Antonio Brown trade likely by Friday, according to NFL sources

[True Dough]

So, if you were an NFL general manager, it's the old question of whether you want high-priced help from an aging (but not yet old) wide receiver who is still among the best in the league. If you take him, you also inherit someone who's shown he's not exactly committed to putting the team first.

If it costs you a first-rounder, do you shell out for Antonio Brown or not?

Teams that have spoken to the Pittsburgh Steelers about a potential Antonio Brown trade have been told that a deal is expected to be in place by Friday, league sources tell ESPN.

Any trade that is agreed upon can't be officially announced until next Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, when the 2019 league year begins. It is likely Brown will want a restructured contract from any team that acquires him. Brown has three years remaining on his deal, with scheduled base salaries of $12.625 million in 2019, $11.3 million in 2020 and $12.5 million in 2021, but he has no guaranteed money remaining on the contract.

As of last Friday, the three teams that have shown the most interest in the wide receiver were the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans. In addition, a couple more teams have jumped into the fray in the past 24 to 48 hours, sources said, putting the total number of teams to which the Steelers have spoken in the past few days at six or seven.

The Steelers' asking price started as a first-round pick and other compensation but has been reduced to a first-round pick, sources have told ESPN.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26149941/teams-told-ab-trade-likely-friday

[exboyfil]

1. No.

See restructured contract. He already has $14M of the Steelers money (signing bonus), and his public statements have demonstrated an unwillingness to finish that commitment. He should have been fined a game check along with a prorated portion of the bonus last year for skipping practice.

Why would you sink assets into that situation.

His behavior has made it harder for other football players in the future. Folks group him and Bell together, but Bell was screwed. Brown did this to himself, and he is about to be rewarded for that behavior.

He says he doesn't need football. I suggest the owners take him up on that deal.

[Angleae]

2. A first-round pick is too much to put up with that diva.

But I'm afraid Gruden will shell out more than that. He loves aging veterans.

[True Dough]

3. I think AB can expect his stats to drop off

He's bound to lose a step anytime now because he's near or at his peak and he had Ben Roethlisberger in his prime. It doesn't sound like any of his suitors have an all-star QB who will be slinging passes his way.

[Iggo]

4. "...league sources tell ESPN."

According to Trey Wingo, "league sources" most often means "someone's agent."

[True Dough]

6. Could be true

sometimes.

[True Dough]

5. The Bils???

Link to tweet

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Heard This Morning...

...the Bills withdrew. Golic & Wingo.

[True Dough]

9. Lucky for AB

He would have hated it in Buffalo with their cast and crew, I'm sure.

[True Dough]

10. And AB wasn't keen on it anyway, apparently

Not surprised...

Link to tweet

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Packers Out Too

Just heard on G&W.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

11. Steelers should tell AB that he is just going to sit on the practice squad for 2 years.

See what that does to his value when his contract is done. He clearly isn't going to play for the Steelers. Nobody with two functioning brain cells will trade anything for a guy that will likely decide he doesn't want to play for you even if he says he does initially ("Steeler for life" amIright).

I am usually very pro-player, but fuck this guy. I would be seriously pissed if the Vikes traded for him. I imagine most fans of most teams would.

[True Dough]

12. Love the candor!

Cuthbert, let's get you as an analyst on Sports Center!

[True Dough]

13. And Brown lands with the Raiders

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Gruden, Lynch and Brown. What a trio!

[Auggie]

14. A good deal for Oakland ...

(on paper). And they still own four picks in the first 35.

[True Dough]

15. There's real potential for the Raiders to build a strong team

as long as they don't turn into the next Cleveland Browns of the draft.

[Auggie]

17. I've never been a fan of drafting receivers with high picks ...

unless you're already fielding an elite team. Brown will step right in and be a playmaker. It was a smart move.

The Raiders (IMO) need trench and secondary players and/or a Mack-like pass rusher. I think they'll do the right thing despite my desire to see Mark Davis fail.

[JonLP24]

19. I still wish the Cardinals drafted Randy Moss or Charles Woodson over Andre Wadsworth

Wadsworth was a trench player that didn't work out while the Cardinals lost in the playoffs to Randy Moss & the Vikings.

Also still happy with Larry Fitzgerald. Yes we never won a Super Bowl with him but they would have never been close to winning one without him.

[Auggie]

20. It's a crap shoot ...

49ers drafted R.W. McQuarters in 1998's first round. That didn't work out either.

[underpants]

16. A horrible deal for Pittsburgh

Only a third and a fifth AND they still eat $21M (11%) of their salary cap?

Yikes.

BTW - I didn't realize the Raiders have only had one winning season and one playoff in 17 years. Is that right ? Read it on ESPN.

[Angleae]

18. One playoff game in 2016, previous playoff appearance was Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.

Although we did have a pair of 8-8 years in 2010-2011.