Steelers' Tomlin Addresses Brown, Bell Departures

PITTSBURGH, PA - Speaking publicly for the first time since Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell departed from the Steelers, head coach Mike Tomlin said the team’s relationships with those star offensive players “had run their course.”

Tomlin also told reporters that the protracted divorce proceedings the Steelers had with the star wide receiver and running back were “highly chronicled” and “too chronicled,” NBC Sports reported.

“We can’t do this with hostages, man. We need volunteers,” Tomlin said. “We need good players, good guys who want to be here and if guys can’t check those boxes, it’s probably best for all parties involved to go our separate ways.”

Tomlin also didn’t seem overly concerned about replacing Brown and Bell’s production on the field. He reminded reporters that the Steelers last year had a Pro Bowl receiver (JuJu Smith-Schuster) and Pro Bowl running back (James Conner) who are still on the team.