Antonio Brown says he does not want to be traded

Antonio Brown has created some distractions for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past week, but the star wide receiver insists he is not unhappy with his situation.

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Brown tried to explain his tweet from earlier in the week, which some interpreted as a challenge to the Steelers to trade him. He says it was not and that he was simply responding to a “personal shot” from a former team employee.

#Steelers WR Antonio Brown in the locker room: “It was a guy that used to work here, a PR guy … take a personal shot at me. But obviously I don’t want to be traded and I’m still grateful to put on my uniform. … I just got to stay away from online with the distractions…"

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 20, 2018

Coincidentally or not, Brown’s tweet came on the same day he missed team meetings with the Steelers. He said he was tending to a personal matter, but the absence was not excused and the team has disciplined him for not showing up.

It’s interesting that Brown mentioned he needs to stay away from “online” distractions. That may have been a reference to another time he embarrassed the team, which was when he broadcasted live from the locker room following a playoff win. If Brown is, indeed, happy in Pittsburgh, he’s not making life easy on his coaches and teammates.