Steelers WR Bryant calls in sick after revisiting trade talk
Oct 23, 2017 - 8:25 PM Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant appeared to be asking for a trade again when he posted "give me what I want" on social media Sunday night and then did not show up to team meetings on Monday due to an illness.Bryant's agent, Thomas Santanello, told ESPN that Bryant went to see a doctor Monday morning.
Bryant was not in the Steelers facility and his locker chair was folded during the media's 45-minute window of open access Monday afternoon, according to ESPN.
"He wants out, point blank," a source close to Bryant told ESPN.
Late Sunday night, Bryant on a since-deleted Instagram post, called out rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught a 31-yard touchdown in the Steelers' 29-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
A post from "FantasyFootballCounselor" showed a video of Ben Roethlisberger overthrowing Antonio Brown on third-and-1 and criticized the Steelers quarterback for forcing the ball to Brown rather than throwing to Bryant.
Bryant responded in the since-deleted comment that was screen-grabbed and shared on social media.
"JuJu is no where near better than me, fool," Bryant posted in response. "All they need to do is give me what I want and y'all can have JuJu and whoever else."
Bryant then clarified those remarks with a new comment that tagged Smith-Schuster.
"JuJu is the future and got great talent and is going to be one of the best to play this game," Bryant commented. "I want him to get his. I just want mines, period, point-blank. Ain't nobody did nothing to get me back. I worked my ass off to get myself back with no help and little support, period. In due time the process will show."
Roethlisberger targeted Smith-Schuster three times in Sunday's win and twice to Bryant. who had one catch for 3 yards.
Smith-Schuster told reporters Monday that he does not take Bryant's comments about him personally.
"There's only one ball," Smith-Schuster said. "We all have to focus on the bigger picture, and that's getting (championship) No. 7."
Last week, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that sources informed him of Bryant's trade request because of lack of playing time, adding that Steelers teammates and coaches are well aware that the receiver is unhappy.
ESPN confirmed the report, citing Bryant's unhappiness with his role in the offense. Bryant then told reporters last Monday he had not requested a trade.
"I'm good ... That's up to the coaches," Bryant said when asked about his role in the offense.
Bryant, 25, missed the entire 2016 season due to a suspension by the NFL for multiple drug violations under the substance-abuse policy. He has 18 catches (36 targets) for 234 yards and one touchdown in seven games this season.
Bryant has 94 career receptions for 1,548 yards and 15 touchdowns in 28 regular-season games since being drafted in the fourth round out of Clemson in 2014.
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