Steelers’ Brown reportedly wants out
Diva-like behaviour? Check. Interpersonal drama? Check. A high-profile cast member said to be wanting out, despite all the money and fame that a long-standing relationship has brought? Check.
No wonder a Pittsburgh Steeler likened his team to reality TV’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
In the latest episode, star receiver Antonio Brown, who did not play in the Steelers’ mustwin game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, has reportedly asked for a trade.
That’s according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, who tweeted Tuesday that Brown made the request after “issues” with coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
That news followed reports Monday that Brown was benched for Pittsburgh’s close win over Cincinnati — in the end, not enough to make the playoffs — after a heated dispute with Roethlisberger on Wednesday led to the receiver missing practice for the rest of the week. The team had indicated a knee injury was the reason.
During his weekly sports radio appearance in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Roethlisberger downplayed the incident, which occurred at a practice and reportedly included Brown hurling a football in the quarterback’s direction.
“If there was a blowup or something, I sure as heck didn’t see it,” Roethlisberger said, adding that the focus on the exchange with Brown was “baffling” to him.
Following the CBS Sports tweet, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Brown “exited the field in frustration on Wednesday” and “yelled ‘I’m done’ — then wondered why they don’t trade him.”
Rapoport went on to portray Brown’s comments as “more venting in anger than anything” and claimed the six-time Pro Bowler “has not made any actual trade request, officially.”
Still, if it’s unclear to the outside world how Brown feels about being a Steeler these days, it’s also apparently a mystery to teammates.
Calling Brown one of his “closer friends,” Roethlisberger said on the air that he spoke with the receiver Thursday morning and “everything was fine,” but noted that he’d reached out “numerous times” since then without a reply — as had other players.
“I know guys that are frustrated,” Roethlisberger said.