Steelers won't change contract policy for Antonio Brown

[Count Steeler]

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 told Trib Total Media on Thursday that there has been no change in a long-standing organizational policy to re-work a non-quarterback contract with more than a year left.
“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.”
And that goes for one of the best young receivers in the league as well.
The two-time All-Pro has 239 receptions (most in NFL) over the past two years including a franchise record 129 for 1,698 yards last year. Brown also caught 13 touchdowns for the 11-5, AFC North-winning Steelers a year ago.


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...#ixzz3jNobHRqu

[Mojouw]

This is going to bite them in the ass.

[zulater]

Didn't see it was already posted.

I'm surprised it hasn't been commented on more. Anyway this confirms what I believed would be the Steelers approach all along. Now someone needs to sit AB down and explain to him how T.O. went from being a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer to a broke, out of work- side show attraction largely because of Mr. Drew Rosenhaus.

[steelreserve]

Well good, that could've set a dangerous precedent. Brown is getting paid well.

Your move, Slimebag Agent of the Century.

[TeeTee]

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 told Trib Total Media on Thursday that there has been no change in a long-standing organizational policy to re-work a non-quarterback contract with more than a year left.
“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.”
And that goes for one of the best young receivers in the league as well.
The two-time All-Pro has 239 receptions (most in NFL) over the past two years including a franchise record 129 for 1,698 yards last year. Brown also caught 13 touchdowns for the 11-5, AFC North-winning Steelers a year ago.


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...#ixzz3jNobHRqu

Why do they make an exception for a QB then? If the policy makes sense to be unwavering when it comes to all other players, why wouldn't it also make sense to follow the same policy for a QB? I can see this blowing up in their faces. I hate when any organization hides behind policies, acting like it is a moral high ground, but won't hesitate to do an about face when it suits their needs. In other words, the team acts like they won't negotiate early because "a deal is a deal." But if a player seems to not be playing up to "a deal" the team has no problem with asking for an early re-deal or else an outright cut. That is what they call "double standards." Just think how many WRs will be making so much more $ than AB by next season. He's gonna freak out.

[zulater]

Why do they make an exception for a QB then? If the policy makes sense to be unwavering when it comes to all other players, why wouldn't it also make sense to follow the same policy for a QB? I can see this blowing up in their faces. I hate when any organization hides behind policies, acting like it is a moral high ground, but won't hesitate to do an about face when it suits their needs. In other words, the team acts like they won't negotiate early because "a deal is a deal." But if a player seems to not be playing up to "a deal" the team has no problem with asking for an early re-deal or else an outright cut. That is what they call "double standards." Just think how many WRs will be making so much more $ than AB by next season. He's gonna freak out.

Because outside of kickers (who's value is negligible) qb's careers are longer than any other position group by a considerable margin. Also franchise qb's are a much rarer commodity than elite anything else. Consider over the past 50 years the Steelers have only had two elite qb's. In the same span without giving it much thought I can name you eight Steeler wr's that would be considered among the best of their time. To wit Roy Jefferson, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Louis Lipps, Yancey Thigpen, Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward, and Antonio Brown.

[TeeTee]

Well good, that could've set a dangerous precedent. Brown is getting paid well.

Your move, Slimebag Agent of the Century.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I know of this is all about timing. But how many WRs are making more than AB? 10? And some of them are no where near the player AB is, not even close.

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Because outside of kickers (who's value is negligible) qb's careers are longer than any other position group by a considerable margin. Also franchise qb's are a much rarer commodity than elite anything else. Consider over the past 50 years the Steelers have only had two elite qb's. In the same span without giving it much thought I can name you eight Steeler wr's that would be considered among the best of their time. To wit Roy Jefferson, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Louis Lipps, Yancey Thigpen, Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward, and Antonio Brown.

Thigpen, Plex, Hines nor Lipps were ever considered the best WR of their day. Not even close. Stallworth probably never was either. Maybe not Swann either.

[polamalubeast]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I know of this is all about timing. But how many WRs are making more than AB? 10? And some of them are no where near the player AB is, not even close.

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Thigpen, Plex, Hines nor Lipps were never considered the best WR of their day. Not even close. Stallworth probably never was either. Maybe not Swann either.

There has 2 or 3 HOF on this group....

[TeeTee]

There has 2 or 3 HOF on this group....

Yea, but he said they were "the best of their day" at the time. Not accurate.

[86WARD]

Yea, but he said they were "the best of their day" at the time. Not accurate.

He said they "would be considered AMONG the best of their time." Which is very accurate.

I agree that this will eventually bite them in the ass...them being so "firm" on their policies...ie) carrying a third QB, not renegotiating contracts, etc. is becoming so old fashioned it's gonna eventually hurt the organization more than it is now...

[Psycho Ward 86]

i fear that antonio brown will lose his drive, albeit unintentionally, from all of this if it keeps up the way it is. i really think we should make an exception for him after one more season on his current contract. Ben is entering his prime, Leveon is the best all purpose back in the league, we finally have an O-line on the cusp of greatness, and Ben has more weapons than ever before.

Its been a long time since we let a player anywhere near as good as AB at his position walk away from the team and i dont want to know what that looks like. AB has had a great attitude about all of this so the TO comparisons need to chill

[TeeTee]

He said they "would be considered AMONG the best of their time." Which is very accurate.

I agree that this will eventually bite them in the ass...them being so "firm" on their policies...ie) carrying a third QB, not renegotiating contracts, etc. is becoming so old fashioned it's gonna eventually hurt the organization more than it is now...

Couldn't agree more.

[fansince'76]

Its been a long time since we let a player anywhere near as good as AB at his position walk away from the team and i dont want to know what that looks like. AB has had a great attitude about all of this so the TO comparisons need to chill

I think the T.O. example was mentioned to illustrate what a money-grubbing jackass AB currently has for an agent, that's all.

[zulater]

Yea, but he said they were "the best of their day" at the time. Not accurate.

Is English your second language?

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I think the T.O. example was mentioned to illustrate what a money-grubbing jackass AB currently has for an agent, that's all.

Exactly

[TeeTee]

i fear that antonio brown will lose his drive, albeit unintentionally, from all of this if it keeps up the way it is. i really think we should make an exception for him after one more season on his current contract. Ben is entering his prime, Leveon is the best all purpose back in the league, we finally have an O-line on the cusp of greatness, and Ben has more weapons than ever before.

Its been a long time since we let a player anywhere near as good as AB at his position walk away from the team and i dont want to know what that looks like. AB has had a great attitude about all of this so the TO comparisons need to chill

Not to mention claiming that the agent made TO an a hole. Drew has tons of clients who don't turn into a holes. Being an a hole is on TO, not the agent.

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Is English your second language?

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Super. The English language cops are here.

[zulater]

Not to mention claiming that the agent made TO an a hole. Drew has tons of clients who don't turn into a holes. Being an a hole is on TO, not the agent.

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Super. The English language cops are here.

Well generally when it's pointed out that someone made a completely inaccurate comment about another poster's point said poster will make some sort of acknowledgement to said point. Since this normal protocol seems to have escaped you I thought perhaps you were unfamiliar with our ways.

Either that or maybe you're just a belligerent douche? But I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[zulater]

Bottom line this is much ado about nothing. Antonio Brown will play this season under the terms of his contract and there's nothing to indicate that Brown will let this so called issue affect his on field performance in any way.

The Steelers are smart business people. I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility of a contract extension prior to the 16 season. But they will not be dictated to by the agent of a player with 3 years remaining on his contract. Nor should they be.

So as pertaining to the 2015 season, which is what mainly concerns me relative to the Steelers at this particular time, this is a non-starter. So go ahead and fret away all you like on this matter. But to me this is a non issue. And outside of addressing comments made directly to me concerning prior posts on this thread this is the last I have to say on this, unless truly relevant facts on this subject matter change.

[Craic]

Super. The English language cops are here.

Well, when written language is the only possible method of communication, using it properly tends to help everyone involved.

[Psycho Ward 86]

can anyone recall players verbally making a fuss out of their contract situation with 3 years or more remaining in recent times?

Other than Darrelle Revis. Jesus, the nerve of that guy.

[86WARD]

Kam Chancellor. 2015.

[steelreserve]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I know of this is all about timing. But how many WRs are making more than AB? 10? And some of them are no where near the player AB is, not even close.

When Brown signed the deal, he got paid like a star despite still being a potential star. It was a straight-up trade of giving up potential leverage in order to gain security and an early payday. He and his agent both knew the name of the game when they negotiated it, which is why I don't feel sorry for him at all.

Yes, I know the tired old line: "But teams cut players from their contracts all the time! Why should we expect the players to honor their end of the deal!"

Well, when the entire reason why Brown signed the deal, and the entire reason why we offered it in the first place, was to give him a favorable outcome in order to make absolutely certain there could not possibly be any of this type of bullshit in the future ... then yeah, I expect him to play the next couple of years without complaining. There is no way he's getting cut before this deal is up even if he tears both ACLs, so if his agent or anyone tries to use the argument that teams cut other players before the end of their contracts, they can go shut right the fuck up.

[fansince'76]

When Brown signed the deal, he got paid like a star despite still being a potential star. It was a straight-up trade of giving up potential leverage in order to gain security and an early payday. He and his agent both knew the name of the game when they negotiated it, which is why I don't feel sorry for him at all.

Yes, I know the tired old line: "But teams cut players from their contracts all the time! Why should we expect the players to honor their end of the deal!"

Well, when the entire reason why Brown signed the deal, and the entire reason why we offered it in the first place, was to give him a favorable outcome in order to make absolutely certain there could not possibly be any of this type of bullshit in the future ... then yeah, I expect him to play the next couple of years without complaining. There is no way he's getting cut before this deal is up even if he tears both ACLs, so if his agent or anyone tries to use the argument that teams cut other players before the end of their contracts, they can go shut right the fuck up.

This, plus one more thing: why should the Steelers be bent over due to other teams stupidly overpaying WRs who weren't worth it and aren't as good as Brown is?

The fact that there are now X number of WRs making more than him is not a compelling enough reason to tear his current contract up and renegotiate with 3 years left on it, especially in light of the trade-off they made with him with his current contract that you just highlighted (conceding leverage to secure an early payday which was then based solely on potential). It's not like he's only getting $1.5 million a year.

And before anyone says "Bu-bu-bu-Dez Bryant!," bear this in mind:

Dez Bryant of the Cowboys and Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos set the earnings bar for Brown when they signed nearly identical five-year, $70 million contracts this summer. However, until Bryant signed his new contract in July he had earned $11.9 million in his first five NFL seasons. Brown had earned nearly twice as much — $22.8 million — in that time.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2...s/201508170046

i fear that antonio brown will lose his drive, albeit unintentionally, from all of this if it keeps up the way it is.

If that's the case, they'll be even more justified in NOT breaking the bank for him and giving him even more money. As has been pointed out, he's being paid quite fairly as it is.

Again, the Steelers really can't and shouldn't be held accountable for the Dolphins (and now the Vikings), Buccaneers and Chiefs being stupid enough to pay guys like Wallace, Jackson and Maclin $10+ million per when they simply aren't worth it.

[TD's & Beer]

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.

[fansince'76]

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.

Exactly. Once Ben hangs them up, we'll be starting over from scratch anyway. The future at QB will much more likely be closer to Landry Jones than Ben Roethlisberger.

[steelreserve]

This, plus one more thing: why should the Steelers be bent over due to other teams stupidly overpaying WRs who weren't worth it and aren't as good as Brown is?

The fact that there are now X number of WRs making more than him is not a compelling enough reason to tear his current contract up and renegotiate with 3 years left on it, especially in light of the trade-off they made with him with his current contract that you just highlighted (conceding leverage to secure an early payday which was then based solely on potential). It's not like he's only getting $1.5 million a year.

Bu-bu-but OMG THATS THE MARKET!!! The Cowboys and the Redskins being dumb is the market, so that's what everybody has to do! Since, you know, if he's unhappy with his current deal, Brown could just go to the Cowboys with 3 years still remaining on his contract, and they could pull the money out of thin air to pay him.

[86WARD]

Exactly. Once Ben hangs them up, we'll be starting over from scratch anyway. The future at QB will much more likely be closer to Landry Jones than Ben Roethlisberger.

Ugh...how dare you ruin my morning with thoughts and comments like that!

[Craic]

The Rooney's are too cheap to pay AB!

[Psycho Ward 86]

This, plus one more thing: why should the Steelers be bent over due to other teams stupidly overpaying WRs who weren't worth it and aren't as good as Brown is?

The fact that there are now X number of WRs making more than him is not a compelling enough reason to tear his current contract up and renegotiate with 3 years left on it, especially in light of the trade-off they made with him with his current contract that you just highlighted (conceding leverage to secure an early payday which was then based solely on potential). It's not like he's only getting $1.5 million a year.

And before anyone says "Bu-bu-bu-Dez Bryant!," bear this in mind:



http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2...s/201508170046




If that's the case, they'll be even more justified in NOT breaking the bank for him and giving him even more money. As has been pointed out, he's being paid quite fairly as it is.

Again, the Steelers really can't and shouldn't be held accountable for the Dolphins (and now the Viikings), Buccaneers and Chiefs being stupid enough to pay guys like Wallace, Jackson and Maclin $10+ million per when they simply aren't worth it.

Because that market dictates as much and the nfl is a BUSINESS.

As for the Dez Bryant thing, he'll be eclipsing AB's pay for the 1st couple years of his career in like a year or 2. Moot point imo.

And less justified? Are you saying we shouldnt pay players who are partially motivated by money? Who the hell isnt. And who can blame people in professional sports for trying to maximize a short but extremely lucrative career that only 1 in a million can experience? Especially if that player has been nothing but productive, completely courteous about his contract situation, and been nothing but an outstanding leader and team mate.

Ive always been critical of the steelers handling of the salary cap around the whole 2010-2012ish years, even though many were defending it as "keeping our superbowl window open." i disagreed because many teams around the league managed around their cap situations just fine while being superbowl competitive. That, in addition to Ben still having many years left. The steelers as of now however, i view in the same light that we saw the team in 2010-2012. Ben is getting older and i think we actually are fighting to keep our superbowl window open. Now is an appropriate time to slowly reenter salary cap purgatory if it means keeping some of the best players in the NFL to give us our best shot at winning more superbowls.

We currently own the greatest bargain in the NFL, possibly ever in the free agency era.

[polamalubeast]

Bu-bu-but OMG THATS THE MARKET!!! The Cowboys and the Redskins being dumb is the market, so that's what everybody has to do! Since, you know, if he's unhappy with his current deal, Brown could just go to the Cowboys with 3 years still remaining on his contract, and they could pull the money out of thin air to pay him.

I agree in the case of Antonio Brown, who remains 3 years in his deal but the cowboys and the broncos were not dumb to give a big contract to Bryant and Thomas since they are elite players.

This is normal that this is expensive to keep the elite players and if you're cheap, you will win nothing

[fansince'76]

Because that market dictates as much and the nfl is a BUSINESS.

As for the Dez Bryant thing, he'll be eclipsing AB's pay for the 1st couple years of his career in like a year or 2. Moot point imo.

And less justified? Are you saying we shouldnt pay players who are partially motivated by money? Who the hell isnt. And who can blame people in professional sports for trying to maximize a short but extremely lucrative career that only 1 in a million can experience? Especially if that player has been nothing but productive, completely courteous about his contract situation, and been nothing but an outstanding leader and team mate.

Ive always been critical of the steelers handling of the salary cap around the whole 2010-2012ish years, even though many were defending it as "keeping our superbowl window open." i disagreed because many teams around the league managed around their cap situations just fine while being superbowl competitive. That, in addition to Ben still having many years left. The steelers as of now however, i view in the same light that we saw the team in 2010-2012. Ben is getting older and i think we actually are fighting to keep our superbowl window open. Now is an appropriate time to slowly reenter salary cap purgatory if it means keeping some of the best players in the NFL to give us our best shot at winning more superbowls.

We currently own the greatest bargain in the NFL, possibly ever in the free agency era.

It's also GOOD BUSINESS not to OVERPAY. Or, more accurately in this case, to go against long-established team policy based largely on other teams' mistakes.

As for Dez Bryant's current deal, so what? The fact remains that Brown's career earnings to this point have almost doubled Bryant's. And the point was that Bryant was the one who was being vastly underpaid to this point, not Brown.

No, I'm saying we shouldn't back up the Brinks truck for players who are SOLELY motivated by money (see: Darrelle Revis). For the record, I don't think Brown is one of those and I think the fear of him "losing his drive" is unfounded, so that is a moot point, IMO. Otherwise, I think he'd already be holding out. By the way, Brown did maximize his earnings opportunity - way back in 2012.

As mentioned previously, the Steelers took a HUGE gamble on Brown with that contract to begin with. Or do you not remember all the bitching and handwringing over how the Steelers "massively overpaid" Brown back in 2012 and how "he would never be more than a #2 WR" and they should have given that money instead to the "proven commodity" in Wallace?

And as far as keeping the "Super Bowl window open" is concerned, he IS under contract for 3 more years. Besides, that window will officially close when Ben retires, regardless of who else we have on the roster (unless we absolutely luck out like the Packers did in another Favre/Rodgers scenario). Don't believe me? Exhibit A: The Steelers teams of the '90s. And the league is even more QB-driven now than it was then.

And as steelreserve pointed out, the reason for the HUGE gamble on Brown back in 2012 was to avoid this exact scenario now. The fact that the gamble paid off in spades and became "the biggest bargain in the NFL" doesn't mean the Steelers are now somehow "getting over." And if they break policy for Brown, they're going to have to do it for others (Bell comes to mind as another potentially special player), and I'd rather not go down that road.