Antonio Brown is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he wants to get paid like it.
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Antonio Brown has become one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League, although he is not paid like one. Though his $6.25 million dollar a year base salary is nothing to sneeze at, it is only the 16th-highest among wide receivers, despite him having better numbers than nearly all of those ahead of him.
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On Sunday, Brown discussed his contract with reporters, and he had this to say:
“You have to take care of your guys,” Brown said, according to ESPN. “If a guy under performs, you get rid of him. If a guy over performs, you take care of him.”
Unlike Houston Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who held out of training camp for about a day due to his contract issues, Brown has decided to show up and work. A consummate professional, he is going about getting a new deal the right way.
“I’m a first-class guy in the relationship [with the Steelers], and the first step to getting better is showing up,” Brown said Sunday.
The 28-year old Brown will make $8.392 million dollars per year with his signing bonus included, which makes his total compensation 19th among receivers.
Last season, Brown was an absolute monster for the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching 136 balls for 1,834 yards and ten touchdowns. He tied Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones for first in the NFL in receptions, and his yardage was second only to Jones. Incredibly, Brown was able to accomplish all this without having Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup for four games.
The Steelers will not have to worry about the contract affecting his play, as Brown is at camp, and is ready to help lead the team to a Super Bowl. The team will need him to be just as productive this season, as they are unsure if they will have starting running back Le’Veon Bell for the start of the season due to suspension.
Brown and the Steelers will open up their 2016 season on Monday Night Football, as they travel to Washington to take on the Redskins.
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