:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63042018/631225630.jpg.0.jpg)
For Pittsburgh Steelers fans searching for any apparent ambiguity in Antonio Brown’s goodbye tweet on Tuesday, a post by Adam Schefter of ESPN just 20 minutes later should have clarified matters for anyone holding out hope that the receiver would still be in Pittsburgh next year.
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
With Schefter now reporting that Brown has officially asked for a trade from the Steelers, it is becoming almost impossible to believe there can be any resolution to this saga that ends with the receiver still wearing the Black and Gold.
Given the continued lack of communication between the team and their star receiver since the season ended, it has been hard to maintain much optimism that Brown had any intention of repairing the damage done in Week 17. This latest news seemingly the final nail in the coffin.
This had been building. Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN a few weeks ago that he had told the Steelers Brown’s ‘position’ on things. Many close to Brown believe he was done playing scapegoat for Steelers‘ problems and wanted new start.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 12, 2019
If recent rumors are to be believed, the trade market for Brown might not be as strong as the Steelers would have hoped and his recent domestic dispute with the mother of his daughter is unlikely to have helped in that regard, regardless of any alleged blame on his part. The more vocal Brown is about his desire to leave Pittsburgh, the harder it will be for the front office to max his trade value and fans could well be disappointed by the return the Steelers ultimately get for the best wide receiver in the the NFL.