The star wide receiver walked back his comments about wanting a trade, saying he was ‘pissed off’ about something else entirely.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown said Thursday that his frustration on the sideline during Sunday’s game and his tweet toward a critic on Monday came from his desire to win.
Meeting with reporters for the first time since the team’s 42-37 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Brown made it clear he does not want a trade, but rather for his team to start performing at the level it has previously.
« We were losing the game… we haven’t won a game yet, » Brown said. « For me, as a Steeler, that’s unacceptable. I’m not on the sideline begging for the ball or making statements like you guys (the media) make. I’m pissed off. We’re losing, we suck.
« … We ain’t winning. You’re damn right I’m pissed off. »
Brown was seen on the sideline during the second half of the Chiefs game, which dropped the Steelers to 0-1-1, in an apparent argument with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. On Monday, Brown replied to a critical tweet from former Steelers PR staffer Ryan Scarpino — suggesting Brown wouldn’t be as productive without Ben Roethlisberger — with the words « Trade me let’s find out. »
« Obviously I don’t want a trade, » Brown said Thursday. « I’m still grateful to put on my uniform, grateful to be a part of this organization. I don’t take that for granted. Obviously it was a stupid remark.
« … I guess I can’t really respond to people that’s saying crazy stuff. »
Brown also was not at the team’s facility on Monday, an absence for which head coach Mike Tomlin said Brown was disciplined. The wideout said the absence was for a personal reason, and no further details have been provided on the subject.
Brown acknowledged that the tweet and the resulting media circus were a distraction, but he remains fully focused on winning.
« Obviously I’m in the spotlight, so you guys are always putting me under the microscope, but I’m a compassionate individual, » Brown said. « I can’t fake the way I feel. I can’t hide the way I feel. If it wasn’t important to me, then I’d just say it don’t matter, but I’m not that type of guy.
« … Our business is winning, playing football. That’s what I’m here to do. »
Pittsburgh is without a win through two games for the first time since 2013, when it started 0-4 and went on to finish 8-8.
–Field Level Media
