Report: Brown officially requests trade from Steelers
Star wide receiver Antonio Brown officially requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The report surfaced soon after Brown tweeted a video with a caption that thanked Steeler Nation and stated it's "time to move on."
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
Tensions between the former All-Pro wideout and the Steelers have been high in recent weeks. Brown was benched for Pittsburgh's final game of the regular season after skipping a walk-through and not communicating with staff regarding a knee injury. He didn't dress for the contest and reportedly left at halftime before skipping the team's exit interviews the next day.
The Steelers said they'll consider trade offers for Brown, but won't release him.
The 30-year-old receiver is owed a $2.5-million roster bonus on March 17, according to ESPN's Field Yates. If he's traded before that time, Pittsburgh will absorb a dead cap hit of $21.12 million (versus $23.62 if he's dealt afterward).
Meanwhile, Brown is signed for three more seasons. He's set to earn $12.625 million in 2019, $11.3 million in 2020, and $12.5 million in 2021.