More details are emerging as to why the relationship between Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown reached a fevered pitch in the days leading up to Week 17 and why Brown was suspended for the game.
It was initially reported that Brown got into an argument with the Steelers QB and threw a football his way, but it turns out the disgruntled WR likely had a reason for his anger, according to former NFL player James Jones, who now works for NFL Network. He shared what he’s heard coming out of Pittsburgh.
“I have talked to a couple people in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and they told me (the issues between the two players) has been lingering on,” Jones said. “I’ve been told in meetings (Roethlisberger) would take shots at AB. Like, ‘I don’t got to throw you the ball,’ and things like that.
“Wednesday in practice, I heard he ran the wrong route, Big Ben threw the ball on the ground, said, ‘Get him out of here. Get somebody else in there,’ and that’s when (Brown) was at his boiling point and that’s when he went off.”
That fractured relationship makes sense now as to why Brown has asked for a trade and has taken to social media to show he wants to be sent to the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, this does not excuse Brown’s actions, but what this does do is explain just how dysfunctional the Steelers became in 2018 and how far they have to go to right the ship.
