published by both the national and local media over the past few weeks - Antonio Brown is the devil. An that honor was once the sole preserve of Le’Veon Bell around Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steelers Hoodie , now appears to belong to AB. In light of his end of season dramatics, that is any easy storyline to get on board with and it is impossible to offer any reasonable defense of Brown’s actions adequately excusing what he did. However, barring a number high draft picks in return for a trade, there can be little question that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be better served with him on the roster when the 2019 regular season begins.An agreement to continue their working relationship would naturally need to come with certain assurances on the part of Brown, most likely requiring a lengthy conversation with senior management to convince them of his sincerity. But regardless if he is to remain with the team, a change in behaviour cannot simply be limited to AB next season.Continuing to overlook the negative impact Ben Roethlisberger has on team chemistry is not helping this franchise, a trend that was initially born out of his actions away from the field. As the years have progressed, it has often been his mouth that has caused the team more harm than anything else he has done, and 2018 was a vintage season in that regard. It is no secret that Roethlisberger struggled with the mantle of leadership early on in his career and that his ego was allowed to grow unchecked after winning his first Super Bowl. More than enough has been written over the years detailing the legal issues Big Ben became embroiled in and the suspension that followed in 2010. As a young quarterback, he would clash with veteran wide receiver Hines Ward and anger his coach with misleading injury reports, later acknowledging he had been far from the perfect teammate in an article by Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report.Issues Emmanuel Sanders would once again allude to in a recent television appearance aired over the weeked.But as much as that article from 2015 would suggest Roethlisberger was a changed man, it is clear from some aspect of his behavior in 2018 that Big Ben is far from the finished product.From making the team’s third round draft pick feel as unwelcome as possible just days after he was selected, to missing OTA’s because of a family holiday while rest of the team trained (with the exception of Brown), Roethlisberger was far from the leader you would expect for a player of his stature.Critical of Le’Veon Bell for missing OTA’s in 2017 Cheap Customized Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys , Big Ben’s decision to take a vacation just as they begun in June was not only hypocritical, but also directly responsible for the absence of AB. With Brown’s sudden disappearance starting the day after Roethlisberger missed his first day of practice, it was appeared obvious he believed that what was acceptable for his quarterback was more than good enough for him. James Washington was the latest in a long list of wide receivers to be thrown under the bus by Roethlisberger this year, joining names like Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates, Cobi Hamilton and of course Brown in that regard over the past few seasons alone. In the six years since he started his weekly radio show, it has become a must listen to event more for the possibility that Big Ben will say something inappropriate than any of the other insights he will offer. And while he is far from the only quarterback in the league to have his own show, he is undeniably the only one who continually makes national headlines because of it. Given far too much leeway by the front office both on and off the field, it would be fair to say that Roethlisberger does not always set the best example for his younger teammates. Now seemingly provided a sympathetic offensive coordinator willing to let him throw the ball at will, despite leading the NFL in interceptions, it would be understandable if some of his teammates thought he was getting special treatment.While some of his interception were directly responsible for a number of the losses the Steelers suffered in 2018, no one on the coaching staff did anything but support him publicly. A policy followed by the rest of the players on the roster. But when the shoe was on the other foot, Roethlisberger was not always so forgiving. There can be no denying that Big Ben can be as critical of himself in public as he is on others, but he is also willing to give himself a break at the expense of others. It was interesting to note that of all the people he blamed for his game clinching interception against the Denver Broncos Youth Cameron Heyward Jersey , the list somehow included Brown, Ramon Foster and Randy Fichtner and then him.If the Steelers are to offer Roethlisberger an extension during the offseason, the two sides need to have a serious conversation about what they expect from a team leader going forward. In the twilight of his career, Big Ben needs to make the most of the of talent around him if he wants to have any hope of adding a third Super Bowl title to his resume, and it can only be hoped that he can be made to see that his style of leadership is not exactly working with all of his teammates.Roethlisberger may believe in his right to criticise his teammates publicly, but it is clear from the responses of many former and current players around the league that they would not accept his tough-love approach. With that in mind, It should perhaps come as no surprise to learn that Cam Newton was the only quarterback NFL players would least like to have as a teammate than Big Ben, according to a poll conducted by The Athletic of 85 defensive players from 25 different teams. Unlike Brown, nothing Roethlisberger did this season year left him a mountain to climb in terms of repairing any relationships with his team, but if he could at least be convinced to give up his radio show and keep his remarks in house, his teammates would be sure to welcome it. The unlikely has now become reality. An NFL player will choose to sit out the entire season, in lieu of accepting the terms offered to him by the team that controls his rights.That’s ultimately what the franchise tag is. It’s not an honor, as some have tried to describe it in the past. It’s an artificial restriction applied to a player who otherwise would be able to shop his services to the highest bidder. The Steelers twice exercised their right under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to restrict Bell in this way. And Bell has twice exercised his right in response to being subjected to the franchise tag.Last year, he stayed away until Labor Day Youth Le'Veon Bell Jersey , skipping the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason and cashing every check on his way to $12.1 million. This year, he skipped everything, including the full football season.Now, when next year comes, he’ll finally get a chance to shop his services to the highest bidder.Bell will be blamed for this outcome. By fans, by teammates, by executives, by the media. But Bell is simply making a business decision, no different than the decision to enter the draft, to not enter the draft, to sign with a team, to not sign with a team http://www.authenticspittsburghsteelers.com/cheap-jesse-james-jersey , to keep playing, to retire. The fact that it’s an unconventional business decision doesn’t change the fact that it is fundamentally a business decision.And, when it comes to football, everyone seems to be allowed to make business decisions except the men who play football. Because we want them to entertain us. When they choose not to entertain us, we become confused. We feel betrayed. We lose the privilege of witnessing the special things a football player can do on a football field, as it relates to our fan loyalties, our viewing enjoyment, our fantasy-football lineups, our wagering interests.Bell will be accused of “abandoning his teammates,” an outdated narrative as phony as “football is family.” Football, at the professional level, is only family when characterizing it that way is good for business. Because football, at the professional and college level, is strictly a business.Everyone else connected to the sport will make http://www.authenticspittsburghsteelers.com/cheap-stephon-tuitt-jersey , from time to time, business decisions. But the only ones who are widely vilified for any decision (short of an owner relocating a team, which nevertheless seems to be understood in all markets but the one the team leaves) are players who make the business decision to not play.In Bell’s case, the Steelers opted to prevent him from getting maximum compensation for his services by squatting on his rights beyond the expiration of his contract. Twice. So he did what he had to do in an effort to get the most he could for his skills, abilities, risks, and sacrifices.Regardless of whether future events make it a good decision or a bad decision, it’s his business decision. And how he handles it is nobody else’s business. Wholesale NFL Jerseys