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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown have been headed down this path for the past few months, and the divorce has finally taken place.
That’s right Steelers fans, there is finally an end to the Antonio Brown drama.
Early Sunday morning, the Steelers agreed on terms to trade Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders for a third and fifth round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Hardly the compensation they expected for the All-Pro wide receiver.
BREAKING: The Steelers have an agreement to trade All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders for a third- and fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft, per reports.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2019
The trade for Brown gives the Steelers two choices in the third round and replaces the fifth-round pick they shipped to the Raiders last year for receiver Ryan Switzer.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2019
The draft haul is not what the Steelers were expecting or hoping for Brown, the most productive receiver in NFL history over the past six seasons. But his erratic behavior and demand for more money scared off teams and drove the bargaining price down.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2019
The draft picks weren’t the only thing changed between Pittsburgh and Oakland for Brown. Antonio Brown also received a new contract, giving him even more money than he already was set to receive in Pittsburgh with three years left on his current contract.
This really is wild. Antonio Brown skipped work, disparaged the Steelers publicly, said he wouldn't play on a contract with three years left, then got a raise of almost $20 million with $30-plus million in new guarantees on his way to a new team. Savage power play.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 10, 2019
Brown’s departure from Pittsburgh should be bittersweet for fans, regardless of how the final few months played out. Brown gave the organization 9 amazing years, and the highlights which remain will stand the test of time. However, with Brown essentially forcing himself out of town, it leaves a very bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.
Will Brown be able to reproduce the magic with Derek Carr in Oakland/Las Vegas like he did with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh? Only time will tell, but the Steelers, and their fans, can finally move on and prepare for life without Brown moving forward.