Steelers Ask Antonio Brown To Delay $2.5M Bonus, Brown Declines

According to Pro Football Talk, the Pittsburgh Steelers asked WR Antonio Brown to delay his $2.5 million roster bonus.  Brown reportedly declined.  

The Steelers already face a $21.12 million dead money charge in any trade of Brown.  If a trade takes place after the bonus is due, that dead money figure rises to $23.62 million.  

The bonus is due on March 17.  Brown said in an interview with ESPN that he expected to be traded before then.  

“Why wouldn’t they not trade me? They gotta pay me $2.5 million on March 17,” Brown told ESPN, via Pro Football Talk. “If I invoice you March 17, $2.5 million that you gotta pay me, would you pay it or would you get somebody else to pay it? So it’s what — pretty much what’s good for their business.”

Pittsburgh is reportedly asking for a first-round pick in return for Brown, but teams have not been willing to meet that request. Brown continues to give interviews apparently sabotaging his trade value.  

“I don’t even have to play football if I don’t want. I don’t even need the game. I don’t need to prove nothing to anyone,” Brown said. “If they wanna play, they going to play by my rules. If not, I don’t need to play.  Obviously, I want the game, but I don’t need the game. It’s a difference.”

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.