ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 11: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills on December 11, 2016 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. Pittsburgh defeats Buffalo 27-20. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
The internet was abuzz Thursday evening with the news that Antonio Brown was headed to Buffalo. By Friday morning, it had all fallen apart.
In the never-ending 24-hour news cycle we live in, it’s easy to see headlines come on breaking news only to watch a story take a twist hours later. Look no further than the Antonio Brown saga unfolding last night.
Ian Rappaport was first to the scene letting everybody know the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills were getting close to making a deal happen
It finally looked like the Steelers were going to move the troublemaking wideout and start a new chapter without the All-Pro receiver who demanded a trade after meeting with team President Art Rooney II back in mid-February. Brown made it clear he wanted out of Pittsburgh and ownership agreed.
Rumors have been everywhere but it appears that the reporting may have gotten ahead of the facts on this Bills story. In a statement, per ESPN, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said, “We inquired about Antonio Brown on Tuesday, and kept talks open with the Steelers. We had positive discussions, but ultimately it didn’t make sense for either side. As great a player as Antonio Brown is, we have moved on and our focus is on free agency.”
So now the Steelers’ hand is forced again with Brown, trying to shed the problem while still trying to get some sort of fair market value for his skill-set and services.
Brown just completed his sixth consecutive season of 100+ catches, an NFL record. He also posted a career-best 15 touchdowns in 2018. Brown, who turns 31 in July, still has tread on his tires and has not shown signs of slowing down or injury during his career.
So now what do the Steelers do? With this latest side-show act, Brown continues to poke his current employer while still wanting to make a living elsewhere. If Brown truly wants out of Pittsburgh, he should be doing all he can to give the team a chance to get some return on their investment. Time will tell how this saga turns out. Keep you swivel chair greased, as this story will likely have more turns to it.