Antonio Brown saga likely put to bed for Steelers

As people were tucking themselves into bed with Daylight Savings Time springing them forward, others could climb beneath the blankets knowing that the Antonio Brown saga was likely over as major sporting news outlets announced a deal had been made with the Oakland Raiders.

Granted, the late-breaking news could have been yet another ‘oops’ moment from Ian Rapoport (NFL) considering his previous “news” that Brown was headed to the Buffalo Bills. Rapoport did have to walk back his public statements, using information that the Bills had been interested but there were concerns over whether Brown would accept the deal or not.

Instead, it appears that – despite the late hour – better confirmation beyond the word of Rapoport alone – of an actual deal between Pittsburgh and Oakland had been made with details of what the two teams would receive in the exchange.

Not one to just take Twitter announcements as “fact”, indisputable as words written in stone, I’m still skeptical until I see “AB” signing some paperwork and the Steelers confirming that, indeed, the deal is done. The deal actually can not be “complete” until this coming Wednesday, March 13th per the NFL.

I believed the Raiders were a logical location for Brown’s landing after a tumultuous social media campaign by the veteran receiver that appeared to make some teams with 2019 salary cap space and NFL Draft capital leery. That Jon Gruden would be willing to take a chance on Brown after gambling with Martavis Bryant was a “what if”, to me, but I felt the Raiders were a team that might be most willing to roll the dice. And not because of any potential move to Las Vegas in 2020.

After days of tracking down rumors and speculation, I can say I’m ready to put myself in bed and sleep like a baby with what, by all appearances, looks to be the end of a nonsensical drama for Pittsburgh and Steelers fans. I won’t feel bad if I start dreaming about a receiver the Steelers may grab in the 2019 NFL Draft that could be paired with JuJu Smith-Schuster, the emergence of James Washington in year two, or even a veteran addition that proves to be a key cog to the workings of Pittsburgh’s offense.

In essence, I will be satisfied to wake up and see that Brown has truly swapped his jersey to black and silver. And I believe much of Steelers Nation will not miss the media circus that has surrounded Brown as he blasted out (via social and other media) insinuations, vague statements, or sometimes unintelligible statements.

If it all turned out to be more nonsense, I think I’ll just skip over the sports section in my news feed in the morning and turn the “wait and see” over to one of my counterparts.

I still think Brown is a talented receiver – top 10 in the league today – but it has been time to move on between the Steelers and Brown for much too long. His unhappiness became a virus that was contagious. Sometimes, as hard as it can be to do so, it’s just best to let go.

I’ll just wish Brown well in his future endeavors and let Derek Carr take on the responsibility of managing what Brown does moving forward.


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