Future RFA Antonio Brown Plans On Taking Different Path Than Mike Wallace

[Hawaii 5-0]

Report: Future RFA Antonio Brown Plans On Taking Different Path Than Mike Wallace

Thursday, May 31st, 2012 by Dave Bryan

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown let be known that he has no intentions of holding out next year as a restricted free agent according to a blog post by Ed Bouchette today. Bouchette quoted Brown as saying, "Whatever the case may be, I plan on being here."

Browns, like fellow wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and figures to be in the same situation as Mike Wallace was this off-season. Should Brown follow up his break out season of 2011 with another similar type one in 2012, the Steelers will be forced to use a first round tender on him, just as they did with Wallace.

While it looks unlikely right now, the Steelers could decide to try to lock up Brown long term prior to the start of the 2012 season. If that were to happen, it would figure to happen after the final cut-downs take place, as there could be some wiggle room should players like Jonathan Scott and Will Allen not make the final 53 man roster. Those two players alone would clear nearly $3.5 million in 2012 salary cap space.

Before anything happens though with Brown, the Steelers main focus will continue to be getting a long term deal done with Wallace, who has yet to sign his one-year tender offer of $2.742 million. If the Steelers think Brown fits into their long-term plans, and there is no reason to think that he doesn't, it would be smart, and cheaper, to try to lock him up now if they have the cap room to do so.

Sanders is a different story as he will have to show in 2012 that he can stay on the field and that the problems with his feet and knees are in the past. Sanders told the media earlier this week that he is 100% and that the injuries are behind him now. He had a great performance against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game last year and figures to play a much larger role in the offense in 2012. He most definitely will not be extended prior to the start of the season and will be prime candidate for an original round or first round restricted tender next off-season depending on the type of year that he has.

Brown certainly has said and done all of the right things ever since he was drafted by the Steelers and his Thursday comments that Bouchette reported are very encouraging in light of what is currently going on with Wallace. A lot can happen between now and next off-season, but I take Brown at his word.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/05...-mike-wallace/

[Bayz101]

He's the real deal. Good kid.

[GMU Steeler]

Feeling is mutual Antonio. He'll always have a special place in my heart for the catch in the playoffs against the Ravens. That was when he really arrived and his year last year was amazing. First ever to have 1000 receiving and returning kicks.

[tony hipchest]

brown doesnt need a big contract. he can make millions offa toothpaste endorsements.

[Hawaii 5-0]

WRs Brown, Sanders may be in holdout mode next spring

June 1, 2012
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There might be two Steelers receivers in holdout mode next spring as Antonio Brown, pictured, and Emmanuel Sanders will be in the same contract position Mike Wallace is in now.

The spring holdout of Mike Wallace could be nothing compared to the potential absences at wide receiver a year from now when both Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders find themselves in the same situation as restricted free agents.

Wallace may be paving the way for the duo in his struggles to negotiate a long-term contract with the Steelers above the $2.74 million one-year contract tender he has declined to sign. Indeed, Brown said he is taking notes and learning from Wallace's actions, and he has come to a conclusion.

"Whatever the case may be, I plan on being here," Brown said Thursday as the Steelers hit the halfway point of their spring practices with two more weeks to go.

There is conjecture that one reason the Steelers and Wallace have not come to terms on a multiple-year contract is Brown, who nearly matched Wallace's production in the last season and joined him in the Pro Bowl.

Whatever the Steelers might pay Wallace, that theory goes, would set the bar for what Brown -- and perhaps Sanders -- would expect in 2013.

Brown started only three games but had a phenomenal second half of last season to finish with 69 receptions for 1,108 yards, just behind Wallace's team-leading 72 catches for 1,193 yards.

Wallace, off to a hot start, tailed off in the second half last season, yet made his first Pro Bowl in his third season. Brown also made his first in his second season, but as the AFC's return specialist. He also played as a receiver after being chosen fifth overall in the balloting.

He does not offer opinions on Wallace's spring holdout but has followed it closely.
"It's definitely a learning process for me, being that I could be faced with the same circumstances next year," said Brown, a sixth-round pick in '10 from Central Michigan. "I tend to learn from it, take notes."

Sanders was projected to be the better of the two by virtue of his third-round selection by the Steelers in '10. He had a more productive rookie season than Brown with 28 receptions (16 for Brown) for 376 yards (167).

Injuries, though, cut deeply into Sanders' playing time last season, starting with surgeries on both feet more than a year ago. Another foot surgery was needed in training camp, and then knee surgery followed during the season.

"Having a great start in the National Football League on the right foot and having a great season and then coming back and having the injury bug my sophomore year was definitely frustrating," Sanders said.

He really didn't have a chance to start out on the right or left foot last year because of his injuries, but he says he is "100 percent" now, although screws remain in his feet.
If he can consistently perform the way he did in the playoff at Denver, when he led the Steelers with six receptions for 81 yards, the duo of Brown and Sanders might make the loss of Wallace not hurt so much if that happens next year.

"I definitely had a good game,'' Sanders said of the playoff loss. "I still had fluid in my knee, my foot wasn't all the way there. I don't know if that was the real me. I was fortunate to have a great game, got a lot of attempts at making plays. Now that I'm 100 percent healthy, hopefully, when the season comes, I can continue where I left off in Denver."

It is possible the little quick men like Brown and Sanders will benefit more in Todd Haley's new offense with its emphasis on releasing passes quickly. Bruce Arians enjoyed going deep -- taking our shots, he called it -- with Ben Roethlisberger to Wallace.

"That's going to be key, get the ball out fast, get it in our hands a little earlier so we can make something happen," Brown said.

Added Sanders: "We have a lot of speed at receiver, we have a lot of quick guys. If you're a DB, you'd rather play against a guy who is a little slower and a little bigger than the quick, shifty guys, and that is what we have in this receiver corps.

"As far as I know," he said, "Mike wants to be here. I don't think he's frustrated. I think that both parties definitely want him to be here. I think soon that maybe something can get done."

Quick hits

• After practice, there was a long-distance passing duel between quarterback Troy Smith and linebacker Lawrence Timmons. Timmons throws a nice long spiral and uncorked one that went about 80 yards, just a yard short of Smith's best. Smith will move on to compete next week against Byron Leftwich.

• First, Roethlisberger earned his degree from Miami University this spring and now that school will induct him into its Hall of Fame along with his former coach, the late Terry Hoeppner.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz1wW5gTfh2

[Galax Steeler]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

brown doesnt need a big contract. he can make millions offa toothpaste endorsements.

Ha Ha I bet he uses a buffer on his teeth.

[Kingmagyar]

Brown practically lives at the Steelers' facility. He's always trying to get better. He walks around with a little rubber ball that he constantly squeezes to get his hands stronger. Hands down(no pun intended) is the guy the Steelers should be signing to a contract this summer. Pay him now or pay a lot more later. And I mean A LOT MORE.

[austinfrench76]

I take Brown AND Sanders over just Wallace. It's unfortunate but that's probably what it comes down too.

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by austinfrench76

I take Brown AND Sanders over just Wallace. It's unfortunate but that's probably what it comes down too.

same, and I'm not caring for wallace's attitude much. if he's still asking for too much money, I'd say go with brown/sanders/cotch as the future wr corps. we could prolly sign brown AND sanders to multi year deals for less than what wallace wants. i know it's a risk, but I think sanders will be a solid WR for years to come.

people say he's injury prone, but I say give him a chance to start the season 100% healthy before labeling him that. he never had a chance to fully heal from his injury in the 2010 season, until now.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Galax Steeler

Ha Ha I bet he uses a buffer on his teeth.

Pay him now or pay a lot more later. And I mean A LOT MORE.

agreed. the eagles are notorious for saving money by signing guys early with essentially 2 years remaining on contract.