It's all about the all mighty dollar in the NFL. Playing careers are short by nature and can be stunted even more with a dose of bad luck. Players need to cash in on their primes while they still can and, sometimes, that means using unsavory methods to get their ways. Holdouts, public contract disputes, you've seen it all before. Things can get ugly pretty quickly, but when your chosen line of profession carries a shelf life of just 2.5 seasons, you're not left with many other options.
With the news of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant facing a year-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the second time, star pass catcher Antonio Brown may have just found the leverage he needs to cash in (also, 2015 rookie Sammie Coates may have just found more playing time).
Last year, Brown attempted to get a new contract with the Steelers despite having three years left on his current deal. In 2012, the sixth-round pick signed a five-year deal worth $42.5 million. All he's done since then is post three straight seasons with at least 110 receptions, 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the NFL last year in catches with 136 and finished second in yards with 1,834, but is the 17th-highest paid WR in the league based on average annual salary. Something's got to give.
With Bryant's looming suspension, Brown may have all the ammunition he needs to demand a new deal.
The star pass-catcher will already be missing some of Pittsburgh's offseason program with his recently announced participation in the upcoming season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." No one could really blame him if he decided to hold out after that until getting a raise on his 2016 salary of $6.25 million and his 2017 salary of $8.71 million. As one of the top two receivers in the game, there's no reason why he should be making the same type of money as Marvin Jones or Pierre Garcon; both are solid players but neither is the same difference maker that Brown is.
The simple fact is that Brown has dramatically outperformed his deal.
The Steelers have typically been unwilling to rework deals with more than one season left on them outside of quarterbacks. But Brown is such a special player that they should make an exception in this case. If not, he would be completely justified in sitting out the rest of the offseason.
Would the Steelers, ever the hard line negotiators, eventually say uncle? There's only one way to find out.
For more, follow Brandon Katz on Twitter: @Great_Katzby
