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Steelers won't change contract policy for Antonio Brown

Spike

Spike

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Like it or not, Antonio Brown is stuck with his current contract for the next two years. That's just the way the Steelers do business.

General manager Kevin Colbert on Thursday told Trib Total Media there has been no change in a long-standing organizational policy to not rework a non-quarterback contract with multiple years remaining.

“It was something that was here before I got here, and I am sure it will continue after I am gone,” Colbert said. “It is just the consistency within the organization. It is something that we believe in and it works for us, so I don't see it changing.”

Brown's contract runs through 2017, meaning the Steelers won't even consider a new or reworked deal for another 19 months.

Brown was unavailable for comment Thursday but said earlier in training camp the Steelers “did a great deal with me, rewarding me with a contract (two) years in.”

Coach Mike Tomlin avoided comment, except to say: “I don't address those things. I'm here to talk about our preparation and our play. That's not my bag, particularly in this setting.”

The deal Brown signed in 2012 was a five-year extension for $42 million. He had started only three career games to that point. Agent Drew Rosenhaus declined comment when reached via email.


http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8950240-74/story#ixzz3jNobHRqu

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So much for that new contract talk.
 
Well, enjoy AB for the next three seasons. They won't pay him after his contract expires. I could see extensions eventually for Wheaton and Bryant if they keep the trajectory in an upward direction and we'll have to see on Coates but they won't throw ridiculous money at a receiver. No way. If these other three progress I would rather keep them and deal AB prior to 2017 if you can. I know, he's our best playmaker but lets remember that we're talking Steelers here and they just don't spend like that unless its a franchise QB which we all know took 20 years to get.
 
So as it stands we'll have Ben and AB together for 3 more seasons?

Sounds good to me. Probably be time to look for Ben's replacement by then anyway.
 
It is the right call. They made the right call when they gave a totally unproven wr slightly less than what should have been market value on Mike Wallace (Miami shattered what his real market should have been). They reap the rewards of that call as he did for the first two years of the contract. If you cost average what he got above what he should have and what he is out now, it really isn't that bad. They can talk in the final year depending upon the landscape of negotiations at that time and their salary cap situation. Most importantly with guys like Bell, you cannot open that can of worms. Seattle had to do that with Lynch and all the dogs came barking at the door.
 
Expect a holdout next off-season.

If I was Brown, that's what I would do.
 
And you would lose that battle because the team holds all the cards. Two year hold outs don't work. What is the threat. You are going to walk away from football for two years and become a footnote and lose all that money in the interim to get a big contract with a bad name, oh and by the way we still have your rights. Next year they will probably sit down again and either come to a handshake deal, or not at which point they could trade him for a boatload or force him to play it out.
 
Steelers are doing the right thing. Don't open Pandora's Box because you cannot close it.
 
Need the cash for defense. Love AB and he is unique in his preparation for the game. No doubting that, but the Steeler way is super bowl rings and nothing less. As explosive and productive as he has been, we haven't turned it into championships. So too me he is performing upto expectations of the current contract he signed. Walk around with a Super Bowl MVP or two, then maybe you got a shot at getting top of the position money.
 
Any time I hear the name Drew Rosenhaus associated with a player I question that players sanity.
 
2014 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 129 1,698 13.2 106.1 63T 13 19 4 85 1
2013 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 110 1,499 13.6 93.7 56 8 23 6 69 0
2012 Pittsburgh Steelers 13 66 787 11.9 60.5 60T 5 10 2 43 2
2011 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 69 1,108 16.1 69.2 79T 2 18 3 57 0
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers 9 16 167 10.4 18.6 26 0 2 0 10 0
Click to expand...
2012 Contract details by year 24 $540,000 $1,724,358 - - - $2,264,358 -
2013 Contract details by year 25 $650,000 $1,700,000 $2,500,000 - $770,000 $5,620,000 $10,650,000
2014 Contract details by year 26 $730,000 $1,700,000 - - $2,087,500 $4,517,500 $13,450,000
2015 Contract details by year 27 $6,000,000 $1,700,000 - - $2,087,500 $9,787,500 $9,662,500
2016 Contract details by year 28 $8,250,000 $1,700,000 - - $2,087,500 $12,037,500 $5,875,000
2017 Contract details by year 29 $8,710,000 - - - $2,087,500 $10,797,500 $2,087,500
2018 Free Agent Year 30 UFA
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The steelers made a life changing investment in a young largely unproven talent to the tune of over 7 million dollars of signing bonuses. For his part he will easily have earned the other 24 million he will earn in base salaries over the next 3 years. But you can't have it both ways.
 
Me thinks we might be looking at a trade sometime in the future.
 
Certainly taking Coates may have been a very wise decision. If Bryant continues to pan out and they are still good at the position it may well come to that. I'd be wary of paying anyone but a QB, QB money. Having said that I love AB the player. He is exactly what you want in a player. Works insanely hard, performs every game to the highest level and is willing to help teamates get better. Model citizen too.
 
SteelerSask said:
Certainly taking Coates may have been a very wise decision. If Bryant continues to pan out and they are still good at the position it may well come to that. I'd be wary of paying anyone but a QB, QB money. Having said that I love AB the player. He is exactly what you want in a player. Works insanely hard, performs every game to the highest level and is willing to help teamates get better. Model citizen too.
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NORMALLY, some one like that will take a reasonable offer and keep on keeping on. He has a chance at Jerry Rice status, holding out and moving around all the time makes it so much harder.
 
What's his cap hit next year? If it's high, they could always "rework his contract" for cap space a year early.
 
MT~Forged said:
NORMALLY, some one like that will take a reasonable offer and keep on keeping on. He has a chance at Jerry Rice status, holding out and moving around all the time makes it so much harder.
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I'm sure that is the hope for everyone involved. However, it is a business. It would be in everyone's best interest to have him remain a Steeler. but when you have to pay a franchise QB there is only so much money to go around.
 
Roy92040 said:
Me thinks we might be looking at a trade sometime in the future.
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So the Steelers FO has stated they will not break tradition and renegotiate a contract with more than one year left on the original deal...but YOU think they will break tradition and trade away one of their all time greats (lets face it, he's climbing up that list fast, and still has three years left on his current deal) because why? Name one player we traded away while still in their prime, name one starter we have traded away...

Me thinks some of the people here need to stop visiting colorado...
 
deljzc said:
Expect a holdout next off-season.

If I was Brown, that's what I would do.
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To what end? Steelers hold all the cards. Also this basically is telling Brown they will not talk to him until he has one year left. So his hold will have to end and he will have to report to get credit for his season.
 
stillwright said:
To what end? Steelers hold all the cards. Also this basically is telling Brown they will not talk to him until he has one year left. So his hold will have to end and he will have to report to get credit for his season.
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Actually, when an elite player holds out, I think they have the entire deck. Ownership only has the illusion of control IF the goal is to win.

Same thing would happen if Ben held out with 2 years left - we would be ****** he does not play. If Bell holds out - we are done.

This is all in my opinion of course. I'm not denying that contracts exists, penalties will be assigned, etc.
 
There is one name on your list that would finish the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger. Sorry, I like AB as much as anyone, but his yards can be worked around. The ball has to be distributed more and you will no doubt be out 4-5 hundred yards of offense. But that can be done. Roethisberger cannot be taken out because now you are talking about 1000-1300 yards of offense. Bell would be very problematic. probably more so than AB. this was evident in the playoffs, but they literally had no time for plan B.
 
insaniti said:
So the Steelers FO has stated they will not break tradition and renegotiate a contract with more than one year left on the original deal...but YOU think they will break tradition and trade away one of their all time greats (lets face it, he's climbing up that list fast, and still has three years left on his current deal) because why? Name one player we traded away while still in their prime, name one starter we have traded away...

Me thinks some of the people here need to stop visiting colorado...
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Hardy Nickerson
 
This is the least surprising news of the summer. The Steelers aren't going to open a can of worms and redo Brown's deal with three years left. I'd be hard-pressed to redo it next year. They take care of their own and as long as he's producing, I could see them working out a deal in two years.
 
insaniti said:
Me thinks some of the people here need to stop visiting colorado...
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Nope No reason to go to Colorado when I got everything here (Oregon) that I need.What I'm saying is that if he becomes disgruntled with playing for the Steelers Adios Might as well get a big time draft pick for him.
 
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You guys can stop crying about poor AB and his pauper's contract. The thing everyone is forgetting, is he currently is a media darling. He has no issues with the law. He's a great looking kid with a big smile. He's going to rake in endorsements. Working to be the best at WR is going to keep him in the limelight. If Rosenhaus is doing his job right, AB should be making more in endorsements than salary the next 2 seasons.

Holding out would only hurt his image and give him negative press. Holding out of regular season games would hurt his legacy and ability to become the best. That is AB's goal. Not just to be the best WR in football, but to be the best ever. He won't throw away regular season games, in his prime, to prove a point.
 
AB is the man! Arguably the most prolific wideout we've had in decades.

That being said I have to agree with the organizations approach to the situation.

I 'm not worried about it. Two years from now they'll work something out.
 
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