Kozora: Steelers Would Be Foolish To Trade Martavis Bryant

[Shoes]

The drama continues in As The Steelers Turn. After a thrilling win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the news shifted in the evening amid reports that Martavis Bryant asked the Pittsburgh Steelers for a trade. (http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/10/rapoport-martavis-bryant-requested-trade-steelers/)
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/10/kozora-steelers-foolish-trade-martavis-bryant/

[hawaiiansteeler]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DMRxPm_XUAAN1VY.jpg

[GBMelBlount]

I tend to agree.

[AtlantaDan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DMRxPm_XUAAN1VY.jpg

Ray Fittipaldo of the P-G in his online chat today

I half expect The Rock to walk into the UPMC training facility today. I feel like I'm in an episode of "Ballers" every week covering this team....

The Steelers should be sponsored by Procter and Gamble. They're a soap opera. :chuckle:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/10/16/Ray-Fittipaldo-Steelers-chat-10-16-17/stories/201710160155

[tube517]

Ray Fittipaldo of the P-G in his online chat today

I half expect The Rock to walk into the UPMC training facility today. I feel like I'm in an episode of "Ballers" every week covering this team. :chuckle:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/10/16/Ray-Fittipaldo-Steelers-chat-10-16-17/stories/201710160155

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Br59DlNCQAAUara.jpg Not impossible :chuckle:

[Mojouw]

Ray Fittipaldo of the P-G in his online chat today

I half expect The Rock to walk into the UPMC training facility today. I feel like I'm in an episode of "Ballers" every week covering this team....

The Steelers should be sponsored by Procter and Gamble. They're a soap opera. :chuckle:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/10/16/Ray-Fittipaldo-Steelers-chat-10-16-17/stories/201710160155

Ahhhhhhhhh. A grumpy old man made an easy pop-culture reference. I'm going to go freak out.

The importance of this "story" will be easy to tell. See how Bryant's teammates treat him. If they close ranks around him and still treat him well during the games - then it is a non story. If we begin to see distance between Bryant and the rest of the team -- then I will start to actually give a rats-ass about any of this.

To be clear, I was making fun of Fittipaldo, not AtlantaDan.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Ahhhhhhhhh. A grumpy old man made an easy pop-culture reference. I'm going to go freak out.

The importance of this "story" will be easy to tell. See how Bryant's teammates treat him. If they close ranks around him and still treat him well during the games - then it is a non story. If we begin to see distance between Bryant and the rest of the team -- then I will start to actually give a rats-ass about any of this.

Steelers WR Martavis Bryant denies that he requested trade

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Steelers players had fun with the trade rumors in the locker room Monday. When reporters surrounded Bryant, several players started hollering, prompting a smile from Bryant.

Bell jokingly said: "I guess your statement wasn't enough."

Center Maurkice Pouncey and safety Mike Mitchell both designated the same new team for Bryant.

"Golden State," Pouncey said.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21043659/pittsburgh-steelers-wide-receiver-martavis-bryant-denies-requesting-trade

[AtlantaDan]

Ahhhhhhhhh. A grumpy old man made an easy pop-culture reference.

The importance of this "story" will be easy to tell. See how Bryant's teammates treat him. If they close ranks around him and still treat him well during the games - then it is a non story. If we begin to see distance between Bryant and the rest of the team -- then I will start to actually give a rats-ass about any of this.

I think you are confusing Fittipaldo with Gerry and Ed, who appear to be counting off the days to retirement - Fittipaldo does not look that old unless he is using a dated photo with his byline in the P-G.

Fittipaldo said in his chat Bryant has been saying all the right things the past few weeks about just being the best player he can be.

A concern is why the agent leaked the story yesterday, after the Steelers presumably told him to shove his trade request more than a week ago, and what the agent along with Bryant's girlfriend (a traditional term for what may be a non-traditional relationship) are telling Bryant in terms of possible next steps.

As you note, if there are some players on that team who care about Bryant they hopefully will try to provide support - Bryant burned bridges when he got suspended again- relapses happen more often without a support system and in addition to playing football Bryant's other core competency is self-destructive behavior.