Aug 28, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – When receiver Doug Baldwin signed a four-year, $46-million contract extension – $24.25 million guaranteed – with Seattle in June, Antonio Brown took notice.

And his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, made a mental note of it.

When the Rams announced a four-year, $42-million extension with Tavon Austin Saturday that included a $30 million guarantee, Rosenhaus probably did a flip similar to the one Brown executed while running into the end zone last year against Cleveland.

If Austin, who has 123 receptions for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns in three NFL seasons, is worth $10.5 million per season and, more important, $30 million guaranteed, what could Brown fetch?

After all, Brown had 136 catches for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns … last season.

Rosenhaus has been in frequent contact with the Steelers regarding a possible contract extension for Brown, who has two years remaining on his current deal, and was in New Orleans Thursday and Friday to talk with Steelers officials about getting something done with Brown.

Of course, talking about an extension and actually getting something done are two different things and Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert has continually said the team won’t renegotiate a deal with a non-quarterback who has more than one year remaining on his current contract.

But Brown remains confident the Steelers will take care of him.

“Mr. Rooney and those guys always do a good job,” Brown said Sunday of team president Art Rooney II. “They are men of their word and they do what they say.”

The talks remain secret. The Steelers did, however, clear $5-$7 million in cap space last week by reworking the contracts of safety Mike Mitchell and right tackle Marcus Gilbert.

Brown said he doesn’t need the team to go against its policy and offer him an extension now. He’d be comfortable with the Steelers showing good faith and making a move similar to what they did last season, when they moved $2 million of his base salary from 2016 onto his 2015 contract.

In that move, he also converted $5 million of his 2015 salary into a bonus, creating $2.67 million in cap room.

That move got him additional money last season but also lowered his base salary this year to $6.25 million.

It’s still a lot of money, but for a player whose 375 receptions over the past three years are the most in league history in a similar period, it makes him a bargain.

In fact, his $6.25-million payout this season ranks 26th in the NFL among receivers. When the Steelers open the regular season Sept. 12 at Washington, Brown will be the third highest-paid receiver on the field behind the Redskins’ Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson. Cincinnati’s A.J. Green’s deal averages $15 million per season, the most of any receiver.

Brown had a busy offseason with non-football activities, such as performing as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” But he still found time to work football into his busy schedule. He was a full participant in the offseason workout program, even though that meant cross country trips between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.

“You’ve got to stay focused and understand what’s important,” he said. “You have to prioritize and know what’s important. You can’t take anything for granted.”

It’s evident Brown did that. He made his first preseason appearance Friday night along with several other of Pittsburgh’s key offensive stars, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Brown looked to be better than ever. Despite playing in just two offensive series – about seven minutes total – Brown had four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.

“Antonio Brown is always out there working, and he’s taking every rep,” said Roethlisberger. “You tell him to get out and he doesn’t want to get out. I think with his work ethic, the rest of the guys see it, so they bust their butt to be out there.”

The touchdown displayed an ability that many have overlooked in the 5-10, 194-pounder. Using his body to screen off Saints’ defensive back De’Vante Harris, Brown easily hauled in a lob from Roethlisberger, leaving Harris on the ground as he raced into the end zone for a 57-yard score.

“I’m a lot stronger,” Brown said. “And I’m doing a good job of cutting guys off and holding my space and doing the little things to get into position.”

It was a play bigger receivers typically use on defensive backs, not by smaller receivers such as Brown.

But Brown is a special receiver, and he wants to eventually be compensated as one.

“We’ll see what happens,” Brown said.

Odds and end zones

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward said he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Saints but he won’t miss the opener against the Redskins, “I’ve got superhuman-like abilities. I take pride in not missing games. It’s Week 1. I am going to be there.” … The Steelers trimmed their roster to 75 players Sunday, releasing nine players and placing two others on injury lists. Offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, a fourth-round draft pick this year, was placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Hawkins, a product of LSU, has been dealing with shoulder injuries throughout training camp and the preseason. Also released were linebackers Jordan Zumwalt and Mike Reilly, wide receivers Issac Blakeney and Levi Norwood, tight end Michael Cooper, defensive end Giorgio Newberry, punter Will Monday, defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith, and cornerback Julian Whigham. QB Dustin Vaughan was waived/injured.