Wide receiver Antonio Brown had himself a heck of a season for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
Much like many of the successful NFL pass-catchers that have come before him, Brown now thinks the Steelers owe him a little more dough than he's currently slated to make.
Brown, per a report from Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, is staying away from the beginning of offseason work for the Steelers - and is considering staying away much, much longer - because he wants a new long-term deal from Pittsburgh.
"The All-Pro wide receiver, who has caught 239 passes in the past two seasons combined, will be skipping the voluntary workout program and is mulling sitting out mandatory minicamp and perhaps even training camp in an attempt to secure a new contract, sources have told FOX Sports."
According to the report, Brown has already informed the Steelers of his desires and plans.
"Brown and his camp have already spoken to team management about redoing his deal and told them his absence this spring will be related to the deal," writes Garafolo. "The Steelers are bracing for a possible camp holdout from Brown, whose 129 catches in 2014 are the second-most in a single season behind Marvin Harrison's 143 in 2002."
Per Garafolo, Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus could not be reached for comment.
Brown, 26, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan. He is set to make $6 million for the 2015 season as part of a five-year contract extension he signed in 2012 that was worth, at the time of signing, nearly $42 million in new money.
Brown, 5-foot-10, 186-pounds, isn't built like many of the top-tier wideouts in NFL, but he led the league in receiving yards last season (1,698) and tied for second in touchdowns (13). He added nine catches for 117 yards in the Steelers postseason loss to the rival Baltimore Ravens.
In five NFL regular seasons Brown has amassed 390 receptions, 5,259 yards and 28 touchdowns. He's also got 29 career postseason receptions for 277 yards.
The Steelers have a long history of drafting and developing wide receiver talent - Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders - then letting them walk when their contract demands get out of whack.
While Brown remains under contract with Pittsburgh for at least three more seasons, with the potential continued development of Martavis Bryant, Brown may eventually succeed only in turning himself into the latest Steelers wide receiver to finish his career on a fat free agent contract with another NFL franchise.
