Steelers GM Confirms Contract Negotiations With Antonio Brown, Says It’s A “Priority”

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told reporters on Wednesday that they’ve opened negotiations with WR Antonio Brown regarding long-term extension and said it was a “priority” for them this offseason, per Joe Rutter.

Colbert also made it clear that they want Browns and RB Le’Veon Bell to retire as members of the Steelers.

“I can say unequivocally we want Antonio Brown to retire as a Steeler, just as we want Le’Veon Bell to retire as a Steeler,” Colbert said, per Gerry Dulac.

Earlier in the week, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that the Steelers were beginning dialogue regarding new deals for Brown and LB Lawrence Timmons so this shouldn’t come as a big surprise.

Recent reports have said that Brown and the Steelers were likely to discuss a long-term extension this offseason that could make the highest paid receiver in the NFL after over $15.5 million per year.

Brown, 28, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2010. He’s currently in the fifth year of his six-year, $43.04 million contract that included an $8.5 million signing bonus and stands to make a base salary of $8.71 million for the 2017 season.

While the Steelers didn’t give Brown a new extension last year, they did restructure his contract last summer, which moved $4 million of his 2017 salary up to the 2016 season to reward him for his production.

In 2016, Brown appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and caught 106 passes for 1,284 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus rated Brown as the No. 3 wide receiver out of 119 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a new contract for Brown as the news is available.