While conflicting reporting has pervaded stories about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ attempt to trade All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, it’s becoming more clear that the Green Bay Packers haven’t engaged in any kind of legitimate conversations with the Steelers about acquiring Brown.
Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports the Packers haven’t been involved and won’t become involved in trade talks for Brown, stating the team “never had any conservations” with the Steelers about a potential deal.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who reported the Steelers and Buffalo Bills were “closing in on a deal” Thursday night before backtracking on the report Friday morning, confirmed the Packers “were never in” on trading for Brown.
The Packers have the draft capital and salary cap space to make a trade work, and adding a talent like Brown would immediately elevate Matt LaFleur’s new offense in Green Bay, but it always appeared unlikely that GM Brian Gutekunst would make a serious run at adding an unpredictable personality into the locker room, especially with a first-year head coach.
There are also additional contract concerns with adding Brown, who likely wants to rip up his old deal and create a new one with his new team.
Barring a last-second change, the Packers won’t be working with the Steelers to complete a trade for Brown. In fact, it’s unclear who will be trading for Brown, whose football career is very much in limbo.
