And now we're getting to the bottom of the story.
After weeks of speculation, Antonio Brown has begun clearing the air on some matters regarding his leaving the Steelers in the week before their final regular season game and asking for a trade. And it does have to do -- at least in Brown's eyes -- with a lack of respect shown to him by Ben Roethlisberger.
Brown took to Twitter Saturday to ask for questions and one of the first ones he received dealt with what caused the conflict between the receiver and quarterback.
"No conflict just a matter of respect!" Brown wrote. "Mutual respect! He has an owner mentality like he can call anybody out including coaches. Players know they can't say anything about it otherwise they meal ticket gone. It's a dirty game within a game. #truth"
No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game. #truth https://t.co/MsSyBVd3Ny
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 16, 2019
Punctuation issues aside, this seems to stem from comments made by Roethlisberger on his radio show when he called out Brown for running a route too shallow in a 24-17 loss at Denver on the Steelers' final offensive play. Roethlisberger's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by a defensive tackle. But replays showed the pass likely wouldn't have been completed anyway because corner Chris Harris had jumped inside on Brown.
Roethlisberger also said he wished he would have thrown the ball to JuJu Smith-Schuster on all four downs, an obvious slap in the face to his All-Pro receiver, who led the league with 15 touchdown catches in 2018.
Thus far, that has been the only answer to the thousands of questions Brown has received. But it's telling. And it cuts straight to the point of his anger with the organization.
Brown's anger with Roethlisberger explains many of the veiled and not-so-veiled shots at the Steelers quarterback that have been taken by Brown and some of the former players in the media who have spoken with him.
Brown obviously believes Roethlisberger wrongly went after him on his radio show. And he felt if he called the quarterback out about the situation, the organization would back Roethlisberger.
Mike Tomlin wasn't spared Brown's anger, either. When asked why he left the team's regular season finale against the Bengals, Brown replied it was because Tomlin had told the rest of the team the receiver had quit on them.
"After the coach tell the team I quit while nursing some bumps then invite me to watch the show with same guys thinking I quit i can not stand with that! I’m the bad guy doe we miss post season think about it," Brown wrote.
The receiver also said his current situation has nothing to do with wanting more money. He is under contract for three more seasons.
"Not for the money its for the love of the sport ! The commitment to win relentlessly consistently passionately !" Brown tweeted. "Plus I made 70 million it’s public record not to be cocky just truth! Time to play for my own Team AB84 the family !"
Brown is scheduled to have a meeting in Florida with team president Art Rooney II this week at which time he will also apparently make Rooney aware of any other issues. But his problem with Roethlisberger seems to be the main one.
Best interest this be my first meeting with Mr Rooney ever as Antonio Brown the man not AB84 the player in locker ?! never been to my house ; there house ; like what AM I Really doing ! Less then what you bargain for more than real #Truth https://t.co/Xiitf0si2I
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 16, 2019