Report: Steelers' Brown skips workouts, working on contract

[Lady Steel]

Antonio Brown won't be at the Pittsburgh Steelers' facility on Monday for the start of offseason workouts, and there's a chance he won't be around the team for a while.

The All-Pro wide receiver, who has caught 239 passes in the past two seasons combined, will be skipping the voluntary workout program and is mulling sitting out mandatory minicamp and perhaps even training camp in an attempt to secure a new contract, sources have told FOX Sports.

Brown and his camp have already spoken to team management about redoing his deal and told them his absence this spring will be related to the deal. The Steelers are bracing for a possible camp holdout from Brown, whose 129 catches in 2014 are the second-most in a single season behind Marvin Harrison's 143 in 2002.

Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus declined to comment when asked about his client's contract situation and whether he'll hold out.




http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/p...t-talks-042015

[Rotorhead]

I honestly hate Drew Rosenhaus . . . If her were burning in the street and I had a bucket of water, the only question would be which drain to I empty the bucket in! Brown, what are you doing?!?!?

[fansince'76]

Lovely...

[X-Terminator]

I hate holdouts as much as the next guy, but come on, Brown has clearly outplayed his current contract. If I performed at a level well above my current pay grade, you'd bet I'd be looking for more money.

[Rotorhead]

No, I would play out my contract because that is what I signed. I would start negotiations on a bigger contract, but I certainly would not hold out like this. Remember they gave AB this nice contract before he was the best WR in the league, they took a chance on him and he signed the deal. He may have outplayed his current contract, but he still signed it. If he does hold out, I will lose a lot of respect for him.

[Drazo85]

Now we all know why the Steelers have hosted so many potentional first round wideouts.

[fansince'76]

Now we all know why the Steelers have hosted so many potentional first round wideouts.

At first I didn't make the connection, but yeah, it does kinda explain it...

[salamander]

Come on, AB... don't be one of those guys.

[fansince'76]

Come on, AB... don't be one of those guys.

Unlike Wallace, Brown actually deserves it. He may not get it from the Steelers, though...

[Lady Steel]

Column: AB’s holdout threat hypocritical, hollow

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC


Antonio Brown didn’t show for the opening of the Steelers’ voluntary workouts this morning on the South Side, and he might not show for quite a while if his existing contract isn’t redone, according to multiple media reports headed by Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

I’d like not to believe this.

I’d like not to have it so much as breach my brain that Brown could be so hypocritical that he’d attempt an act this hollow when he isn’t even halfway through the five-year, $42 million extension he happily signed just two years ago.

I’d like not to, but what’s the option?

Brown won’t talk about this today and, in fact, we might not hear from him any sooner than we see him. That’s how these holdouts tend to work. Agents advise their clients to lay low. And Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is the very best in his business, better known than most of his clients.

But that’s OK, you know, because here’s what Brown already has had plenty to say about his existing contract, if one can turn the calendar way, way back to, oh, July 28, 2012, and a press conference at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe:

• “It’s special. With a unique organization such as the Steelers, knowing I’m going to be around here for the long term is something amazing and really special. It’s something I take pride in, and I know that it’s a tremendous honor.”

• “It provides me with some security and allows me to play football and focus on winning games.”

• “What I do realize is that I’ve been given a great opportunity to be around an organization that is really special. I’m really honored and thankful about that. All I can do now is work to give them my best as long as I’m here.”

This is where this column could end, in all candor. A signed contract is a signed contract. Kevin Colbert signed it for the Steelers. And Brown signed it, with the enthusiastic backing of Rosenhaus.

That’s how this works.




Read more: http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015...itical-hollow/

[Edman]

Hines Ward 2005 Mk.II

Brown will get his money.

[tube517]

2 words Drew Rosenhaus

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

[SteelerFanInStl]

Really AB??? It's shit like this that just keeps pushing me further away from professional sports. I didn't think that AB was like this.

[steelreserve]

If he was playing on a contract that really did undervalue him, I might be sympathetic. This is a big-time contract worth over $8 million a season, so give me a fucking break. You're paid that much at any position other than QB, you play for that much, I don't care how good you are.

The real ass-kicker is that this deal was made with the understanding that it was a win for both sides. Brown gets paid like a star right away based on his potential, and the team has cost certainty in the event that he knocks it out of the park. And even if he turned into the best receiver in the league, he'd still be getting paid fairly. Not Megatron money, but still paid fairly.

You made a choice when you signed the deal to lock in high pay for a long time, and in return, give up the leverage for insane pay during that time. That was your call, so deal with the outcome (which is still not particularly bad for you). This is about the biggest dick move I have ever heard of.

[X-Terminator]

The thing is, though, from the players' viewpoint, they want to get as much money as they can since a team can cut him before his contract is up and not owe another dime. And the players have a point. So, again, in their view, if a team can break a contract on a whim, why can't a player ask for a new contract before the current one ends, if he has outplayed said contract? The solution, of course, would be to make all NFL contracts fully guaranteed, but the owners will never agree to that. That way, it would be on the player to show up no matter what. My guess is that he wants more guaranteed money than he got in his current contract.

That said, I hope that he at least shows up for training camp.

[teegre]

a team can cut him before his contract is up and not owe another dime.

Exactly. Great point.

That said, he's making $8 effing million per season.

[X-Terminator]

Exactly. Great point.

That said, he's making $8 effing million per season.

That's just the average. According to DK's article, he's making just $6 million this season, then over $8 million in the final 2 seasons, and none of it is guaranteed. Hence, why he's threatening a holdout.

Look, I'm not necessarily saying I agree with the holdout threat, only that I understand where AB is coming from.

[TD's & Beer]

a source told a source - I believe that's called gossip



Antonio Brown to skip workouts, wants new contra

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Brown won't report to voluntary conditioning, because he wants a new contract, per a source informed of his plans.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...s-new-contract

[dislocatedday]

I kind of suspected AB may pull this move, but I really thought it would happen next offseason when he had 2 years left on his deal, not now with 3 years remaining. He has been elite (and by elite I mean statistically he is ranked as the #1 WR over the last 2 years), so I can see how he would feel he is underpaid. I'm sure AB is being somewhat pushed into this "holdout" stance by his agent (.. I thought AB had moved to Jay-Z's sports management company last year....I guess Rosenhaus works for Jay-Z's company now?..). I just have to wonder what $$$ amount he is looking for.

I do not know what talks between AB and the Steelers brass may have occurred behind the scenes, but I really hoped they would keep any negotiations internal. While the Steelers typically do not do deals with even 2 years remaining on a current contract, I could have seen the Steelers making an exception and upping the ante for AB next offseason. Now I really wonder if this is going to backfire on everyone, and the Steelers ship AB out of town in a trade for a first round pick....probably not, but this has been a strange offseason across the league.

[SteelMember]

Drew smelled the money the Steelers recently free'd up... Perfect timing, and I'm sure he didn't have to whisper too long in AB's ear. Everybody wants paid! Just hope he's not looking for Megatron money or we're in trouble.

[one side only]

When is the last time the Rooneys renegotiated a contract with three years left? After making Ben wait, what makes AB thinks getting a new deal is even remotely possible?

[hawaiiansteeler]

I honestly hate Drew Rosenhaus . . . If her were burning in the street and I had a bucket of water, the only question would be which drain to I empty the bucket in!

James Harrison wouldn’t piss on him even if he was on fire...

[teegre]

That's just the average. According to DK's article, he's making just $6 million this season, then over $8 million in the final 2 seasons, and none of it is guaranteed. Hence, why he's threatening a holdout.

Look, I'm not necessarily saying I agree with the holdout threat, only that I understand where AB is coming from.

A couple of points:

1. I am pro player. Because, as you stated: they get screwed routinely. They can be cut tomorrow, with zero repercussion for the team.

2. Most contracts are back-loaded... and there's the signing bonus. So, if AB is pointing to Player A's contract of $10 million per year, I'd be willing to bet that Player A is only making about $6 million, because Player A got $10 million (of his 5 year/$50 million deal) the day that he signed... and the big payday years are at the end ($6 million, $6 million, $6 million, $11 million, $11 million).

In in other words, AB's average of $8 million, which is actually about $6 million per year, isn't that far off from the top-tier WRs.

SUMMATION:
Like all players, AB wants more "guaranteed" money, which only comes via signing bonuses. Hence, even if he were to re-sign for a 3 year $22 million contract (the amount that he has left), but the signing bonus was $12 million, he'd likely be happy.

I foresee see him re-signing for about $9 million per year (which is not much more), but with 1/3 of it in signing bonus.

[Psycho Ward 86]

jesus people, you guys go rabid on your own players awful fast...

first of all, he deserves it. you really cant blame the guy. he's been the best receiver in the league for the past two years.

second, if we had to redo his contract, now isnt the worst time since we have more cap room than we need right now and we have some wiggle room to give people receiving new contracts more money up front to eat up all of this cap space for the year that we barely need

[teegre]

James Harrison wouldn’t piss on him even if he was on fire...

I would hold my piss, until my kidney burst.

Alas, my luck: my only kidney transplant match would be... Drew Rosenhaus.

[steelreserve]

I would hold my piss, until my kidney burst.

Alas, my luck: my only kidney transplant match would be... Drew Rosenhaus.

Well, he'd be dead, so at least you'd have your donor.

I don't quite get where this is going. What does Brown think he's going to do? Sit out for three years? All that's really needed is to call his bluff, and if I were in charge of negotiating I would make it clear from day one that's exactly what was going to happen.

- - - Updated - - -

jesus people, you guys go rabid on your own players awful fast...

first of all, he deserves it. you really cant blame the guy. he's been the best receiver in the league for the past two years.

second, if we had to redo his contract, now isnt the worst time since we have more cap room than we need right now and we have some wiggle room to give people receiving new contracts more money up front to eat up all of this cap space for the year that we barely need

I don't think people would have an issue with it if he wasn't already well-paid. But he is, so I do. There is no place for that shit when you're already making over $8 million a season and basically acknowledged the reason for accepting the deal when you signed the contract.

[tube517]

http://www.steelersuniverse.com/foru...l=1#post431190

Mojouw, remind me to ask you for the numbers when the lottery hits $900 million


Seriously, that is why this does not surprise me. Drew Rosenhaus is a damn cockroach (think Scarface/Tony Montana)

[ALLD]

It's a special situation...and it's not. Steelers may need to change the way they do business or not. AB deserves guaranteed money and it might be a good opportunity to lock him up for another 5 year contract.

The holdout is wrong, but it might be the only way he gets their attention. Three years left on his current contract and asking for a new one is prima donna material for most teams, but the Rooneys have historically done the right thing.

I would give him more $ and guarantee it and not worry about what some other players in the future might think . You can always tell them to become #1 in their position and we can make a special assessment.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Well, he'd be dead, so at least you'd have your donor.

I don't quite get where this is going. What does Brown think he's going to do? Sit out for three years? All that's really needed is to call his bluff, and if I were in charge of negotiating I would make it clear from day one that's exactly what was going to happen.

- - - Updated - - -




I don't think people would have an issue with it if he wasn't already well-paid. But he is, so I do. There is no place for that shit when you're already making over $8 million a season and basically acknowledged the reason for accepting the deal when you signed the contract.

the going price for a top 5 WR is a hell of a lot more than $8 million a year. I believe his deal is closer to $7 million but the point remains the same. Hell, and Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas havent even signed new deals yet so its about to go up even more. Honestly, I would just get this shit done before those 2 get their contracts because AB's deal could get a whole lot more expensive.

As ridiculous as it is, market value is market value. and AB is arguably the most indispensable non-QB in the league. I cant believe people are throwing him under the bus after his absurd production and good off field behavior.

[Buckinnuts]

Nobody told you to sign your contact. .but thought he was better than..holding out crap..honor your contract..plain n simple..what a douche