Steelers receiver Antonio Brown did not play in the season-ending game against the Cincinnati Bengals because he elected to sit out practice last week after an unspecified heated dispute with a teammate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.
Several sources said the Steelers’ decision to not play Brown against the Bengals had nothing to do with any type of knee injury.
The disagreement occurred Wednesday morning during a routine walk-through practice that precedes their regular afternoon practice on the South Side. Brown became disgusted and threw a football in anger at one of his teammates, several sources said.
After that, Brown did not practice the rest of the week. According to a source, it was Brown’s decision not to practice with his teammates.
He did not attend Saturday’s walk-through practice and skipped the Saturday night meeting at the team hotel — the latest in missed meetings by the All-Pro receiver. Brown was never on the field for the start of the game against the Bengals and left Heinz Field at halftime, according to multiple sources.
According to several sources, Brown showed up at Heinz Field expecting to play against the Bengals. That surprised several players, including one who called the situation “embarrassing” and “the worst I’ve seen.” That player said the entire situation and the way it was handled affected his desire to play in the game.
Brown did not practice all week and was listed as questionable on the injury report before the game. When he did not practice on Wednesday, the reason listed on the official report was “coaches decision.” On Thursday, the reason was listed as “coaches decision/knee.”
When offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was asked about Brown after Thursday’s practice, his short reply was, “I’m not going to answer any questions about Antonio. Next.”
Tomlin said after Friday’s practice that Brown was having his knee tested because his All-Pro receiver “didn’t feel comfortable enough to [practice].” But several sources indicated Brown’s knee wasn’t an issue at all and was never tested.
Brown never even tried to test his knee in pregame warm-ups, despite Tomlin indicating his status for the Bengals would be a game-time decision.
At least one teammate phoned Brown in the days leading up to the game, but he did not return the call.
A week earlier, while his teammates were attending a daily mandatory morning meeting, Brown was in the building but skipped the meeting. He still played in the 28-24 loss in New Orleans.
At least one player indicated after the game Brown’s absence could have cost the Steelers a victory against the Bengals.
Brown finished with 104 receptions for 1,297 yards. He led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions, which is a team record. He topped 10,000 yards receiving in the first game of the past season. But it was fellow wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster who was voted team MVP.
He and Smith-Schuster became only the sixth tandem in NFL history to each have 100 catches and 1,000 yards receiving.
But Brown has been involved in some controversies and confrontations this year. He verbally accosted two members of the media and, in response to what he felt was a slight from a former member of the Steelers PR department, he responded on social media, “Trade me let’s find out.”
Brown also was accused of throwing furniture from the 14th-floor balcony of a Florida luxury apartment complex in April while in a rage about a missing $80,000 and gun, according to a lawsuit and police reports.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...ispute-steelers-news-nfl/stories/201812310108
Several sources said the Steelers’ decision to not play Brown against the Bengals had nothing to do with any type of knee injury.
The disagreement occurred Wednesday morning during a routine walk-through practice that precedes their regular afternoon practice on the South Side. Brown became disgusted and threw a football in anger at one of his teammates, several sources said.
After that, Brown did not practice the rest of the week. According to a source, it was Brown’s decision not to practice with his teammates.
He did not attend Saturday’s walk-through practice and skipped the Saturday night meeting at the team hotel — the latest in missed meetings by the All-Pro receiver. Brown was never on the field for the start of the game against the Bengals and left Heinz Field at halftime, according to multiple sources.
According to several sources, Brown showed up at Heinz Field expecting to play against the Bengals. That surprised several players, including one who called the situation “embarrassing” and “the worst I’ve seen.” That player said the entire situation and the way it was handled affected his desire to play in the game.
Brown did not practice all week and was listed as questionable on the injury report before the game. When he did not practice on Wednesday, the reason listed on the official report was “coaches decision.” On Thursday, the reason was listed as “coaches decision/knee.”
When offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was asked about Brown after Thursday’s practice, his short reply was, “I’m not going to answer any questions about Antonio. Next.”
Tomlin said after Friday’s practice that Brown was having his knee tested because his All-Pro receiver “didn’t feel comfortable enough to [practice].” But several sources indicated Brown’s knee wasn’t an issue at all and was never tested.
Brown never even tried to test his knee in pregame warm-ups, despite Tomlin indicating his status for the Bengals would be a game-time decision.
At least one teammate phoned Brown in the days leading up to the game, but he did not return the call.
A week earlier, while his teammates were attending a daily mandatory morning meeting, Brown was in the building but skipped the meeting. He still played in the 28-24 loss in New Orleans.
At least one player indicated after the game Brown’s absence could have cost the Steelers a victory against the Bengals.
Brown finished with 104 receptions for 1,297 yards. He led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions, which is a team record. He topped 10,000 yards receiving in the first game of the past season. But it was fellow wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster who was voted team MVP.
He and Smith-Schuster became only the sixth tandem in NFL history to each have 100 catches and 1,000 yards receiving.
But Brown has been involved in some controversies and confrontations this year. He verbally accosted two members of the media and, in response to what he felt was a slight from a former member of the Steelers PR department, he responded on social media, “Trade me let’s find out.”
Brown also was accused of throwing furniture from the 14th-floor balcony of a Florida luxury apartment complex in April while in a rage about a missing $80,000 and gun, according to a lawsuit and police reports.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...ispute-steelers-news-nfl/stories/201812310108
