Rooney Brown meeting

[steeler_george]

you know this is really a sad day for Steeler nation when you come to think about it. I always wanted to think of AB for the immaculate extension and his seemingly insane catches.

But now all I can see is this. And unfortunately I do not think after all is said and done and AB has called it a career that I will be able to go back and remember those things about him.

What I will remember (and it's not just him mind you) is how the Steelers with the dearth of all pro talent (at least on the offensive side of the ball) wasted it all on hubris (ownership, management, players).
brothervad

Indeed a sad day...

[pittpete]

Get back to a balanced attack and strong defense...

[Northern_Blitz]

With Brown we've won 3 playoff games in the last 8 years. Im not sweating it. I think we might actually be better if we are not set on targeting a specific guy 20 times a game. Time will tell I guess.

I hope you're right.

[Northern_Blitz]

Get back to a balanced attack and strong defense...

I think we'd be better able to do the second part of this if we didn't have to count the pro-rated signing bonus on this year's cap.

This year we'll lose a great offensive player, but won't get the cap space we could then use to bring in an impact defender.

But two seasons from now, Brown will be totally off the books and we'll have a bigger chunk of cap to try to improve the D.

[pittpete]

We have some $$$ to get a nice FA CB.
Once they sign/extend Dupree and release/trade Burnett we'll have a bit more

[Starlifter]

he's shown himself to be a true a$$clown - but if the rooney's trade him to a team he wants or rewards his behavior in any way, I am worried about the long term prospects. I said this elsewhere but I'll repeat it here. We talk about 'the rooney's' like it's a collective intelligence - but it was Dan who turned the team around back in the 60's and established this dynasty. I'm hopeful that Art can continue the tradition, but there's a real possibility that Art while maybe not being inept, is not the owner we need. I'm not sure it's just a coincidence that once Dan turned over the day to day running of the team to Art things seem to have been sliding since.

I hope I'm wrong - but if these pampered millionaires come to believe they can get whatever they want by being as disruptive as possible - then the steelers as we've all known them will be relegated to history.

[AzStillers1989]

he's shown himself to be a true a$$clown - but if the rooney's trade him to a team he wants or rewards his behavior in any way, I am worried about the long term prospects. I said this elsewhere but I'll repeat it here. We talk about 'the rooney's' like it's a collective intelligence - but it was Dan who turned the team around back in the 60's and established this dynasty. I'm hopeful that Art can continue the tradition, but there's a real possibility that Art while maybe not being inept, is not the owner we need. I'm not sure it's just a coincidence that once Dan turned over the day to day running of the team to Art things seem to have been sliding since.

I hope I'm wrong - but if these pampered millionaires come to believe they can get whatever they want by being as disruptive as possible - then the steelers as we've all known them will be relegated to history.

I just want to say that this thought has crept into my mind a few times... I quickly try to shun them and convince myself it isn’t true.... but your post seriously makes me consider it possible now. I guess, up until now, I didn’t consider it to be a viable thought or one anyone else may have had.

Hope it’s wrong lol

[Oviedo]

he's shown himself to be a true a$$clown - but if the rooney's trade him to a team he wants or rewards his behavior in any way, I am worried about the long term prospects. I said this elsewhere but I'll repeat it here. We talk about 'the rooney's' like it's a collective intelligence - but it was Dan who turned the team around back in the 60's and established this dynasty. I'm hopeful that Art can continue the tradition, but there's a real possibility that Art while maybe not being inept, is not the owner we need. I'm not sure it's just a coincidence that once Dan turned over the day to day running of the team to Art things seem to have been sliding since.

I hope I'm wrong - but if these pampered millionaires come to believe they can get whatever they want by being as disruptive as possible - then the steelers as we've all known them will be relegated to history.

I think that is an unfair assessment against Art II. I don't see the slide you reference. We are still a perennial winner in a league that legislates parity. Neither Art I or Dan ever had to deal with the issue of social media and the self promotion culture it has created among athletes. That is a wider cultural change not anything the Steelers have or have not done. Just because we are seeing idiots like Bell and Brown ignores the fact that the other 50+ players on the team are non-issues.

[Steel Maniac]

he's shown himself to be a true a$$clown - but if the rooney's trade him to a team he wants or rewards his behavior in any way, I am worried about the long term prospects. I said this elsewhere but I'll repeat it here. We talk about 'the rooney's' like it's a collective intelligence - but it was Dan who turned the team around back in the 60's and established this dynasty. I'm hopeful that Art can continue the tradition, but there's a real possibility that Art while maybe not being inept, is not the owner we need. I'm not sure it's just a coincidence that once Dan turned over the day to day running of the team to Art things seem to have been sliding since.

I hope I'm wrong - but if these pampered millionaires come to believe they can get whatever they want by being as disruptive as possible - then the steelers as we've all known them will be relegated to history.

And this is what I also was saying when people keep bringing up “ the Steeler way”. Rooney Jr is not Rooney Sr.

[Chadman]

And so, after all the ‘Ben this’, ‘Tomlin that’ babble we get the truth of the matter...

AB ain’t playing with more ‘unguarentees’.... (Chadman cringes at the English however)

Its all about money. Read past all the rubbish. He’s blown issues up into something more than they are, because AB wants to get paid. And that’s why people like T.O. Etc are in his corner- their career turned into dollar grabs as they got to the end. AB might get paid. But here’s betting his overall career success is about to nosedive and the overall sum he ends up with may not be all that much more than what he would have made with the Steelers in the end.

Bell is no different, just at an earlier stage of his career.

Draft and sign level headed, hungry men. This organisation needs them, more than ever. More DeCastro’s, more Heyward’s.

[steeler_george]

And so, after all the ‘Ben this’, ‘Tomlin that’ babble we get the truth of the matter...

AB ain’t playing with more ‘unguarentees’.... (Chadman cringes at the English however)

Its all about money. Read past all the rubbish. He’s blown issues up into something more than they are, because AB wants to get paid. And that’s why people like T.O. Etc are in his corner- their career turned into dollar grabs as they got to the end. AB might get paid. But here’s betting his overall career success is about to nosedive and the overall sum he ends up with may not be all that much more than what he would have made with the Steelers in the end.

Bell is no different, just at an earlier stage of his career.

Draft and sign level headed, hungry men. This organisation needs them, more than ever. More DeCastro’s, more Heyward’s.

The problem Chad, I think the majority of players after highschool lose the true love for the game. They are placed on a pedestal, semi gods, placed away from the real world, squeeze through any system, truly don't learn life skills because they never have to do anything for themselves except for play a simple game. Then comes the money, the fame, the security of "get out of jail pass" (Universities and NFL teams handle all their problems) and then they up being numbed to reality living on their own stage.

Don't get me wrong I am not saying all players are like that, but this behavior is more common in a football players' life, and it is contagious. Even in our everyday life when we surround our selfs with certain behaviors they are contagious. For example, If you surround yourself with people who spend mooney beyond their means, you start thinking it is normal and start doing so as well. If you are around people who party all the time, you start thinking it is normal and party. If you surround yourself with gym rats, you most likely go to the gym. If you surround yourself with church going people, more likely you start going to church.

[Northern_Blitz]

And so, after all the ‘Ben this’, ‘Tomlin that’ babble we get the truth of the matter...

AB ain’t playing with more ‘unguarentees’.... (Chadman cringes at the English however)

Its all about money. Read past all the rubbish. He’s blown issues up into something more than they are, because AB wants to get paid. And that’s why people like T.O. Etc are in his corner- their career turned into dollar grabs as they got to the end. AB might get paid. But here’s betting his overall career success is about to nosedive and the overall sum he ends up with may not be all that much more than what he would have made with the Steelers in the end.

Bell is no different, just at an earlier stage of his career.

Draft and sign level headed, hungry men. This organisation needs them, more than ever. More DeCastro’s, more Heyward’s.

I agree that money is a big part of it for both of them

But I also think there is a big difference between AB doing this mid contract and Bell doing it while not under contract.

Didn't we break our own norms when we did this contract with Brown? I felt like we signed him very early because he was on a rookie deal for a 6th round pick. Would have been nice if that bought us some good will.

[Starlifter]

I think that is an unfair assessment against Art II. I don't see the slide you reference. We are still a perennial winner in a league that legislates parity. Neither Art I or Dan ever had to deal with the issue of social media and the self promotion culture it has created among athletes. That is a wider cultural change not anything the Steelers have or have not done. Just because we are seeing idiots like Bell and Brown ignores the fact that the other 50+ players on the team are non-issues.

you may well be correct. As I said, it's a possibility that is causing me concern. I certainly agree the Steelers win more than most, but I am concerned about all the drama over the past few years that has been associated with the team. It may be unavoidable with today's technology and Art may prove himself to be a great owner in dealing with it. Yet I struggle to overlook that in the past 3 years with arguably some of the best players in the league - we've been bounced early from the playoffs, missed the playoffs and couldn't find a way to keep our league leading RB and WR happy and part of the team. It's possible that was never going to happen because Bell and Brown are dirtbags. But this recent blowup with AB didn't just happen overnight. It's been clearly brewing for awhile, and how they've decided to deal with it impacted where we are now.

With what he's done recently, I'm happy to see AB go. But it would be wrong for me also to not say how sad I am to cut loose a guy who has balled out over the years on the field, who thrilled us with electrifying plays and who fearlessly nearly got killed by burfict going over the middle.

It's easy to try to place the blame on one person in this mess - but I really believe all sides there bear some responsibility. And to my point above, I hope Art IS the owner we need him to be - but looking at what's happened in the last 12 months, I have to admit I'm having some doubts.

[RuthlessBurgher]

We have some $$$ to get a nice FA CB.
Once they sign/extend Dupree and release/trade Burnett we'll have a bit more

Will there be a difference making CB available in free agency this offseason, though?

Looking at the biggest names set to hit unrestricted free agency, the most talented CB who could be available is likely Ronald Darby, but he is coming off an ACL tear in November. Jason Verrett looked like he was emerging as an impact player back in 2015, but he's played a grand total of 5 games since then due to various injuries. Brent Grimes is older than dirt and has a wife who seems to be certifiably insane.

Besides that, you have guys like Steven Nelson, Pierre Desir, Kareem Jackson, Darqueze Dennard, Rashaan Melvin, Jason McCourty, Morris Claiborne, Bryce Callahan, Justin Coleman, Kayvon Webster, E.J. Gaines, and Ken Crawley. Not exactly a murderer's row of elite talent.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

The Steelers' meeting with Antonio Brown helps the team steady Brown's trade market. They can regain control by meeting Brown halfway and agreeing to trade him but on their terms. Brown won't need to get the team's attention with social media videos that might not help his value.

21h