Report: WR Antonio Brown to Holdout

4 Comments

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2. 

   DrGeorge

   April 20, 2015 at 6:51 pm

   Brown signed a six-year $43 million contract in 2012. I don’t think Steelers’ management will look kindly on Brown’s ultimatum or his public way of going about cutting a new deal. Nor does his bargaining position appear to be as good as he apparently thinks it is. Part of his success stems from the system he plays in — for proof of that, we need only look at the stats for Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, and Mike Wallace after they left Pittsburgh. Brown is an excellent receiver, but he is not indispensable.

   And it’s hard to generate much sympathy for a man making $43 million. Did Brown outplay other receivers who made more last year? Yes, but his contract and salary are for six years, not just one, and his checks didn’t bounce. Is he worth more? Arguably, but that is what contracts are for. What if Brown had not played as well last year — would the Steelers get their money back? Of course not. If the Steelers hadn’t drafted him, where would he be today?

   The Rooneys have been down this road before, and they don’t like being publicly blackmailed. I suspect Mr. Brown will soon discover that he has made a lamentable error in judgment.

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3. 

   DaveB

   April 20, 2015 at 7:46 pm

   Youre exactly right Dr. George . If Im Dan or Art Rooney Id tell him to his face . You and your agent agreed to and signed a six year contract in 2012 that is currently paying you 8 million dollars season . Youre going to play at the very least half of that contract out before we even remotely consider renegotiating that deal . If you want to play hard ball and hold out for the entire year , go right ahead . At the end of the day , the Steelers hold all the cards . If he doesnt play for them , he doesnt play for anyone . Bottom line , players before Brown have traveled this same path and lost . If he doubts it , all he needs to to do is talk to Franco Harris and the family of the late L.C. Greenwood . Both Steeler legends , and both were shown the door on the way out of the building . If he thinks it cant happen to him as well , hes sorely mistaken .

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4. 

   DrGeorge

   April 21, 2015 at 6:20 pm

   Thanks, DaveB. I note that SB Nation has taken a similar stance to ours in its reaction to Brown’s announcement, so we’re in good company. What makes Brown’s approach seem especially bizarre is that Ben R. just got his own contract extension the right way, working quietly behind the scenes. I guess Brown wasn’t paying attention.

   I suspect that Brown delivered his public ultimatum without the consent of his agent, who would certainly know better than to begin negotiations with a holdout announcement. Whatever the case, Brown made that move prematurely, and he is now stuck with it. It’s rather like watching a checkers player sit down to play Bobby Fischer, not knowing the game is chess.

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