Tomlin confirms Antonio Brown's Monday absence

The drama that began Sunday with Antonio Brown doesn't appear to be slowing.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that the star receiver did not show up at the team's facility for work on Monday. The coach didn't provide further details and would not say whether Brown was excused from activities Monday.

"I'm looking forward to visiting with him today and discussing that and some other things," Tomlin said. "I'm not going to get into the details of why he wasn't here [or if he was] excused. I just assume leave those things in house.

"I understand sometimes we got some negativity. We lost some football games. There was some negative exchanges on the sideline, that frustration associated with not playing well and not winning -- I understand all that. There's opportunities for us for respond to it particularly the early portions of the year to utilize negative experiences ... to educate our team."

On Sunday, Brown got into a verbal spat with Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Finchter during Pittsburgh's 42-37 loss, and the receiver left the stadium before reporters were allowed in the locker room. On Monday, Brown replied to a critic (and former Steelers employee) by asking to be traded as a test of the criticism of his value to the team.

Trade me letâ€™s find out https://t.co/4OeepI78zy
â€” Antonio Brown (@AB84) September 17, 2018

Tomlin also said Brown has not asked to be traded, almost chuckling while answering.

Brown caught nine passes for 67 yards, finishing third on the team in receiving yards in the loss to Kansas City.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did his best to defuse the situation while appearing on Pittsburgh sports radio Monday.

"He's a competitor and he wants to be the best in the world and he probably is the best in the world and he wants to make every play and catch every ball and every touchdown, which is what every player wants to do," Roethlisberger said during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan. "You know he took it out on some people and I give Randy (Fichtner) a lot of credit for not losing it on him, but you know it's just one of those things that I think in the heat of the battle and you're losing the football game, it's just tough on anybody.

"I don't I think he just . . . just another reason why I don't do social media right? Guys get under your skin and find a way to do it. I don't think he wants traded. I'll speak with him tomorrow and maybe I'll have a different answer after that but I don't think that."

Brown's social media use has caused drama in the past, as have his sideline tantrums. He's just part of a Steelers franchise that has seen its share of social media-fueled problems in the last two years.

When asked about those problems, Tomlin deflected.

"Again like I said last week, I'm not going to openly talk about a lot of that that occur on social media. We could be chasing that always," Tomlin said. "I will say this -- it's important that we understand our position, the light shined on us and the responsibility that comes with it. [There's] been a couple of instances now where you've asked me about Antonio, regarding social media like things. I will address it very direct with him but I'll leave that between he and I."

Tomlin went on to explain that he preferred to address "football things," like defensive lapses that allowed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw six touchdown passes.

Safe to say, there's plenty to sort out in Pittsburgh ahead of the Steelers' Monday night meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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