Antonio Brown to the Bills (or maybe not)

[Khyber53]

Buffalo dodged a bullet.

Pittsburgh will either ship him off somewhere really bad (there are worse places than Buffalo, believe it or not) or will make him ride out the contract either on the field or his couch.

The NFL's offseason game of hot potato. Who will end up with Brown, thinking they've got a good deal? 

[panthers55]

Bills GM just said the trade is dead.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2824514-antonio-brown-trade-to-bills-not-happening-buffalo-gm-says?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nfl

[Navy_football]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

No, but you can find the hell out of them for not fulfilling their contract.

Yeah, but that's the easy part. Particularly when you're pissed with the team and being super petty. He'd likely not break one rule and be at least 30 minutes early to every obligation - and then proceed to look like crap on game days. 

Also could divide the locker room with gossip. Just not worth it. A player at his status has all the leverage. At this point in his life AB is playing because he wants to, not because he needs to. He's prepared to walk away just like Barry Sanders did. You have no leverage in that situation. 

[Mr. Scot]

7 minutes ago, Navy_football said:

Yeah, but that's the easy part. Particularly when you're pissed with the team and being super petty. He'd likely not break one rule and be at least 30 minutes early to every obligation - and then proceed to look like crap on game days. 

Also could divide the locker room with gossip. Just not worth it. A player at his status has all the leverage. At this point in his life AB is playing because he wants to, not because he needs to. He's prepared to walk away just like Barry Sanders did. You have no leverage in that situation. 

That's pretty much cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[carpanfan96]

35 minutes ago, Navy_football said:

You can't force someone to play football. And even if you could, would you really want him on the field. All he has to do is run the wrong route in the 4th quarter, and pick 6 you lose. 

point is, he wouldn't show up. or if he did he would be purposefully belligerent and or violate team rules. team fines him and he has three choices. 

 

play hardball and get fined

retire

play nice

 

really only three options he has if the Steelers can't get what they want. 

[My Goodness My Guinness]

1 hour ago, top dawg said:

They're on the hook for 21 mil. If he doesn't play, he gets zero. If they decide to play hardball, he can play hardball by showing up and manifesting his displeasure in creative ways, all while not necessarily giving them AB effort.

Oh have no doubt that the Steelers will play hardball. Get your popcorn ready, this will be ugly. He could refuse to sit games out in order to keep his paycheck and not give a crap on the field, but they could trot him out there anyway and force the ball to him and give him a bad image for the rest of the league. Sure it’s petty, but I wouldn’t put it past them.

I’m still a believer that you play out the contract that you signed. It’s only 1 more year and he is getting 21 million. Does he feel like he is on the verge of going downhill or something and wants to win now? It’s weird for sure.

[carpanfan96]

1 hour ago, top dawg said:

But as long as he follows the letter of the law, he is Gucci!

You guys act like he is in the wrong here. There is no black and white here (pun not intended). They pissed him off, so he wants out!  He has every right to use whatever strategy he likes to get out.

no I agree he has every right to do what ever he likes. Same as the team does since he's lawfully under contract. 

[Navy_football]

4 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

That's pretty much cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Agree.

From everything I've seen from him the last couple of weeks, I would expect this. Why would he give up money because the people he hates want to control his actions? I don't think he'd give them that satisfaction. 

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, My Goodness My Guinness said:

Oh have no doubt that the Steelers will play hardball. Get your popcorn ready, this will be ugly. He could refuse to sit games out in order to keep his paycheck and not give a crap on the field, but they could trot him out there anyway and force the ball to him and give him a bad image for the rest of the league. Sure it’s petty, but I wouldn’t put it past them.

I’m still a believer that you play out the contract that you signed. It’s only 1 more year and he is getting 21 million. Does he feel like he is on the verge of going downhill or something and wants to win now? It’s weird for sure.

I get it if a player wants a new deal because he has massively outperformed his contract. That's fair because teams will absolutely cut you early if you don't live up to contract expectations. But, Brown recently signed this very lucrative contract. This isn't applicable to his situation.

[Navy_football]

6 minutes ago, carpanfan96 said:

point is, he wouldn't show up. or if he did he would be purposefully belligerent and or violate team rules. team fines him and he has three choices. 

 

play hardball and get fined

retire

play nice

 

really only three options he has if the Steelers can't get what they want. 

Missed an option:

Only do what you're contractually obligated to do, but don't help the team win games. 

[rayzor]

Fixed the title.

[joemac]

The Raiders have 3 first round picks. The Steelers want a first round pick. The Raiders desperately need weapons. Seems like a no brainer to me?

[Trill OG]

7 minutes ago, joemac said:

The Raiders have 3 first round picks. The Steelers want a first round pick. The Raiders desperately need weapons. Seems like a no brainer to me?

I would be shocked if this isn't his next destination. They have 4 picks in the top 32 picks. And they have capspace to offer him a long term deal.

[Davidson Deac II]

14 minutes ago, joemac said:

The Raiders have 3 first round picks. The Steelers want a first round pick. The Raiders desperately need weapons. Seems like a no brainer to me?

They give up Amari Cooper to get a first round pick, then turn around and give that pick to the Steelers to get Brown. Isn't that essentially trading Cooper for Brown, but tying up a lot more cap space?  Not a bad deal if the Raiders felt they could compete next year, but I am thinking that the Raiders want to use those picks to bring in young and relatively cheap talent with an eye at competing for a Superbowl when they move to Vegas.