Just when many thought the Steelers were done with any drama, it comes back around. This time the drama is courtesy of wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Bryant hasn't been happy with his role in Pittsburgh and wants to be traded. He had one catch for three yards in Sunday's win against the Bengals and took to Instagram in a since-deleted comment to blast his fellow receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. It didn't seem to get any better on Monday, as the receiver called out of the team meeting due to illness.
Sick days
This isn't the first time Bryant has missed a meeting due to calling out sick.
He missed the team's Saturday walk-through in week five before they faced the Jaguars due to illness. He missed two days in practice in week four as well. His agent, Thomas Santanello, did say that Bryant went to see a doctor on Monday. Teammate Bud Dupree says Bryant is going to "handle it on his own," and that everyone is still cool with him. The Steelers haven't budged on his trade request, making it look like they aren't willing to trade the receiver.
The team has been impressed with Bryant's performance in practice, as he has been seen working hard and doing the right things. He is coming off of a season in which he was suspended by the NFL for a drug violation, so he is trying to make up for lost time.
The Steelers actually believed that Bryant would be a big part of the game plan for their last game, but that didn't come to fruition.
Nowhere better than me
Bryant wasn't happy about his involvement with the offense on Sunday. A team source said that Bryant wasn't really into the game in the later stages. He was apparently upset about a fan's comment about Smith-Schuster being better than him.
Bryant replied to the comment saying "Juju is nowhere better than me, fool. All they need to do is give me what I want and ya'll can Juju and whoever else."
He has since deleted that comment and clarified his statement calling Smith-Schuster "the future" in an Instagram post that he tagged him in. In the post, he simply said he wants to "get mines, period, point-blank"
Smith-Schuster has been in touch with Bryant since his comments and said that he and Bryant are in a "good place." He understands the receiver's desire to be involved and contribute to the team as he calls Bryant a "great athlete." Smith-Schuster is only a rookie, but he is showing a lot of maturity with his comments on the situation. With Martavis Bryant's desire to leave and his absence making headlines, will the Steelers give him the trade he wants? Is the beginning of a possible holdout for the receiver?
