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Pittsburgh Steelers contacted by three teams over trade for Antonio Brown

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Image: Antonio Brown wants to move on from the Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers have been contacted by three teams regarding a trade for wide receiver Antonio Brown, according to general manager Kevin Colbert.

Brown, whose future with the organisation has been in doubt since he controversially missed the Steelers' Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, met with owner Art Rooney in Florida on Tuesday and agreed it was time for him to "move on" from Pittsburgh.

Colbert, who has confirmed the Steelers are willing to listen to trade offers for Brown, confirmed interested teams have already been in contact about the seven-time Pro Bowler.

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"We've had, I'd say, three teams that have touched base with us and we'll see how that grows," Colbert told NFL Network.

"I think that'll unfold over these next few weeks as teams get better perspective of what else there is available to them."

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert wants fair value for Antonio Brown
Image: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert wants fair value for Antonio Brown

Since the Steelers have declared their willingness to move Brown, reports have emerged that the team would prefer to trade him to an NFC team, and particularly not to an AFC North rival or the New England Patriots.

Colbert confirmed the Steelers will be judicious with where they send Brown, if he is traded.

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"I mean, when you're trading away a player like this who could determine your own record and your own Super Bowl potential, of course you want to not trade him to teams that might be a factor," Colbert said.

"But if those teams step up and say, 'Look, we'll give you the best picks or the best players,' then we have to make that judgment.

"OK, yeah, they're a competitor, but what they're giving us far exceeds what these other folks are willing to do. So will we be selective? It depends on what the compensation is."

Colbert also addressed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's role as a leader in the Steelers locker room, after Brown said he had "an owner's mentality".

Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown
Image: Ben Roethlisberger has an owner's mentality, according to Antonio Brown

"Ben doesn't have the authority of the head coach," Colbert said. "Coach [Mike] Tomlin is in charge of this team over anybody, especially once they get into that locker room and those meeting rooms and on the field.

"And Ben of course respects that more than anybody. Is he going to say some things to some players outside of that? Sure, as he should.

"He's the leader, and we respect that. But in no means is anybody in charge of this team except Coach Tomlin once they get into the field and into the practice situations.

"I was referencing the younger players on our team and their lack of experience in a Super Bowl-winning environment.

"Ben is the only one that can say that he has done that. So I think there's tremendous value in that. Does that mean that we got a bunch of juveniles or anything like that? No, of course not.

"We got some really good veteran players like a Cam Heyward or a Maurkice Pouncey, who are unquestionable leaders as well, but they're still not the Super Bowl-winning type of player that Ben Roethlisberger is.

"And that's why he is and will continue to be the unquestioned leader of this team and I still think it would be valuable for all of our players to recognise that.

"And not only ask Ben about that experience but also try to help him get us all back to that Super Bowl win."

Sky Sports coverage of the NFL will continue through the off-season as we track the player moves and the storylines in the build-up to the 100th year of the NFL - and we will have all three days of the NFL Draft covered in April.

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