Steelers & WR Antonio Brown Begin Talks Regarding Long-Term Extension

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Steelers have begun contract talks with WR Antonio Brown regarding a long-term extension.

Fowler’s source said there’s optimism that the two sides can finalize an agreement well in advance of training camp.

Brown, himself, confirmed earlier in the week that contract talks were “beginning to get it rolling” in an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show.

A few weeks ago, Ian Rapoport reported that the Steelers reworked Brown’s contract last year with an “understanding” of signing him to a larger contract after the season.

Rapoport mentioned that Brown is now “about to cash in” and could see him topping the $15 million per year Bengals WR A.J. Green makes as the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

Before that, Rapoport reported that the Steelers would like to sign Brown to a long-term extension on top of using their franchise tag on RB Le’Veon Bell this offseason.

Brown has earned a new contract from Pittsburgh for some time now, but the Steelers’ policy to not negotiate with a player until they’re in the final year of their contract has left him waiting to discuss a new deal.

The Steelers did, however, restructure Browns’ contract last summer, which moved $4 million of his 2017 salary up to the 2016 season to reward him for his production.

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.

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 the Steelers and Brown as the news is available.