Antonio Brown has apparently moved on from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he still remains a member of the team.
On Tuesday, Brown sent a tweet thanking Steelers fans for nine great years and said it is “time to move on and forward.”
Thank you SteelerNation for a big 9 years…time to move on and forward………. #NewDemands pic.twitter.com/fbIoFNdqK4
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 12, 2019
Many took that to mean Brown had been traded or released, but it appears that is just his way of saying he has no intention of playing in Pittsburgh anymore. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the star wide receiver has formally requested a trade.
Antonio Brown has not been traded nor has he been released. But Brown wants a trade and he officially has requested that from the Steelers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2019
The Steelers had previously not granted Brown and his agent permission to discuss trades with teams, so this could be Brown’s way of trying to force the team’s hand. However, he is probably lessening his own trade value in doing so, which makes it harder for Pittsburgh to pull the trigger on a deal.
As the off-field issues continue to pile up for Brown, it’s safe to assume the Steelers want a divorce just as much as he does. Still, they want to get something significant in return for a player who remains extremely productive and in his prime. That could be the challenging part as the offseason moves forward.
