Former Steeler Ryan Clark hammers Antonio Brown: “This is where Mike Tomlin has to put his foot down and shop Antonio Brown … when it comes to just being a good teammate, when it comes to just being supportive, understanding that you are trying to achieve one goal, it doesn’t matter to him.”

... trade A.B. and bring back Dick Lebeau?

Earlier today, Antonio Brown reportedly asked the Steelers to trade him. A little earlier, former Steeler safety Ryan Clark unloaded on Brown in an interview.

Clark said that he warned the Steelers about Brown and almost got into a fight with him a few years ago because of his me-me attitude. “When I learned that they were going to give him money, I said to the strength coach, ‘When you give him money, you’re going to create a monster’.”

So, here we are with a tremendous receiver who simply decided that he was not going to play the final game of the season, and with the head coach telling the NFL, the media, and the fans that Brown was injured.

Tomlin and the Steelers are in big trouble now with the NFL … and with their fans. Many love A.B. for his superb skills, but the problem with him is that he has never been a team player.

Disrespected Dick LeBeau and the defense

“That day Antonio and I almost get into a fight because he’s saying things to [defensive coordinator] Coach [Dick] LeBeau. He’s screaming at Coach LeBeau, screaming at us defensively, ‘Don’t touch me. I’m the franchise,’ because he already had that mindset,” Clark told ESPN. “And now with success and money, these things come. You hear things about him … but when it comes to just being a good teammate, when it comes to just being supportive, understanding that you are trying to achieve one goal, it doesn’t matter to him. What matters to him is 19 attempts, 14 catches, 185 yard, two touchdowns … that is what is important to Antonio Brown.”

Can Tomlin change Brown and the team?

Clark was blunt about what has to be done. Asked if Brown can coexist with his teammates now, after allegedly throwing a football at QB Ben Roethlisberger last week before the Cincinnati game.

“You can’t. This is where Mike Tomlin has to put his foot down and shop Antonio Brown. Obviously, you want to get something for him because he’s one of the best wide receivers in the league. Matter of fact, he’s one of the best football players in the league. JuJu Smith-Shuster has shown that he can be a number 1, Ben Roethlisberger speaks glowingly of James Washington, but this is about the fabric of the team. This is about the guy who goes Facebook Live as your coach is talking and leaks information outside the locker room that never should be there. This is a guy that talks publicly about not getting the ball or issues with the offensive coordinator, knocks over the garbage cans and gatorade bottles and cans because he doesn’t get the rock. At some point, you’re an organization that’s built on team, or an organization that’s built on integrity, you have to show the rest of the locker room that. Will he be good going forward? Probably so, you have to take that stand.”

Clark was then asked, “You’re saying, ‘Shop him?’ “

The former safety said, “You have to. Time for him to go.”

Will the Steelers do so?

Pittsburgh has to decide what to do with Le’Veon Bell too. Most national and local commentators agree that Tomlin has lost control of the locker room.

However, it was the way that the Bell situation was handled, or was not handled, that is the concern. Ironically, the Steelers saved $14.5 million with Bell sitting out the season, and if Brown becomes expendable, they could conceivably get some high draft picks this year and start to rebuild that defense, which is where the problems were.

Shock jock Mark Madden, whom I never quote, did make sense this week when he said that the Steelers demise was due to lack of discipline and humility.

Madden also pointed to the problems in the front office. “The Steelers can’t be blamed for not agreeing to Le’Veon Bell’s unreasonable terms, but they didn’t have a proper handle on where the situation was going, and the trickledown rattled the locker room in the season’s early going. Inaccurately assessing the Bell situation also left lots of cap space on the table, money that might have been used to better remedy [injured linebacker Ryan] Shazier’s absence,” he wrote on the Tribune-Review website.

Season was a disaster

Madden continues, “The season was a disaster given its potential. The instances of stupidity, sloppiness and selfishness are far too numerous to mention in one column.

“It was a stink sandwich, and everybody should take a bite: owner Art Rooney II, Tomlin, GM Kevin Colbert, Roethlisberger, all the coaches, all the players, the equipment managers and the ball boys.

“But if you’re expecting significant changes, they won’t be forthcoming. A sacrificial lamb or two might be offered, like defensive coordinator Keith Butler (at least his platoon contained Tyler Eifert on Sunday) and special teams coach Danny Smith, who can’t possibly be fired enough. Smith should be fired, rehired, then fired again. The Steelers’ special teams were slapstick.”

So, expect few changes

Where is Dick LeBeau when you need him?

Dick LeBeau was one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL or football history. He was creative, a great motivator, and achieved tremendous success.

Can the Steelers bring him back — after Tomlin unceremoniously dumped the Hall of Fame coach? Sadly, he is 81-years-old, though apparently in good health.

However, even LeBeau could not make a fabulous buffet with Spam — and that is what the defense is now. They need personnel — and have not been drafting it — and the ones they have are not always doing very well.

So, maybe with some money — and perhaps it is time for a new GM, which will not happen either — things could change.

But, as I have said previously, the offense is suddenly becoming very old, and while having some good young, promising players, they may have to start looking at some offensive linemen.

For now, things are not great in Steeler land. But, it is only Jan. 1.