Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster expressed his thoughts on the team’s off-the-field issues involving Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
In a straight-to-the-point manner, Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster shared his words on the team’s consideration of removing Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown this offseason. Smith-Schuster told Ian Rapoport on the podcast RapSheet and Friends that if he could decide the outcome of Brown and Bell’s future, he’d keep them in Pittsburgh.
Smith-Schuster says the situation isn’t easy, but it could be if everyone just let it go. In today’s NFL, it’s hard to let any headline go as the whole league begins to discuss any situation that arises through social media.
For the Steelers receiver, though, winning a Super Bowl and not causing drama is how you fix this situation.
"“In my dream world… I would have Le’Veon Bell as the running back with James Conner. I’d have AB stay on the other side. We’d win the Super Bowl with the guys that we have, the guys that we keep. Obviously it’s tough, situations like where you can’t control – Art Rooney and Mike Tomlin with that situation. For me, it’s more so like, let’s keep the guys on the team and win the Super Bowl. Let’s stop all the bulls–t.”"
It’s not likely the Steelers will bring Le’Veon Bell back next season. Some rumors have floated around about the team transition tagging him, but with James Conner and Jaylen Samuel’s emergence, it’s not likely they keep a third star back.
Brown, on the other hand, could find himself in the same uniform next season. He’s not a free agent and despite constant campaigns to be moved to San Fransisco, Pittsburgh hasn’t talked to anyone seriously about a deal.
It’s going to cost a pretty penny to get the receiver and the more he makes headlines the less teams are going to pay for him. But there is still a strong chance he is moved before the draft, meaning Smith-Schuster will be the Steelers’ top wide receiver in 2019.
It’s not likely JuJu gets his wish from the Steelers. Chances are both players are gone by the beginning of next year and it’s a new team in Pittsburgh. Hopefully one that carries the same success as fans are used to in the Steel City.