Brown’s agent again laments his contract with Steelers

By Ray Fittipaldo

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For the second time in four months, agent Drew Rosenhaus leaked that Antonio Brown is unhappy with his $42 million contract that has three years before it expires. The latest came last week when it was reported Rosenhaus was meeting with the Steelers in Jacksonville on an “improved” contract.

At the current rate, Rosenhaus will be ringing the Steelers again around Christmas about the present Brown wants to find under his tree.

But they likely won’t get their new contract, not this year at least. The Steelers have never renegotiated with a player with so many years remaining on a contract. If they did it would set a precedent for other players.

But Rosenhaus’ persistence is perfectly understandable. Brown, with 239 receptions and 3,197 yards the past two seasons, is the most prolific receiver in the NFL. He has outplayed the contract he signed in 2012, and if he waits until it runs out in 2017, he’ll be past his prime earning years.

Several studies over the years, including one this year by numberfire.com, indicate that receivers reach their peak at 26. Brown turned 27 last month.

That does not mean Brown’s numbers will decline anytime soon. Those same studies show that receivers don’t severely decline until age 32. After age 32, most receivers can’t match the production they enjoyed in their prime years.

The most important number is Brown’s age when his current contract runs out. He will turn 30 in 2018, leaving him only two prime earning years on his third NFL contract. After that, teams would be gambling that Brown would be among the few all-time greats who produced big numbers into their mid-30s.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice had three consecutive 100-catch seasons between his 32nd and 34th birthdays, with his best season coming at age 33 when he hauled in 122 catches for 1,848 yards.

Fellow Hall of Famer Cris Carter averaged 90 catches per season between his 31st and 35th birthdays.

But most receivers don’t age as gracefully. Calvin Johnson is still considered by many to be one of the top receivers in the NFL, but after catching 122 passes in 2012 he only had 84 and 71 the past two seasons while missing five games with injuries. Like Brown, Johnson was 26 when he had his best season.

Herman Moore was 26 when he had 123 receptions in 1995 and followed that up with two more seasons of 100-plus catches. But after he turned 30 he had just 60 catches over his final four injury-riddled seasons.

Torry Holt had 117 receptions when he was 27. He had four more highly productive seasons when he averaged 95 catches per season, but in his final two seasons at 32 and 33 he had 64 and 51 receptions.

The question is whether Brown can follow in the footsteps of Hall of Famers or level off as many other very good receivers have after their 30th birthdays.

If anyone might have the ability to follow Carter and Rice, it’s Brown. He is fanatical about staying in top shape. During the past four seasons he has only missed three games due to injuries.

“You watch him and everything he’s doing for the entire year is for his best chance to stay healthy,” Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said.