Wide receiver Antonio Brown and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II finally sat down with one another. The conclusion? It is best for team and player to part ways.
"Had a great meeting with Mr. Rooney today we discussed a lot of things and we cleared the air on several issues!" Brown wrote via Twitter on Tuesday. "We both agreed that it is time to move on but I'll always have appreciation and gratitude towards the Rooney family and @steelers organization!"
Had a great meeting with Mr.Rooney today we discussed a lot of things and we cleared the air on several issues! We both agreed that it is time to move on but I'll always have appreciation and gratitude towards the Rooney family and @steelers organization! #CallGod #Boomin pic.twitter.com/DEgURchvhW
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) February 19, 2019
Antonio Brown met today with Art Rooney, per source. Then Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus joined the meeting, as did Steelers' GM Kevin Colbert and exec Omar Kahn. Meeting was cordial and "everyone agreed the trade will be for the best," per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2019
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Steelers have agreed to work on a trade to send Brown to another team. The Steelers, however, have not given Brown and his agent permission to facilitate a trade with other teams themselves, which means neither can even speak to another team about the possibility.
Brown has made it clear that he wants to play for the San Francisco 49ers. For that to happen, however, it will need to be general manager John Lynch and company reaching out to the Steelers with an offer without being able to speak to Brown about the situation in Pittsburgh, his contract, or the expectations in San Francisco.
Clarity on Antonio Brown: Source says the #Steelers agreed to work on the potential trade but Brown and his agent Drew Rosenhaus do not have permission to speak with teams.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 19, 2019
While Brown and his representatives cannot speak with other teams, head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers cannot even publicly discuss the receiver because he remains under contract with the Steelers.
"It's my easiest response there is," Shanahan told reporters in January when asked about Brown. "I'm not allowed to talk about someone who's under contract."