Tag: Antonio Brown

Steelers history suggests Roman Wilson is primed for a 2025 breakout

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a history of second-year receivers taking a big leap, and Roman Wilson could be the next breakout WR in 2025.

No one will argue with the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ ability to draft quality receivers outside of the first round of the NFL Draft—and that includes the evidence to the contrary with Roman Wilson’s disappearing act in 2024.

Arguably, much of the blame could be put on head coach Mike Tomlin for Wilson’s lack of success during his rookie season, but looking back at former Steelers receivers helps shed light on what’s in store for the young receiver.

Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, and George Pickens all had breakout years with the Steelers during their second season as starters.

Even former Steelers receiver James Washington, who struggled to live up to his second-round draft selection back in 2018, had his best season in the NFL during his second year donning the Black and Gold.

This trend, where Steelers rookie receivers take time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL, has worked in the past, and fans should expect big things from Wilson as the team looks ahead to the 2025 offseason.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Will Steelers make the ‘Diontae Johnson mistake’ with George Pickens?

The Steelers traded away Diontae Johnson without a real backup plan. Could they make the same mistake with George Pickens in 2025?

Six awful words describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver woes that reared their ugly head in 2024: “Be careful what you wish for.”

No one will argue that the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Diontae Johnson trade that brought CB Donte Jackson from the Carolina Panthers this past offseason—especially after Johnson’s meltdown with three NFL teams since. However, the Steelers traded away their WR 1-B with little backup plan in place, and they may be poised to do the same with WR George Pickens in the 2025 offseason.

Pickens has proven himself to be truly electrifying on the field, but his immature antics have created huge distractions for the Pittsburgh Steelers—just as Johnson did.

If the Steelers trade away Pickens in 2025, Pittsburgh would need to hit a home run in free agency and the draft—but history isn’t on their side.

When Antonio Brown left the Steelers in 2019, Pittsburgh miserably attempted to fill the void with Donte Moncrief. Little changed when Johnson left in 2024, as the Steelers turned to Van Jefferson—and many fans know how that turned out.

Here’s to hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t make any rash decisions regarding Pickens and avoid treating him like Johnson.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mike Tomlin deserves more credit for managing Diontae Johnson drama

Ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson’s drama highlights why Mike Tomlin deserves more credit for keeping the Steelers locker room under control.

The grass is always greener on the other side of Steel City, and without a doubt, former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson found this out the hard way in 2024—but is the receiver’s recent drama an eye-opener for critics of Steelers HC Mike Tomlin?

Tomlin may have his issues with time management and his loyalty to a subpar coaching staff, but his leadership of the Steelers locker room has never been more evident than with his handling of receiver drama over the years—and the recently waived Johnson proves it.

Johnson lasted seven games with the Carolina Panthers, four games with the Baltimore Ravens, and two games with the Houston Texans—while spending 77 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson isn’t the first dramatic wide receiver to prove Tomlin’s ability to command respect and order in a locker room, as former receivers Antonio Brown and Chase Claypool both imploded after they left Coach T’s watchful eye.

Steelers WR George Pickens may have suffered a similar fate if he attempted his antics with another roster, which begs the question: should fans appreciate Tomlin’s ability to get production out of his diva-esque receivers and keep a tight lid on their boiling point?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tyreek Hill teases Steelers as potential landing spot on social media

Tyreek Hill sparks Steelers trade rumors after posting a video with a Steelers helmet subtly visible in the background.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been down the ‘WR trade rumor road’ before. Brandon Aiyuk, Davante Adams, D.K. Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp were all linked to the Black and Gold as potential trade candidates throughout the 2024 season.

However, the Steelers ultimately decided on a receiver who demanded less trade compensation—former New York Jets WR Mike Williams.

Another receiver from the AFC East has been linked as a potential 2025 trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers this past week: Dolphins superstar WR Tyreek Hill.

Hill recently alluded to being done with the Miami Dolphins after quitting during the Week 18 contest and changing his profile picture to mimic former Steelers WR Antonio Brown.

Adding further speculation to a potential Steelers-Dolphins trade, Hill recently uploaded a video to social media featuring a Steelers helmet hidden in the background.


The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need to upgrade their wide receiver room heading into the 2025 offseason, and Hill—even at 30 years old—would be incredible in the Steel City.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tyreek Hill picks perfect profile pic for coming to the Steelers

Tyreek Hill has made it pretty clear he wants out in Miami.

It was reported on Sunday that Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is ready to move on from the Dolphins and essentially put himself on the trading block just minutes after his season ended.

We’ve already speculated that if Hill really does end up being a trade target, the Pittsburgh Steelers should absolutely try and bring him into the fold. Now, Hill has updated his X profile pic with the perfect image to stir up Steelers fans.

As you can see below, Hill took a pic of Steelers legend Antonio Brown and photoshopped his own face over Brown’s. It was the pic of Brown when he quit on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game, stripped off his jersey and ran off the field.

Before the Steelers think about next season, they have a wild card playoff game to prepare for against the Baltimore Ravens.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Is George Pickens positioning himself for a 2025 Steelers exit?

George Pickens’ inconsistent 2024 season raises questions about whether his play outweighs his attitude for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to trading away dramatic wide receivers. Antonio Brown, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson ultimately positioned themselves as trade casualties once their baggage outweighed their on-field production.

The question that should be on the minds of all Steelers fans is this: Is WR George Pickens setting himself up for the same fate in 2025?

Pickens has undoubtedly produced his most dramatic season yet in 2024, though it seemed as if the Steelers were initially willing to tolerate his immaturity.  His rookie contract extends only through 2025, and his inconsistency on the field this season may have the Steelers ready to move on.

From fumbling away the Colts game to practically giving up during the Hail Mary attempt against the Browns, to causing an interception by running the wrong route in Week 17, and now his Week 18 performance, which saw Pickens drop three balls and catch one pass on six targets for zero yards, it may be time to find a potential trade partner next offseason.

Will Pickens rebound in the playoffs? And if he does, will it be enough to make up for his on- and off-field drama in 2024?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Chris Boswell hilariously reflects on his time with Killer B’s

Chris Boswell reflects on his time with the “Killer B’s,” recalling the excitement of playing alongside Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell.

Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, commonly referred to as the “Killer B’s,” were one of the scariest QB-RB-WR trios in NFL history. However, one additional “B” from that era is still with the team today: none other than K Chris Boswell.

Boswell’s play is elite in its own right, but the kicker was asked about the experience of playing alongside these three offensive titans during his early years with the team. On LS Christian Kuntz podcast, Boswell hilariously recalled how he always had to stay warmed up because the offense could score on any given play:

“They could just score at the snap of a finger—a blink of an eye. There’s AB [Antonio Brown] taking a slant for 80. Martavis Bryant is 6’6″ and runs a 4.3 just straight down the field.”

Boswell wrapped up his praise for his former teammates by offering one of the greatest compliments anyone could give:

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing.”

 

Fans who witnessed the mid-2010s Steelers understood that this offense was one of the NFL’s best. Many would agree with Boswell that it was one of the most enjoyable eras to be a Steelers fan.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bengals have their own WR drama ahead of Week 18 matchup vs Steelers

The Steelers face a Bengals team in Week 18 dealing with rookie WR Jermaine Burton’s latest drama, as he won’t travel with the team.

Fans of the Black and Gold have grown accustomed to wide receiver drama plaguing their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

From Antonio Brown to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and now George Pickens, the Steel City just can’t catch a break when it comes to elite wide receivers squandering their talent with bad attitudes. However, it seems their Week 18 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, are dealing with some WR drama of their own.

Bengals rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton, drafted with the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, entered the league with several character concerns.

Burton was previously made inactive for disciplinary reasons against the Las Vegas Raiders back in November, but it appears the rookie has yet to learn his lesson. On Friday, it was reported that he would not be traveling with the Bengals to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a “coach’s decision.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have caught a break, as the dangerous Cincinnati Bengals offense could now have a distraction plaguing the team heading into Week 18.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Steelers All-Pro WR shoots down comparisons to Buccaneers WR Mike Evans

Mike Evans surpasses Antonio Brown for 25th in career receiving yards, prompting a mix of praise and humor from the former Steelers star.

Congratulations are in order for Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, who recently entered the top 25 in career receiving yards after a stellar Week 15 performance. Evans racked up 159 receiving yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. However, one former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wide receiver didn’t take too kindly to being surpassed by Evans.

Antonio Brown, who previously held the number 25 spot in career receiving yards, was overtaken by Evans’ 12,429 receiving yards. Brown was quick to remind fans that his path to NFL success was far more difficult than Evans’. He highlighted that he put up historic numbers despite being a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, while Evans was selected in the first round.

In a hilarious twist, despite congratulating Evans, Brown pointed out how much longer it took the Buccaneers WR to surpass him: “Took him 30 more games.”

At this point, it seems fans are comparing apples to oranges when it comes to Evans and Brown. However, Evans’ resilience in maintaining a high level of play for so long is commendable.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

4 NFL players who quit on their teams midgame, from De’Vondre Campbell to Antonio Brown

Some players have really quit in the middle of games.

It’s a rare but wild situation for all involved: a player in the middle of an NFL game suddenly quits on the team and leaves for the locker room.

The head coach is left without words — or, very strong words — and teammates are usually irate, and rightfully so.

Well, as of publishing this, it’s happened for a fourth documented time, with San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell apparently refusing to come back into a game on a Thursday night in Week 15 of the 2024 season. He then headed for the locker room later in the contest.

Who else pulled this move? Let’s run through them:

Mike Wallace

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports 

The receiver was with the Dolphins in 2014 and apparently refused to take the field and was benched. Wallace denied it and played more in the NFL beyond that year.

Vontae Davis

Sep 16, 2018; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive back Vontae Davis (22) and defensive back Micah Hyde (23) celebrate making a stop on third down during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports 

The late cornerback pulled himself out of a Buffalo Bills game in 2018 and basically retired right then. It was something teammates talked about after.

Antonio Brown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) on the field before the game against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium.

In 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout stripped off his top and danced his way off the field against the New York Jets. That was that for the receiver with the Bucs and in the NFL.

De’Vondre Campbell

The Niners linebacker refused to go into the game against the Rams and left for the locker room in the fourth quarter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1371]