,000
2021	$0	$0	$7,040,000
Total Cap	$21,120,000	$36,245,000	$47,545,000
Difference	$0	$15,125,000	$26,425,000

As you can see they save $15.125 million by cutting him now versus 2020 and $26.425 million by cutting him now versus 2021.
This type of analysis makes plenty of sense when you are talking about an underperforming/declining player. If you have an 80% chance of cutting a player in 2020 you may as well just bite the bullet and do it now even if it looks bad on the cap. This is why decisions are made on players like Ndamukong Suh in Miami to cut now rather than later. It’s a strong argument for why the Giants should have moved on from Eli Manning this year.

Brown isn’t that type of player though. The odds of Brown being cut for football reasons in 2020 are very low so there is no need to accelerate the process nor any try benefit to it because he is worth the contract that he is being paid. If you are cutting Brown it’s because you think there is some irreparable damage between the organization and him that you can not fix. You aren’t going to give it a shot in 2019 only to cut him in 2020. Either the Steelers are in or out. This type of matrix should play no role in this particular decision.

Is the salary cap a concern at all for this move?

Yes and no. In general the salary cap is no longer a barrier for moves like this. Salaries have not kept up with the rising salary cap and teams have learned to work the system better to absorb cap hits like this one. The only true protection players have anymore are fully guaranteed salaries and teams pretty much only peg those to years of expected contributions.

That said it is still a ridiculous number. The highest one year cap charge we have is a $19.3 million cap charge for Peyton Manning in 2012 which was offset in part by the fact that the team declined an option on him. After Manning we are looking at Brock Osweiler at $16 million in 2017 and Jason Pierre-Paul in 2018 at $15 million. Ndamukong Suh had over $22 million in dead charges but they were split across two years and not a single season.
To put things in perspective the Steelers have had a total of about $31 million in dead money combined across three seasons! This would be completely against their way of doing business to take on that kind of charge no matter how upset the player is. So the big number should give the Steelers a lot to consider for this season.

Thanks fro the info bro

[SteelDecipher]

I have to agree Pete, I think there comes a point of no return. I think this thing has escalated to a point where it's going to be tough to come back from. Do you really think AB has the ability to show contrition?

Does the organization really think that there will be a 180 from 84? What happens next year when he is still double teamed and frustrated?

Pretty interesting web article at triblive on Thursday that outlines how the Steelers have options. The numbers are there from restructuring (Ben, Haden) and purging (Dupree).

There are others as well but some of them they won't be doing (like Tuitt at 3M and McDonald at $750k)

But here is a really interest example with regards to Ben's restructuring...

Roethlisberger has a $5 million roster bonus that could be turned into a signing bonus in his anticipated new contract.

https://triblive.com/sports/steelers...hit-on-antonio

brothervad

I think there is only a slight chance they bring him back, and it would come at a great degree of contrition on Browns part. Which I don't see happening.

The team has a leadership problem and a locker room problem. If you believe some of the whispers from the inner circle, that is why Porter was let go- because he was fostering part of that locker room problem.

Anyway- Tomlin has to go iron fist, and a mouthy prima donna WR isn't going to jibe with that plan of action.


As far as, what can you get??

Well, I'd say a first and maybe a decent player, but the draft pick(s) will be dependent upon where the team drafts.

San Fran and Arizona aren't giving up the #1 or #2 pick. Maybe the Raiders or Browns who have multiple first round picks??

Anyway- lets hope it includes a serviceable sub package ILB or Corner.

[NorthCoast]

If they bring Brown back it would be under a very strict set of conditions for him to play. The big problem though, is if he violates any conditions, they are stuck with him on the roster and his salary. It's a much greater risk for the Steelers than it is for Brown.

[Steelwolf]

What can we get if we package ab and bell....pipe dream lol

[NorthCoast]

Brown........:

I absolutely still have the chip on my shoulder. I wear 84 for a reason. Eight times four is thirty two. Thirty two NFL teams passed on me multiple times—including the Steelers. I remember draft day and how I felt sitting in the hotel with my mom, waiting to be picked. How long it took to hear my name called. Every time I go out there, it's added motivation. ~ On why he wears #84

[NorthCoast]

Brown...after the loss to KC in Sept:

"Between me and you, everyone in the locker room knows what I stand for, knows what I'm about," Brown told reporters. "I'm committed to this program, this organization, I'm fully here. I go to work every day, about my business, and I don't take it for granted. My business is winning; I come here to win. And if we ain't winning, you're damn right I'm pissed off."

[NorthCoast]

Brown, earlier this season:

.......................But obviously I don't want to be traded. I'm grateful to put on my uniform, I'm grateful to be a part of this organization. I don't take that for granted. Obviously it was a stupid remark online. I just got to stay away from online with the distractions and letting people get me out of my character. It's just sad for a guy who worked here numerous years to say what he thinks.

"Obviously it's a team game. My success does depend on Roethlisberger, the offensive line and all the other receivers doing their job, but as a competitor I take this **** serious. It's just not a -- just a game to me and cashing checks. Money don't matter. I look at my assignments and my performance and it means a lot to me. When I go home I weigh in on it, my family weighs in on that. To me guy's that just think they can just disrespect me, it's just -- it's out of order, but." --Antonio Brown

[steelz09]

No matter how you spin it, our cap is crushed with AB or without.
You cant absorb a $21 million cap hit and expect any where near the production he provides.
He's not getting cut or released prior or after Jun1
He won't be traded after Jun 1 so we arent rolling dead $$$ over to 2020.
Theres only two options
Work it out
Trade him before the draft

Agreed. You don't cut one of your best players and pay 20mil to do it. That's retarded.

[Captain Lemming]

Im curious on the collective opinions of what is AB's trade value

IMO he has not helped with his bad boy behavior. I know some have postured a starter ready player and a 1st, but i think that wont happen

Thoughts? Id like to see us get a young ILB who could replace Bostic or Williams plus a 3rd. I think that is likely a great deal

Yet another reason Juju as MVP was a mistake.

[Steel Maniac]

In what capacity Captain? The players of the team voted on that.

[Captain Lemming]

In what capacity Captain? The players of the team voted on that.

If his own team thinks another receiver is "more valuable" doesn't help his trade value for us.

[steeler_george]

Yet another reason Juju as MVP was a mistake.

I really thought the MVP should of been Brown, by a wide margin, and Ben a 2nd.

Maybe this was the locker rooms thought on Brown as a teammate.

Maybe this was Porter spinning his "D vs O locker room split" mostly pointing the finger at 84.

[steeler_george]

At best, we either get an additional 1st or second for him, or us him to trade up in the draft.

All this talk about trade partners being Oakland, Indy, Jets, SF... what about Seattle. Baldwin is on last leg, their young WR Locket is due for a big contract ( we should go after him). If we take on Brown's cap hit , he still gets paid and Seattle has little to pay in 2019 and they can restructure his remaining contract longer and cap friendly.