KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Antonio Brown isn't participating in the Pro Bowl this year. But that didn't stop a number of his teammates from offering words of support for the star receiver.
And perhaps a little bit of hope that Brown and the Steelers can somehow patch things up this offseason.
"We all get emotional," center Maurkice Pouncey said Wednesday after taking part in a practice at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in preparation for the Pro Bowl. "At the end of the day, we all have the same thing in mind and that's winning. It truly is. No matter how anybody has personal feelings, we've been together for a long time. I've known my brother for 29 years. We've had a lot of fights. But no matter how much I tell him I hate him or if I take a swing at him, I still love him. When you look at the bigger picture, there's been so much success. You can't tell me they can't sit down and get things right. Hopefully, it comes to that.
"The way people are putting things right now, it doesn't look good. But I think they can get everything right."
Brown has separated himself from the Steelers since just before their Week 17 game this season against Cincinnati. He skipped a scheduled MRI on his knee the team had scheduled and then would not return phone calls from Mike Tomlin or Art Rooney II in the two days leading up to that Dec. 30 game.
According to Tomlin, Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called Tomlin on the morning of the game and said his client was prepared to play. But Tomlin said he informed Rosenhaus that Brown would not be playing that day because he had gone MIA.
Brown did show up for the Steelers' 16-13 win, but reportedly left before halftime.
While Brown hasn't officially said what his issue with the team might be, Pouncey did deny reports that Brown had thrown a football at Ben Roethlisberger during the walkthrough on the Wednesday morning before that game. The two did, however, have words that were, at least in part, responsible for Brown's actions since.
"The walkthrough part and the throwing the ball? It didn't happen," Pouncey said. "You're talking about grown men. If someone throws a football at a reporter, you guys know what would happen. I've seen reporters beefing with each other. When you're around somebody a long time, maybe they're having a bad day and take things the wrong way."
Rooney said last week Brown still hasn't returned his phone calls and has said it will be difficult for things to be rectified if Brown continues to refuse to do so. But Brown also hasn't returned calls and messages from his teammates. And because of all of that, Rooney said it's difficult to see Brown being part of the team's roster in 2019. But he also wouldn't rule it out.
Trading Brown is a possibility. Releasing him is not.
Pro Bowl practice AFC #Steelers #dkps https://t.co/TkehWrbjJW
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) January 23, 2019
JuJu Smith-Schuster, who replaced Brown at the Pro Bowl when Brown pulled out citing an injury, said he has reached out to his fellow receiver since the Steelers' offseason began. But he's heard nothing back yet, either.
"He's on vacation right now, so I wouldn't expect it," Smith-Schuster said.
But when I asked if he expects to hear back from Brown at some point?
"Oh yeah, for sure, no doubt," Smith-Schuster said.
And that's what Pouncey feels will happen, as well. Brown might be spurning the team and ownership right now. He might be unhappy with the way the team's season went and missing the playoffs. He might even be unhappy with Roethlisberger.
But some distance from everything could be good.
"Time heals everything," Pouncey said. "People are so quick to be judgmental. I know it's a disappointing season. We've got a lot of great players on our team. I honestly think we should still be playing right now. Reporters and fans who have followed the team a long time, I get it, it's disappointing. Trust me, we're disappointed as well.
"It will get worked out. I've been in fights with guys at practice. Am I not supposed to go talk to them again? They are my brothers, my family. You get past all of it. The stories you see now, it's funny, they'll never get brought back up when everything gets right."
The bottom line is that his teammates feel Brown gives the Steelers the best chance of continuing to win games. And they're not ready to give up on things just yet.
"I don't know the specifics of the situation. I don't know what goes on between players. I don't know what goes on between coaches. I do know Antonio is a great player. I know he works extremely hard. I think he has done a lot to help this team win," left tackle Alejandro Villanueva told me. "I'm not sure what the current situation is. If I was making decisions; being good at football is very difficult. Being somebody who contributes to winning each week, and being a positive part of that like Antonio, is something I strive for each week. But (they) don't ask me my opinion about such things, nor should they."
In the end, at least according to Pouncey, it will take Roethlisberger and Brown sitting down together or at least sharing a phone call to make things better.
"I know AB and I know Ben. It might take a month for them to talk. Sometimes when you have an argument, you say things you don't mean. We all do it," Pouncey said. "You sit in your house and regret it. Maybe you do it on your own terms. Things will get worked out. I honestly believe that. I've talked to Ben. I've been with AB a long time. I know this football team. It will get over things.
"They're the best duo in Steelers history. If two Hall of Famers don't want to talk and play together, I just don't understand what football and team is anymore, honestly."
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