Steelers won't change contract policy for Antonio Brown

[papillon]

Rosenhaus did what you expect your agent to do, get you more money. Both, Brown and Rosenhaus, knew it was a long shot to expect the Steelers to change their policy on renegotiating contracts, but they tried. Brown isn't mad and the Steelers held ground, when it come times to renegotiate the Steelers will offer Brown an appropriate contract based on their pay scale for the WR position. It will be lucrative, but it won't make him the highest paid WR in the league either.

This is much ado about nothing right now, Rosenhaus tried, the Steelers stood firm and Brown is a Steeler for three more years, no harm, no foul.

Papillon

 

[deljzc]

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.

The cards Brown holds are he's the best WR (by far) the Steelers have. He arguably adds 2-3 points (or more) per game just by playing.

Other than the money he loses, he can hold out until week 10 of any season and not hurt his free agency status or years accrued in the league.

Does the Steelers organization want to waste one of Roethlisberger's last remaining years as a great QB while their best WR sits at home and caused media distractions?

I think you guys are greatly underestimating what happens when a TOP player decides to hold out on his services.

While Brown/Rosenhaus know that public perception of holing out with 3 years left on his contract might not be best, they clearly laid the foundation of it happening in the future. If you don't think those early media reports of his contract dissatisfaction came from Rosenhaus' office you are kidding yourself. That was a "feeler" move to see which way the public/media wind is blowing on the issue.

If Brown puts up another crazy season (which it looks like is coming), that will give him further ammunition to justify not wanting to continue in a contract that grossly underpays him. I am pretty sure there is a battle coming on this with TWO YEARS left on the deal. If the Steelers aren't careful with their rigidity on their 1-year left renegotiation stance as an organization, **** is going to hit the fan.

It's just a matter of how much the Steelers, as an organization, are willing to take.

 

[papillon]

The cards Brown holds are he's the best WR (by far) the Steelers have. He arguably adds 2-3 points (or more) per game just by playing.

Other than the money he loses, he can hold out until week 10 of any season and not hurt his free agency status or years accrued in the league.

Does the Steelers organization want to waste one of Roethlisberger's last remaining years as a great QB while their best WR sits at home and caused media distractions?

I think you guys are greatly underestimating what happens when a TOP player decides to hold out on his services.

While Brown/Rosenhaus know that public perception of holing out with 3 years left on his contract might not be best, they clearly laid the foundation of it happening in the future. If you don't think those early media reports of his contract dissatisfaction came from Rosenhaus' office you are kidding yourself. That was a "feeler" move to see which way the public/media wind is blowing on the issue.

If Brown puts up another crazy season (which it looks like is coming), that will give him further ammunition to justify not wanting to continue in a contract that grossly underpays him. I am pretty sure there is a battle coming on this with TWO YEARS left on the deal. If the Steelers aren't careful with their rigidity on their 1-year left renegotiation stance as an organization, **** is going to hit the fan.

It's just a matter of how much the Steelers, as an organization, are willing to take.

Maybe, but the Steelers have also proven they can replace WRs (Buress and Holmes come to mind) over the years. I just don't see the Steelers caving on their policy for a WR even if he is the best one in the game.

Papillon

 

[deljzc]

Maybe, but the Steelers have also proven they can replace WRs (Buress and Holmes come to mind) over the years. I just don't see the Steelers caving on their policy for a WR even if he is the best one in the game.

Papillon

You're right. They will likely trade Brown before letting the hold out get into the season and be a distraction. But how is that better for the Steelers, really? Brown wins. After being traded he will get what he wants, which is to be compensated like the top-5 WR in the game. What do the Steelers get? A couple draft picks (maybe good ones). A 2016 season where they aren't the BEST they could have been. And one less season to really make a run with Roethlisberger as our QB. Oh... and they get to keep in tack their house "rules" for contract negotiations with non-QB's.

Is that worth it? I'm not sure.

I love the hard stance the Steelers have with contracts and negotiations. But there is a limit even in the rules you try to establish. Brown has turned himself, through hard work, into arguably a once-in-a-decade type WR player. It could be clearly argued that Brown in 2014 played (not just numbers) the best of any WR, in any year, ever for the Steelers organization. You can't make an exception for that? Are you really killing your message to your players to work hard and become the best by rewarding Brown and breaking your renegotiation rules once a decade?

I don't know.

I do know it's not as clear cut as some of you pro-management people here make it out to be. And I certainly know and respect the damage Brown could do this organization as a hold out and squeaky wheel. If you guys want to underestimate that, go right ahead.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Del, Brown was given a 42 million dollar contract based upon an 1100 yard 2 TD season. The next season he played 13 games in 2012, the first year of the contract and was under 800 yards. Certainly he has exploded the last two seasons, I don't think anyone can argue that. But I would argue that there is only another three or four QB's in the league he could put those numbers up with. He is on the books this year for about 12m and just under 11 next at which time no one would expect him to pay the final year. I guess I'm asking you what you think the Steelers should do in this situation. Do you expect them to give him 20million. They are supposed to break their contract with him to make him among the highest paid receivers in the league. That is fair to them? Or is the meet in the middle say 16, 17 to be fair to the team too. So they are supposed to open that can of worms for 4 or 5 million dollars a year.
What would you say would be fair to BOTH sides because in a negotiation both sides play a part and have wants.

 

[deljzc]

Del, Brown was given a 42 million dollar contract based upon an 1100 yard 2 TD season. The next season he played 13 games in 2012, the first year of the contract and was under 800 yards. Certainly he has exploded the last two seasons, I don't think anyone can argue that. But I would argue that there is only another three or four QB's in the league he could put those numbers up with. He is on the books this year for about 12m and just under 11 next at which time no one would expect him to pay the final year. I guess I'm asking you what you think the Steelers should do in this situation. Do you expect them to give him 20million. They are supposed to break their contract with him to make him among the highest paid receivers in the league. That is fair to them? Or is the meet in the middle say 16, 17 to be fair to the team too. So they are supposed to open that can of worms for 4 or 5 million dollars a year.
What would you say would be fair to BOTH sides because in a negotiation both sides play a part and have wants.

Yes. There is a "middle number", but the Steelers don't seem to be willing to do that. Not this year (when that number would be cheapest) or next year (when that number is higher). They stated it won't happen until 2017. By that time Brown might be declining in value. Just another reason for Brown/Rosenhaus to instigate change in the next 12 months rather than 24 months from now.

And it's irregardless the numbers he puts up here vs. somewhere else. Talent is talent. He's talented and people will pay for it. He would drastically upgrade some team's receiving corps and that's why teams pay huge dollars in free agency.

Every hold out is a game of chicken. It's tough to alienate the fans, let down your teammates and potentially lose money/fame/stats if you miss games. Both sides, by the nature of the system, are losing something. That's why it works and that's why things normally get resolved. Either with a new contract or a trade.

This all started because I said if I was Brown, I would hold out. Brown is scheduled to make $17 million in 2016 and 2017, none of which is guaranteed in case of injury. That's the prime of his athletic life (age 28 and 29). If he acts the good soldier, the Steelers could make sure he doesn't see another payday until he is 30 years old. Will he command top-5 contract at that point? Probably not.

If he holds out and instigates change he could be looking at $35 million in guaranteed money (that's what Dez and Damrius got). Are you guys honestly saying if you were Brown, you wouldn't consider holding out? Really?

 

[Troglodyte]

If Brown were to sabotage the Steelers season next year by holding out the first 10 games (and cost himself 2/3rds of his salary) they could deactivate him for the remaining 6, and the see if he wanted to rinse and repeat and further derail his career and bank account the following season.

The Steelers hold the cards, make no mistake.

 

[Clemdawg]

Good call!!!

I love Brown. He needs to just keep proving himself. He'll get the contract.

 

[madinsomniac]

Brown isn't a jerk by any account. I don't think he will hold out. I think with a year or so to go the Steelers give him a really huge contract if he continues to be what he has been. Lets face it, RBs are a terrible investment. Almost every team that hands a long term contract to a RB at top end money regrets it by the end of the deal. Star Wrs, on the other hand, often play well into their mid 30's and that was when you could light them up across the middle.

The cap goes up big time in 2016. Brown will be 28. a four or five year extension after that season more or less ends his career here. I do not think its as big a deal as people think that we aren't extending him now, because while the other guys get more money right now, the deal he signs in 16/17 will be for overall greater money to Bryant /Thomas anyhow because the contracts will have risen significantly by then. They probably would have saved money by reworking him now.

The bigger question is how much they give Bell next year. He will be in his mid 20's and prime for a monster contract for a RB

 

[stillwright]

The cards Brown holds are he's the best WR (by far) the Steelers have. He arguably adds 2-3 points (or more) per game just by playing.

Other than the money he loses, he can hold out until week 10 of any season and not hurt his free agency status or years accrued in the league.

Does the Steelers organization want to waste one of Roethlisberger's last remaining years as a great QB while their best WR sits at home and caused media distractions?

I think you guys are greatly underestimating what happens when a TOP player decides to hold out on his services.

While Brown/Rosenhaus know that public perception of holing out with 3 years left on his contract might not be best, they clearly laid the foundation of it happening in the future. If you don't think those early media reports of his contract dissatisfaction came from Rosenhaus' office you are kidding yourself. That was a "feeler" move to see which way the public/media wind is blowing on the issue.

If Brown puts up another crazy season (which it looks like is coming), that will give him further ammunition to justify not wanting to continue in a contract that grossly underpays him. I am pretty sure there is a battle coming on this with TWO YEARS left on the deal. If the Steelers aren't careful with their rigidity on their 1-year left renegotiation stance as an organization, **** is going to hit the fan.

It's just a matter of how much the Steelers, as an organization, are willing to take.

I would like to see him hold out for the next three years until week 10. LOL. That would be classic. His three prime years wasted on hoping the Steelers break...In the the end just wasting his own career and reputation. I say do it Brown. Steelers won't let any single player hold them hostage. The player will lose every time.

 

[Litos]

I really doubt AB repeats last years numbers with Martavis, Wheaton and Bell getting more experience. AB will be double-covered most of the time, just like happens with every monster WR after they breakout. I could understand a contract extension next season but now? No way the FO can afford such a move

 

[swal75]

We can control him via the tag for the rest of Ben's time here(3+2 tags). That being said giving him the Dez deal +5% is probably a sustainable move cap wise even if you also do Bell.

 

[Stryker]

Someone who is trying to become the best ever, will not sacrifice regular season games. There will be no holdout that carries to the regular season.

I understand why he could hold out, but this is a game of chicken, or poker if you will. When you play poker, you play the man, not the cards. AB has a good hand, but he'd fold betting his salary against his legacy.

 

[papillon]

You're right. They will likely trade Brown before letting the hold out get into the season and be a distraction. But how is that better for the Steelers, really? Brown wins. After being traded he will get what he wants, which is to be compensated like the top-5 WR in the game. What do the Steelers get? A couple draft picks (maybe good ones). A 2016 season where they aren't the BEST they could have been. And one less season to really make a run with Roethlisberger as our QB. Oh... and they get to keep in tack their house "rules" for contract negotiations with non-QB's.

Is that worth it? I'm not sure.

I love the hard stance the Steelers have with contracts and negotiations. But there is a limit even in the rules you try to establish. Brown has turned himself, through hard work, into arguably a once-in-a-decade type WR player. It could be clearly argued that Brown in 2014 played (not just numbers) the best of any WR, in any year, ever for the Steelers organization. You can't make an exception for that? Are you really killing your message to your players to work hard and become the best by rewarding Brown and breaking your renegotiation rules once a decade?

I don't know.

I do know it's not as clear cut as some of you pro-management people here make it out to be. And I certainly know and respect the damage Brown could do this organization as a hold out and squeaky wheel. If you guys want to underestimate that, go right ahead.

I have a question for you. In your opinion who is more important to the Steeler offense? Brown or Bell
I ask because at some point Bell will want his money as well. Will the Steelers be able to keep both Bell and Brown along with Ben's 100 million dollar contract and continue to field a competitive team? There's more than just the one player involved here, the Steelers have to consider the entirety of the team and how to best go about being competitive. I know you know this, but I wanted to bring it up because I think it's an important fact to insert into this discussion. Right now with the young receivers coming along nicely and no one really behind Bell, I would submit that Bell is more important player (see last year's playoff game).

I'm not advocating not re-signing AB, but taking the entirety of the team into account (and the lack of defensive talent right now) and the performance of the offense without Bell (granted its only one game), even if I wanted to reward AB right now, I would hold off and see how things unfold. If it turns out that AB is more vital to success than Bell this year, then maybe before next season (2 years out) I renegotiate AB's contract, otherwise, stick to their policy and move forward.

Papillon

 

[steelrzgirl]

I would prefer teams do not cater to these new young entitled spoiled athletes. Sit down Brown. Do your job and you will make your paper. See Mike Wallace; Ryan Clark. Bye Felicia.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

I would prefer teams do not cater to these new young entitled spoiled athletes. Sit down Brown. Do your job and you will make your paper. See Mike Wallace; Ryan Clark. Bye Felicia.

First off- Ryan Clark didnt leave b/c of paper- he left b/c he lost a step or two

Second- Mike Wallace got his paper AND moved to one of the dopest cities in the country.

Point being, lets not gamble with the #1 WR in the league. Lets keep him happy

 

[Stryker]

Brown is undefendable and is trying to become the best ever. He is also the face of our team with excellent character.

Bell is a talented multidementional back, who has already been suspended for questionable judgement.

I resign Brown in a heartbeat over Bell. It's like saying, would you resign Jerry Rice over Roger Craig. Both excellent players, but one has a drive to be the best ever. No contest.

 

[steelrzgirl]

First off- Ryan Clark didnt leave b/c of paper- he left b/c he lost a step or two

Second- Mike Wallace got his paper AND moved to one of the dopest cities in the country.

Point being, lets not gamble with the #1 WR in the league. Lets keep him happy

I was referring to the entitled attitudes. These younger guys and younger folks in general seem to have a sense of entitlement in general. Id like to see it not catered too. No one is bigger than the game itself.