Despite Bryant’s problems, Steelers can’t shake up the team now

Moving a player like Martavis Bryant while you’re at the top of the conference is not a move the Pittsburgh Steelers need to make.

If you haven’t heard lately, Martavis Bryant has pretty much confirmed that he is unhappy and if he doesn’t get a better role in the offense, he wants to be traded.

Josina Anderson’s interview captures in detail the position of Martavis Bryant at this point. Bryant feels that he is not performing at the level that he is capable of and he wants to go back to where he was two years ago. He says that if he isn’t performing here back in Pittsburgh, then he wants to do it somewhere else. He was quoted as saying, “If things don’t get better, then I have got to go.”

Now, this puts the Steelers in a difficult position. The Steelers don’t want Bryant to be unhappy in Pittsburgh, but the team is on track to make a Super Bowl run. If the playoffs were to start today, the Steelers would have home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

The Steelers have been winning with Bryant playing a secondary role on the offense. The truth is that the Steelers have two weapons that they need to focus the offense around and those weapons are Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.

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It’s not as if they have benched Martavis Bryant. He is largely the Steelers number 2 receiver. The problem is that Martavis Bryant thrives on the deep ball and making touchdowns. Ben Roethlisberger is at a point in his career where he is not as effective throwing the ball deep, and the Steelers continue to struggle to pass in the red zone. This change in Roethlisberger’s game has hurt Bryant.

However, Martavis Bryant plays a role in the offense that can’t be replaced by Justin Hunter or Eli Rogers. Bryant is a deep ball threat, and if a defense does not cover him deep, there will be consequences for the defense. Defenses need to scheme to limit Bryant’s production. Despite Bryant’s lack of production, he plays a schematic role in the offense.

Bryant also was better in his career as a role player. He was more effective when he would be run out situationally to scare opposing defenses. But he doesn’t cut it when it comes to being a possession receiver. A player like Eli Rogers is a better possession receiver and should be played on those downs. Ben Roethlisberger at this point in his career needs the easier check-downs to closer receivers in the middle of the field. Bryant’s game does not include that.

So what would I do with Martavis Bryant? I would play him as a role player like he was early in his career.

Sure the downside is that he will be unhappy. He probably wasn’t going to be signed to a new contract anyway. Likely, the trade deadline will pass, and Bryant won’t have a bargaining chip for the rest of the season.

If he becomes a distraction, cut him. He was only a fourth-round pick anyway. The Steelers have never backed down from a player who puts his needs over those of the team, and it shouldn’t start with Bryant.

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I would just hope that the team is looking for a receiver in the first four rounds next year.