While reconciliation between the Pittsburgh Steelers and wide receiver Antonio Brown wasn't entirely out of the question before, that may no longer be the case. The disgruntled receiver has officially requested a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Antonio Brown has not been traded nor has he been released. But Brown wants a trade and he officially has requested that from the Steelers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2019
Brown posted a goodbye to Steeler fans via Twitter on Tuesday stating it was "time to move on and forward" with the hashtag #NewDemands.
Thank you SteelerNation for a big 9 years...time to move on and forward..........✌🏽 #NewDemands pic.twitter.com/fbIoFNdqK4
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 12, 2019
Brown has expressed interest in a change of scenery and has been distancing himself from his current team. He remains under contract through the 2021 season so a trade would be necessary for that to happen. Brown has openly expressed interest via social media in playing for the San Francisco 49ers while 49ers players would seemingly welcome him to their locker room.
Brown has spent nine seasons with the Steelers after they made him a sixth-round draft pick out of Central Michigan in 2010. He has since become one of the best receivers in the league, been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times, and is a four-time first-team All-Pro.
There might be some concern surrounding Brown's off-the-field actions. He was just found guilty in a reckless driving incident which occurred just hours before the Steelers' November matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Brown is also facing a civil lawsuit for an alleged furniture-tossing incident in Florida last year. Then you have the domestic dispute incident in January which Brown's attorney recently called "baseless" and "false."
Those off-the-field blemishes could hurt Brown's trade value, which would benefit any team interested in the veteran receiver. The question becomes: How interested are the 49ers?
Antonio Brown trade reminders:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 12, 2019
* He's due a $2.5M roster bonus on March 17th
* If traded before 3/17, the Steelers would absorb a dead cap hit of $21.12M, $23.62M if after 3/17
* Brown is due $12.625M in 2019, $11.3M in 2020, $12.5M in 2021
* Brown turns 31 on July 10
NFL teams gather later this month for the NFL Scouting Combine. That's where trade talks often gain steam. While a trade can be agreed upon, nothing can become official until the start of the new league year on March 13.
Should a Brown-to-49ers scenario not come to fruition, NFL insider Benjamin Allbright believes San Francisco could see wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders as a potential backup plan. He too is under contract with his team, the Denver Broncos, with one year left on his current deal.
Even with the two coaching connections I can't see Antonio Brown in Denver.
There were rumors about Emmanuel Sanders being the Niners backup target if they couldn't get Brown, though
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 12, 2019
The nine-year veteran had three 1,000-or-more-yard seasons with Broncos, but his 2018 campaign was cut short by a torn Achilles on December 5. He finished the year with 71 receptions for 868 yards and four touchdowns.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.