Antonio Brown Smart to Dismiss Talks of Holdout

Maybe it’s because he’s happy with how much money he’s making. Maybe it’s because he’s a crucial part of the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers offense in recent memory. Or maybe it’s because his impossibly uglified custom black-and-gold Rolls Royce – complete with his own gaudy signature on one side – has helped give him some perspective.

In any case, Antonio Brown’s belief that contract holdouts “always end badly” must be music to the ears of Steeler Nation. Brown’s current six-year, $43 million contract is pretty meagre when compared to the inflated deals offered to Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, and the future bank-breakers that players like A.J. Green and Julio Jones are expected to target next season.

“[Holding out] wouldn’t be the best decision. I make a lot of money. I pull up to camp in Rolls-Royces,” the diminutive receiver joked. “You get caught up thinking about the future, you lose sight of the present.”

AB’s mentality may be two-fold here. Firstly, he understands that his contract and subsequent ascendancy to football superstardom all came about as a result of Mike Wallace’s holdout, so it’s possible he retains a sense of thankfulness to the organisation.

Secondly, and perhaps more likely, Brown realises that the Steelers aren’t the type of franchise open to suggestions at the negotiation table, particularly when it comes to wide receivers, a position Pittsburgh has had no trouble developing in the past.

Of course, when the time comes for Brown’s contract to be re-signed, it would be stupid for both sides not to at least hear each other out. Brown is the vessel through which the Steelers’ air game plays out, and without his career year in 2014, Pittsburgh may not have come anywhere near the playoffs.

For now though, Brown’s value for money becomes even more salient when you consider that arguably the best wideout in the NFL is making “just” $7 million per year.

But in a week that has already seen the Steelers extend the contracts of head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert through the 2018 season, it appears Brown is another name that can be added to the list of franchise cornerstones kept under lock for a very long time.