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Antonio Brown's agent, Steelers talking contract

antdrewjosh

antdrewjosh

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Antonio Brown's agent, Steelers talking contract
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When will Steelers pony up to pay Brown? (0:51)
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2:37 PM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
LATROBE, Pa. -- Antonio Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus and Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert have been in communication over the wide receiver's contract situation, according to a source.

Brown, who's due $6.25 million in the fifth year of a six-year, $43-million contract, said after Sunday's practice that the franchise should give him a new deal.

The money leaves Brown outside of the top 10 in wide receiver pay despite an NFL-record 265 catches from 2014-15. But the Steelers have a longstanding policy not to renegotiate with non-quarterbacks until a player enters the final year of his deal.

"We believe in our philosophy," Colbert told local media Friday. "I don't see that changing, but I'll never address a player individually."

Brown said the Steelers have been "first class" to him in the past, including restructuring his contract last year to move $2 million of future salary into 2015 as a way to please the talented receiver. The Steelers could employ a similar method this year.

Brown never had plans to hold out, but adds, "You have to take care of your guys. If a guy underperforms, you get rid of him. If a guy overperforms, you take care of him."

Brown ranks 13th among wide receivers in 2016 base salary, with the Chicago Bears' Alshon Jeffery earning more than double what Brown makes as a result of the Bears placing the franchise tag on Jeffery.

Brown posted 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns last season despite playing four games without Ben Roethlisberger
 
This is interesting considering Colbert just reiterated the Steelers' policy on renegotiating contracts (though, even the "QB rule" wasn't in existence until recently). As I've said before, Brown is a different situation and deserves a new deal this offseason...after DeCastro.
 
I would do this. I would set about the language of his contract next year right now. Within a few million dollars either way. Then I would say that whatever they can push into guaranteed this year from next they can. With the provision that his next years base salary will be ridiculously low (basically Vet minimum plus his monstrous guaranteed money/ signing bonus. I would only speak to them about breaking the existing contract if they wanted to exchange crazy high salary for present day security. Cause that is what this is all about. Its usually a big mistake to say we won't do............(fill in the blank). A more useful stance is we won't negotiate with hold outs EVER. We won't negotiate with non QB players with more than one year on their contract unless our interest is peaked by an opening "discussion"
Lets just call his next contract "a number" for example. It will probably end up being next year plus four (five year deal). Well if he is say willing to play for 3/4 of his number to get his guarenteed money and security on the next contract now. Why wouldn't you listen to that. You know unless he gets a career ender, you will be re signing him next season anyway. Your contract leverage is him having to play this season on his current contract. Essentially, whenever the season ends, all that leverage flows to him and he holds virtually every card.
 
Make him the top paid WR and be done with it. Within a year, someone will be making more than him, but at least let him be the top paid WR for a period of time. He deserves it.

Just draft well, so we have some good value players to offset paying the stars top money.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
This is interesting considering Colbert just reiterated the Steelers' policy on renegotiating contracts (though, even the "QB rule" wasn't in existence until recently). As I've said before, Brown is a different situation and deserves a new deal this offseason...after DeCastro.
Click to expand...

And he was being an obvious hypocrite with his assertion.

"He signed the deal, so we expect him to honor it (even though we don't always honor deals we sign, but never mind about that)."
 
Report: Steelers Unlikely To Re-Sign Timmons, Bell, Wheaton Prior To Start Of Season

Lawrence Timmons




BY DAVE BRYAN AUGUST 4, 2016 AT 02:53 PM
Several days ago, Pittsburgh Steelers team president Art Rooney II said in an interview that the organization has narrowed down just a handful of players that they might be in conversations with in terms of contract extensions. While we know guard David DeCastro is nearly guaranteed to receive a new long term deal in the coming days or weeks after having his fifth-year option picked up last year, a Thursday media report indicates that he’s likely to be the only player the team comes to terms with with on an extension between now and the start of the 2016 regular season.

According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, running back Le’Veon Bell, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and wide receiver Markus Wheaton are all unlikely receive contract extensions this offseason which means all three are likely to become unrestricted free agents come the start of the 2017 league year in March.

None of the three names listed in Bouchette’s report are overly surprising and especially Bell, who is currently appealing a four-game suspension for reportedly violating the league’s substance abuse policy in addition to attempting to overcome a knee serious knee injury that forced him to miss the second half of the 2015 season. The outcome of his appeal won’t be known for a few more weeks. The Steelers could ultimately decide to place the franchise tag on Bell, however.

As for Timmons, who has stated several times during the offseason that he would like to finish his career where it started, it apparently isn’t looking like he’ll get a new deal. As for Wheaton, the least surprising name on the list of players named by Bouchette, it’s long been a forgone conclusion that he’ll be allowed to test free agency next year.

Should Timmons and backup inside linebacker Vince Williams both remain unsigned prior to the start of the regular season, both could quite possibly be wearing different uniforms in 2017. That could ultimately result in the team needing to address the inside linebacker position in the first four rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft should they determine this season that one of this year’s seventh-round selections, linebacker Tyler Matakevich, isn’t starter material.

While it’s not looking good for Timmons and Williams to get new deals right now, you still can’t rule out the team trying to re-sign either of them after the 2016 season ends and before free agency gets underway. For now, DeCastro looks like he might be the only player who gets a new deal as general manager Kevin Colbert has indicated several times during the offseason that wide receiver Antonio Brown will likely have to wait until next offseason for a new deal. If anything gets done with Brown in the coming weeks it will likely be him receiving some of his 2017 money this year.

While not named in Bouchette’s report DeAngelo Williams, Landry Jones, Cody Wallace, James Harrison, Bruce Gradkowski, Jarvis Jones, Shamarko Thomas, Ricardo Mathews, and Greg Warren are a few of the other players currently expected to make the 2016 roster who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the season is over.
 
Don't think AB gets his deal this year, but they're gonna have no choice next year.

I would not give Timmons a new contract. We have Vince Williams behind him. I would let Timmons walk as opposed to signing him to a new deal unless its in the team's favor.

Bell is unpredictable. He's a breath of weed away from being gone for a year ala Martavis. How do you pay the young man when he's got a suspension looming over his head???
 
Theyre gonna do something like they did last year with AB. He will get paid next year im sure. We should have a,decent amount of cap room. We should get some when DeCastro is secured here soon.

Plus we get Timmons and his 15 mill off the books after this year.
 
Well, they do need to talk to him if they are going to move money like they did last year. My guess is that is all that is happening. But, with Bryant and Bell screwing up every other day, maybe they do decide to lock AB up since he seems to be a good egg.
 
I suppose some guys want to bet on themselves and give free agency a look. However, I would say that Markus Wheaton is what I would call a "good pro" who is coming to his own and probably has a decent rapport with Roethlisberger. It is surprising to me that they can't get him on a "good pro" contract that would keep him around. But I guess it takes two to tango. I'd say everyone else on that list with the exception of Bell who won't be walking, is ok to leave.
 
Throw some salary into bonus and incentives at productivity this year.
 
POP said:
And he was being an obvious hypocrite with his assertion.

"He signed the deal, so we expect him to honor it (even though we don't always honor deals we sign, but never mind about that)."
Click to expand...

How many times does it need explained to you that signing bonus' are guaranteed? The Steelers honored everyone they were obligated to honor.
 
Mark my words. They will restructure his current contract to drop the cap and give him more money this year. Next year will be the big new contract.
 
AB / Bell / are going no where. The others will be made an offer and let's hope some sign for a fair price.


Salute the nation
 
Not so sure about Bell?

If you pay AB and DD not quite sure you backup a dump truck full of cash Bell's way, I think he likely stays...but he is no guarantee
 
I want to keep good players. All this salary stuff gives me a headache though.
 
**** the policy, pay the man.

Any other player on the team that ever wants to point to the exception made for AB regarding the team's policy will have to perform like AB, and I don't see that happening. There is no one on this team that plays their position even remotely as well as AB plays his, no one. Not Ben, not Bell. Nobody.
 
I would only sign Bell to a big contract if it contains a clause that forces him to pay 50% of it back if he fails or misses another drug test. If not, trade him to the Cowboys, where drug addicts belong. And I'd trade Martinis Bryant right now, as a message.
 
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