Why Antonio Brown And Le’Veon Bell Had Beef With The Steelers, and What The Steelers Can Do To Rebuild

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been enduring one of the most chaotic off-seasons in recent memory, and most of the team’s drama has revolved around the departure of two legendary star players.

After an astonishing season that saw Big Ben and company narrowly miss the playoffs, the loss of both Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell is hitting fans hard. Both players feuded with the team publicly for wildly different reasons, and each of them ultimately negotiated their own lucrative escape from Pittsburgh.

Here’s a look at why the two of them hated the Steelers. We’ll also check out what they can do to rebuild for the 2019 season.

Le’Veon Bell Fought the Franchise Tag and “Won?”

No position in the NFL has a shorter shelf life than RB. The role is highly prone to injuries, and rookie contracts sometimes consume the span of a player’s career. Bell is considered the finest RB of his generation, but the Steelers used the franchise tag to keep him onboard without offering any additional guaranteed money. Because of the risk involved, Bell chose to sit out the 2018 season and sacrifice a year of his prime. The shocking gamble paid off when the New York Jets signed him with a whopping $60 million in guaranteed funds.

Antonio Brown Attacks the Culture and Gets Paid to Leave

Brown also wanted more money, but his problems with the team were far more personal. He has specifically called out Head Coach Mike Tomlin and QB Ben Roethlisberger. Furthermore, it has been revealed that he felt snubbed when the team voted WR JuJu Smith-Schuster as their MVP.

Afterward, Brown went on what appeared to be an erratic downward spiral while the whole world was watching. He infamously dyed his mustache yellow and live-streamed rants about the organization. For a moment, it looked like he had tanked his value; then, it was announced he signed a huge deal to join the Oakland Raiders.

Big Ben’s New Contract and the Future

The locker room culture itself has been heavily criticized, and many observers in the media are questioning their leadership. It seems as if the wheels might truly be falling off this franchise. The Tomlin era is in disarray, but that doesn’t mean this team can’t bounce back again.

Mr. Big Chest may have ridiculed Roethlisberger, but that didn’t stop him from getting a sizable deal that once again makes him one of the league’s highest-paid players. Subtracting two expensive teammates may ultimately be a blessing in the long run. It doesn’t hurt that they still have a very productive WR corps.

Bell and Brown also were known to hog the spotlight, so it will be refreshing to see new stars step up and shine. If they fill a few holes on offense with cheap rookies through this upcoming draft, we will be in for a very exciting season of football.

The Steelers are simply due for a reinvention. While the process of change may be difficult, the transition will be worth it if they get another championship ring. With Big Ben at the dusk of his career, it’s clear that Pittsburgh has their focus set on winning at least one more Super Bowl before their infamous QB retires and rides off into the sunset.

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