Rooney Brown meeting

[RuthlessBurgher]

Someone will overpay. A few on NFL Network think SF will give up their first round pick for AB. IMO, that is extremely doubtful but someone out there will overpay.

This makes zero sense, since the Niners' first round pick is #2 overall. They might possibly be willing to part with their 2nd round pick (36th overall).

[SteelBucks]

This makes zero sense, since the Niners' first round pick is #2 overall. They might possibly be willing to part with their 2nd round pick (36th overall).

I agree. Their reasoning is that the SF staff is getting pressure to win now and they’ll go all in on AB. Very shortsighted in my opinion.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Antonio Brown, Steelers president meet, agree 'time to move on'

11:41 AM ET

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- The Antonio Brown trade saga is getting much-needed clarity after the All-Pro receiver met with Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II on Tuesday.

Brown tweeted that both sides "agreed that it is time to move on."


Had a great meeting with Mr.Rooney today we discussed a lot of things and we cleared the air on several issues! We both agreed that it is time to move on but I'll always have appreciation and gratitude towards the Rooney family and @steelers organization! #CallGod #Boomin pic.twitter.com/DEgURchvhW

— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 19, 2019


Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus joined the meeting, as did Steelers GM Kevin Colbert and exec Omar Kahn, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The meeting was cordial and "everyone agreed the trade will be for the best," a source told Schefter.

Rooney told reporters last month he wanted to hear directly from Brown on what went wrong.

Brown, who first requested a trade in late January, tweeted it was a "great meeting" and that he and Rooney "cleared the air on several issues."

The tweet followed an Instagram video posted by Brown, who said he's not playing without more guaranteed money and reinforced his desire to be traded by the Steelers.

"If your squad out there want to win and your squad want a hungry wide receiver who's the best in the whole world, someone hit my phone," Brown said into his phone camera while working on an elliptical. "Tell them I ain't doing no unguarantees. I ain't even gonna play myself no more for this NFL, you heard."

Brown has no more true guarantees left on his current deal. The five-year, $72.7 million extension he signed in 2017 includes base salaries of $12.625 million, $11.3 million and $12.5 million. Those relatively modest numbers are considered a selling point in a trade. Brown is due a $2.5 million roster bonus on March 17, but the Steelers could avoid payment by trading or releasing him before that date.

NFL contracts can be reworked, so Brown can ask a new team to convert salaried money into guarantees -- a strategy the Steelers used twice with Brown in the past, converting future money into a signing bonus. But teams hold the power since he's under contract. Brown's only true leverage is threatening to hold out.

Brown turns 31 in July, and the Steelers are making receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster a focal point in the offense. The team would take on $21.12 million in dead money by releasing or trading Brown but would offset that money by saving on his $22.165 million salary-cap figure for 2019.

Brown, who said he'd like to be known as "Mr. Big Chest" from now on, remains unfazed.

"I think I done done everything. What y'all think? What's left for me to do?" Brown said. "Win a Super Bowl? Hey, gotta be the right team for that, right? Who wants smoke? I've got a lot of fuel built up. When this fuel turns to smoke, hope you're in shape, hope you're ready to go the distance. I'm telling you, I'm ready to go 36 rounds, like a heavyweight, ya heard. ...

"If your team got guaranteed money, tell them call me. AB can't do no more unguarantees. So we clear. I want ya'll to be clear and understand something. This is not a game, people. This is not for show; this is not to be cool. This is strictly to inspire you that no one can determine your destination but you."

Sources have maintained the Steelers will be patient with any deal and will want a high draft pick in return for Brown, who holds an NFL-record six consecutive 100-catch seasons.

Brown has doing his best to apply public pressure on the Steelers, thanking fans for nine years with the team and fielding questions on Twitter. In a Q&A session Saturday, Brown said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has an "owner mentality" for calling out players and coaches without repercussion and that coach Mike Tomlin told the team Brown quit in Week 17 while he was hurt.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26030855/antonio-brown-pittsburgh-steelers-president-art-rooney-ii-meet-agree-move-on

[NorthCoast]

Too bad...I think trading Brown will end up making the team worse.

But, I think he's made it clear that there is no way reasonable way to keep him.

Hopefully he hasn't totally tanked his value.

Depends on what you mean by worse. Yes, the yards may decline but did it lead to more wins?
Looking forward to a more balanced offense.

[steeler_george]

This makes zero sense, since the Niners' first round pick is #2 overall. They might possibly be willing to part with their 2nd round pick (36th overall).

So SF is going to trade down, gather more pics...

GB or OAK both have multiple first rounders...

[NorthCoast]

Too bad...I think trading Brown will end up making the team worse.

But, I think he's made it clear that there is no way reasonable way to keep him.

Hopefully he hasn't totally tanked his value.

Depends on what you mean by worse. Yes, the yards may decline but did it lead to more wins?
Looking forward to a more balanced offense.

[Steel Maniac]

This makes zero sense, since the Niners' first round pick is #2 overall. They might possibly be willing to part with their 2nd round pick (36th overall).

I agree; the pressure is on us to move him because he is toxic for us. Everybody knows it. We’ll be lucky if we can get the 49ers second round pick. If only the stupid redskins would jump in and save us by offering their first round pick.

[SidSmythe]

Time to consider resigning BELL??

Boy I'd love that #2 overall from San Fran. A far better deal than what Houston got for Osweiler.

[fordfixer]

They are to meet today , Tuesday, Feb. 19. I posted it in the other AB thread.

Quoting for all of those that have you on ignore ( who knew you would actually post something worth while?) lol

[rpmpit]

Let's see, TO played for the Eagles, Cowboys, Bills and Bengals after he left SF. Who else thinks AB plays for more teams?? Of course, like TO, teams will love getting him. After about a season they'll realize it's really not worth it. Sad. He could have been a legend in Pittsburgh.

[Oviedo]

Id' be happy with a second round pick and possibly a player at this point. This guy is Kanye West in cleats.

As I said last week, I think a 1st is off the table. A 2nd and a 4th would be the best we could hope for

[Oviedo]

sad day in steeler history...

shame it happened this way...

can't hate the guy he was a blessing for 9 years...

i guess it was time to break up the killer Bs, coming short every year to ultimate goal...

AB, like Harrison, is dead to me. Wishing him the worst

The name of the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back

[Oviedo]

This makes zero sense, since the Niners' first round pick is #2 overall. They might possibly be willing to part with their 2nd round pick (36th overall).

Yes to this. Forget a 1st for a 30 year old WR who has demonstrated he can be selfish and volatile. I'd take #36 and a 4th in a heartbeat

[Eich]

AB, like Harrison, is dead to me. Wishing him the worst

The name of the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back

Agree. I can't believe the Steelers' careers of these two clowns has ended this way. I would have NEVER thought this would be possible a few years ago. They were both team heros. And now most fans are done with them.

[Northern_Blitz]

Depends on what you mean by worse. Yes, the yards may decline but did it lead to more wins?
Looking forward to a more balanced offense.

I mean lower probability of winning games.

Maybe we still win more than this year if we have average to above average kicking.

But I think having to replace Brown for $1M in cap space will mean that the O should be worse. Maybe Washington makes a leap forward?

But, I think it also means we'll get a bunch of cap space after next season. And if Ben plays more than one year, maybe that's not such a bad thing