The overall perception is that wide receiver Antonio Brown has been hurting his trade value with his antics since the end of this past season. Some have speculated that the disgruntled receiver was intentionally causing a rift between himself and his current team to force a move by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ideally, Brown would have liked to have been released. That won't happen. If any move is made, the Steelers intend to trade him, and they intend to get as much in return as possible. The organization made that clear to Brown during a meeting on Tuesday morning.
The message was to stop hurting his trade value.
The Steelers don't intend to make a trade or any move involving Brown that will not be beneficial to the Steelers organization, according to a report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Steelers' stance on Antonio Brown: Won't take discounted rate on trade, won't release him, relationship not beyond repair if can't get good draft picks for him. "By no means are we going to make a trade or any type of move that will not be beneficial to Pittsburgh Steelers org"
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 20, 2019
Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network confirms that the message was clearly presented to Brown on Tuesday.
Told by someone apprised of the Art Rooney-Antonio Brown meeting that AB was told just this - and advised to stop hurting his trade value. Steelers are not going to move the star wide receiver just to get rid of him. https://t.co/TeX0zoIbKh
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 20, 2019
The San Francisco 49ers have been speculated as a potential destination for Brown, who wants to play there, because the team has ample salary cap room to absorb the receiver's contract and has a desperate need at the position.
NFL teams can negotiate and even agree upon trades at any time. They will not, however, become official until the start of the new league year on March 13.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.