Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said it is true the team will try to trade disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown.
But, Colbert also noted Wednesday, a day after meeting with Brown, that the Steelers will not give the All-Pro away.
"We're all disappointed at this point. How things have transpired, we're all disappointed," Colbert said. "Antonio is disappointed. We're disappointed. What contributes to the disappointment, I'll leave that between us. Respectfully, we did agree to look into a trade (which) would probably be the best course of action for both sides.
"When I say that, what was perceived or put out yesterday was partially true. The point we made to Antonio was, look, we love you as a player. We thank you for what you've done for us the past nine years. I'm disappointed we didn't get you a Super Bowl. I still think you're a Hall of Fame candidate. I'm disappointed that may not happen with us. But the other point I made was we're open to shopping around the league to see what may be available in exchange for your services. But by no means are we going to make a trade or any type of move that will not be beneficial to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization."
What would be considered beneficial? Certainly not the mid-round draft pick that some have speculated in recent days.
The Steelers got a third-round pick from the Raiders in return for Martavis Bryant on draft day last year and are unlikely to accept anything less for Brown. Colbert said that was part of the team's message to Brown Tuesday when he and team president Art Rooney, among others, met with Brown, his agent and Brown's father in Florida.
"Specifically, we will not be discounting you on the trade market and we will not be releasing you," Colbert said. "All that being said, we'll take a positive approach. If someone has an interest and wants to make a move, either a significant pick or set of picks or a significant player plus picks and we think it will benefit the Pittsburgh Steelers in the long run, great. If not, then we'll make that decision at that point. But I can't give you any estimate of what it's going to be like because we've been in no active talks with any team in regards to Antonio Brown. That will probably pick up after this announcement becomes more official on our end, as well as on Antonio's end."
Does that mean Brown could be back if the Steelers can't find a suitable trade?
"That is a possibility, of course," Colbert said. "We're not going to move a significant player for less than significant compensation. In doing this, you absorb some dead money. It's money that comes onto your cap. If you make a move for a player, but if you get something significant in terms of draft picks you can turn into a significant player or a player in return, that player comes without dead money. If we can't make a trade that is satisfactory for us, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
"We're optimistic in our ability to get it done. We know we have a significant player. We know it's probably in our best interests that we move on, but we also know that will only happen if it benefits us."
Brown has been involved in a number of incidents in the past year, including not only walking out on the team at the end of the season, but skipping a team meeting after a Week 2 loss to the Chiefs, threatening a reporter on social media and calling another a racist.
Since the season ended, he also has acted out on social media, including saying he wants a new contract with guaranteed money from any team that might trade for him, something that could scare potential suitors away. Currently, Brown is scheduled to earn just $12.65 million in 2019 in year two of a four-year contract extension he signed prior to the 2017 season.
"What he did yesterday was more indicative of where he is at this point," Colbert said. "When he and Art sat down, that was a 20- to 30-minute conversation. ... That's who Antonio Brown is. Antonio Brown is a phenomenal football player, one of our best workers, if not the best. He's a highly emotional player. Sometimes he'll do some things that we wish we weren't in this situation. But he has created it and we're all recognizing it. But who Antonio Brown is was more reflected yesterday than what he has done the last few weeks."
Brown set an NFL record in 2018 with his sixth consecutive 100-reception season. He also led the league with 15 touchdown catches in 15 games.
He's on the books for the Steelers at just over $22 million if he's on their roster in 2019, but would count $21 million if he's not.
The Steelers also owe Brown a $2.5 million roster bonus March 17 if he's still with them, something Colbert said could be a factor in moving him.
Brown requested a trade recently after skipping the team's regular season finale against Cincinnati in early January and then taking shots at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on social media. Colbert said Roethlisberger's leadership on the team and within the organization is unquestioned.
"If anyone wants to question the leadership of this player, the Jacksonville game, I saw it first hand," Colbert said referring to a come-from-behind win against the Jaguars last season in a game in which Roethlisberger struggled in the first half.
"We come in the locker room at halftime and he brings everybody up, offense, defense and coaches. He got everybody's attention. He said, 'Look, first and foremost, I have to play better in the second half. But we all have to.' ... He challenged everybody. In the 12 minutes we were in there, he grabbed the team right away. Then he goes out in the second (half) and helps us with a comeback win. There's no question Ben is the leader. But there's also no question the other guys have to fill in the blanks."
Roethlisberger has been criticized for speaking out about other players -- including Brown -- on his weekly radio show during the season. In fact, part of Brown's issue with the quarterback stems from things Roethlisberger said about Brown in that venue following a loss at Denver.
But Colbert doesn't have a problem with Roethlisberger speaking his mind.
"Ben is the unquestioned leader of this group. He's the elder statesman," Colbert said. "He's a Super Bowl winner. If our players are smart, they'll listen to him. He's been there. He's done it. He can tell them, 'No guys, what you're doing is or isn't good enough to do this.' That can be a burden on him more often than he might like to admit. He's got 52 kids under him, honestly. I want them to say, 'Ben, what can I do? What do we have to do to win a Super Bowl.'
"I have no problem with him, he can call me out, and that's fine. What he does, I totally respect because I've seen him too many times win games and come through for us in situations."
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