It was reported by Pro Football Talk via Twitter early this morning that the Pittsburgh Steelers have in fact traded WR Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders.
Antonio Brown is indeed bound for the Raiders.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 10, 2019
Browns trade includes a restructuring of his contract. Going from zero guaranteed dollars to $30 million. Pro Football Talk broke down his new deal.
Inside the new Antonio Brown deal in Oakland, which pushes the new-money average of his 2017 deal with the Steelers from $17 million to $19.8 million https://t.co/I7fEUIjz3s
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 10, 2019
In the strangest turn of events, a player who ultimately soured the relationship with his team. Refused to be traded to the Bills with 3 years on his deal. Then a day later was traded to the Raiders WITH a pay increase.
This ultimately could set a bad precedent in the NFL. Where now the league’s top players can wield ultimate power. Why? Because the league has given this type of power to its players.
The trade compensation — a third and a fifth going to the #Steelers — wasn’t an issue. Several teams were willing to give that or more. The contract was the issue. In the end, Antonio Brown got his old deal ripped up and redone, a rarity. His demands limited the pool to 1 team.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2019
The Raiders surprisingly did not have to give up a king’s ransom to get Brown. Just a 3rd and 5th round pick. The Steelers reportedly wanted 1st round pick, but evidently came short on that request.
The biggest sticking point apparently was Brown’s contract. Ultimately forcing the Steelers to only trade him to a team that would meet his demands. The Raiders ended up being the perfect fit for those demands.
Antonio Brown obviously seems to be happy with the arrangement. Posting on Twitter himself in a Raiders uniform. The next big question will be if Oakland will keep Derek Carr for another season or look to find his replacement in the draft. Giving the new talent coming into Oakland and the soured relationship between Carr and HC Jon Gruden, it’s possible that they make a move in the draft.
Stay tuned to BucsReport.com as the story develops.
