https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...mors-steelers-art-rooney/stories/201901100125 “There’s not much we can do right now; we have time to make a decision,” Rooney said in his first public comments since Brown skipped out on practices and team meetings leading up to the Dec. 30 game at Heinz Field. “We’ll look at all the options. We’re not going to release him, that’s not on the table. But I will say all other options are on the table. “Whether the situation can be reconciled and have him back on the team next year, we’re a long way away from thinking that can happen. We’re not closing the door on anything at this point.” The Steelers cannot do anything with Brown until March 13, the first official day of the 2019 NFL season. He is due a $2.5 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, or March 17, so it is likely the Steelers would make a decision by then. Brown is scheduled to count $22,165,000 against the salary cap in 2019. If the Steelers trade him, he would still count $21,120,000 against their cap — $12.6 million salary, $7 million pro-rated signing bonus and $2.5 million roster bonus. However, the Steelers would save $15.1 million — his 2019 salary plus roster bonus — in real money. Rooney, though, indicated Brown’s salary-cap ramifications would not play into whatever decision the team makes. “That has to be taken into consideration, but, as I sit here today, “I’m not going to say that’s going to box us into anything," Rooney said. "If we decide something has to be done, we’ll figure out how to deal with that.” Asked specifically if a trade was a possibility, Rooney said, “I’m not going to use those words. All options are on the table. We have two months to go before we can do anything. There’s no sense making the decision now. We’ll see how things play out. Maybe he decides to come talk to us some day and we learn more about where he is. We’ll see.” Rooney said he will talk with some of the team leaders to see how they feel about Brown returning next season. “That’s one of the questions we have to answer — whether we can get to a point where we all feel good about him being on the roster next year. We have a way to go before we feel good about that.” Asked if it would be hard or easy to envision Brown being at training camp in Latrobe, Rooney said, “As we sit here today, it’s hard to envision that. But there’s no sense on closing the door on anything today. There’s snow on the ground. We don’t have to make those decisions right now.”
AP MVP - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs AP Coach of the Year - Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears AP Assistant Coach of the Year - Vic Fangio, DC, Chicago Bears AP Offensive Player of the Year - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs AP Defensive Player of the Year - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Year - Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants AP Offensive Rookie of the Year - Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants AP Defensive Rookie of the Year - Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts AP Comeback - Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award - Gabe Infante, St. Joseph's Prep Courtyard Unstoppable Performance of the Year: Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award - Chris Long, DE, Philadelphia Eagles FedEx Air Player of the Year - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs FedEx Ground Player of the Year - Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year - The Miami Miracle Game Changer Award presented by Secret -Shaquem Griffin, LB, Seattle Seahawks Salute To Service Award - Ben Garland, G, Atlanta Falcons Deacon Jones Award - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams Art Rooney Award - Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year - Los Angeles Rams Moment of the Year: Aaron Rodgers comeback against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 Celebration of the Year - Seattle Seahawks Choreography Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 -CB Champ Bailey -Contributor Pat Bowlen -Contributor Gil Brandt -TE Tony Gonzalez -CB Ty Law -C Kevin Mawae -S Ed Reed -S Johnny Robinson
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25973726/kareem-hunt-signs-browns The Cleveland Browns signed troubled running back Kareem Hunt on Monday. The Kansas City Chiefs released Hunt in December after a video surfaced that showed him shoving and kicking a woman last February at his residence in Cleveland. He was neither arrested nor faced charges for the February incident. He also was accused of punching a man in June. The NFL placed Hunt on the Commissioner Exempt List shortly before he was released. He is not eligible to play until the NFL completes its investigation into the incidents and a decision on potential discipline is made. Hunt, 23, apologized to the woman in the February incident, the Chiefs organization and his family in an interview with ESPN following his release. Hunt led the NFL in rushing in 2017 as a rookie with 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns in helping Kansas City qualify for the playoffs. He also had 53 receptions for 455 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, he rushed for 824 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games and had seven receiving touchdowns before he was released.
AAF co-founder Bill Polian told the Athletic's Lindsay Jones that he reached out to free agent Colin Kaepernick about continuing his career in the league. "I don’t know what transpired, but he’s obviously not playing," Polian said. Polian also said he personally spoke to Tim Tebow about playing in the league, but Tebow is wrapped up in a baseball career with the Mets. Kap continues to hold out hope for a second shot at the NFL, but that seems highly unlikely at this point. Kaepernick hasn't played a down of football since 2016. The AAF enjoyed a fine opening weekend last week and will try to build on it this Saturday and Sunday. The Associated Press reports free agent Colin Kaepernick would only "consider" playing in the AAF for $20 million or more. It's hardly a surprise for a player who believes he is being illegally blackballed from the NFL and made $14.3 million his most recent year in the league. The AAF, of course, pays nowhere near those wages. Kap to a developmental league was never going to happen. He does not need to develop.
DIVA ALERT! In an Instagram Live, Antonio Brown said he is looking for guaranteed money from his next team. "If your team got guaranteed money, they want to get to know me and work with me, tell them to call me," Brown said while doing cardio on Monday. Brown's current deal is set to pay him nearly $39 million in salary and bonuses over the next three years, but none of that money is guaranteed. Brown said over the weekend money had nothing to do with his desire to leave Pittsburgh, but it appears to be at least a factor. On Monday before this video was posted, NBC Sports' Peter King reported Brown's social media campaign has scared off at least one team. This video is unlikely to help.
Was this really because he wanted to return or was it a way to save face as there was a real possibility that Witten would get fired from MNF after one year?