NFL Rumors: Antonio Brown Unfollows Steelers, Requests Trade, 7 Options Listed

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has requested a trade after missing the team’s regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals following a reported disagreement with the team’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Brown was listed as inactive for the game against the Bengals with the team saying he was struggling with a knee injury but it was later revealed that the wide receiver had a fall out during midweek practice that saw him go AWOL, which was the reason he was seen in his civvies during the game, which the Steelers won.

Roethlisberger played down the severity of the alleged spat between Brown and a Steelers teammate when he made his weekly radio appearance on 93.7 “The Fan” in Pittsburg, stating: "If there was a blowup or something, I sure as heck didn't see it.”

However, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brown was upset after being asked to run a hot read again during a walkout while also telling Roethlisberger that he feels underappreciated.

The Steelers quarterback continued to play down talks of the fight and revealed that he had spoken to the wide receiver on Thursday and that everything was okay between them. He believes the frustration of teammates is due to them trying to get in touch with Brown but not getting an answer.

"Each guy's got to answer that question on their own," Roethlisberger said. "Like I said, I'm blessed to play with him and I consider him one of my closer friends. ... I know guys that are frustrated. I think the biggest thing is, some of the guys that I've talked to, they tried to reach out to him and they haven't heard back."

Brown missed multiple practices and meetings leading up to the game against the Bengals and he is also said to have missed Monday’s exit meetings. And CBS Sports’ NFL Insider Jason La Canfora revealed that the wide receiver has indeed asked for a trade as he has issues with the quarterback and head coach Mike Tomlin. He has also unfollowed the Steelers on social media all but confirming the spat between the player and the franchise.

Brown is entering the third year of a five-year extension he signed in 2019 worth around $72.6 million. And his contract could be a potential stumbling block when it comes to allowing a trade for the Steelers as they would have to eat $21.1 million in dead cap space for 2019, according to CBS Sports, who believe it is unlikely the team parts ways with the wide receiver.

However, they have drawn up a list of potential landing spots for the seven-time NFL Pro Bowl star. CBS Sports has drawn up seven teams that he could join and first on the list in the San Francisco 49ers, they are followed by the Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, the Washington Redskin and the New York Jets.