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Steelers' Antonio Brown Rips Emmanuel Sanders, Bruce Arians in Twitter Rant

Rob Goldberg@TheRobGoldbergX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJanuary 16, 2019

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians greet each other before an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown doesn't appreciate the disrespect he has seen from those previously close to him.

After former Steelers offensive coordinator and new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians questioned how much Brown has changed, the receiver responded on Twitter:

Antonio Brown @AB84

He didn’t draft me he drafted @ESanders_10 same guy who missed rehab to go on networks to talk about me on situation he have zero clue! Arians now wears kangoo hats n glasses 😂 but ima diva! Done seen it all then they say we friends stop lien https://t.co/jALXyhQMAw

"There's too much miscommunication, too much...diva," Arians said Tuesday on The Adam Schefter Podcast (via ESPN.com).

Arians was with Pittsburgh in 2010 when Brown was drafted in the sixth round. Fellow receiver Emmanuel Sanders was taken by the team in the same draft three rounds earlier.

Sanders also had harsh words for Brown when discussing the situation on NFL Network last week:

NFL Network @nflnetwork

How does the AB situation play out in Pittsburgh? Our crew looked at it from all angles ⬇️ (via @NFLGameDay + @ESanders_10) https://t.co/0nwFwuPxGo

"Antonio brought it on himself," Sanders said. "You cannot turn your back on your brothers and the organization who gave you an opportunity to make you who you are as a football player."

While both receivers were drafted the same year, Brown quickly showed he was the more talented one and remained with the team, while Sanders left for the Denver Broncos in 2014. It appears the two are no longer close.

Sanders responded to this criticism on Twitter:

Emmanuel Sanders @ESanders_10

@AB84 😂😂😂😂 you know damn well I didn’t travel to LA to talk about you fam. You trippin yo. I went to be a analyst in which you acting foolish was the topic and I gave my analytical opinion. Get off the gas yo. You did it to yourself

Brown also noted his disappointment in how fans and the organization have responded:

Antonio Brown @AB84

Clearly they feel indifferent about me seeing all these reports the big interview coming! watching my teammates, fans and organization show me how they really feel! Stay Woke https://t.co/CSHNsVI74Q

He added Wednesday that an interview is "coming," when he will presumably tell his side of the story.

Owner Art Rooney II already indicated the player's time with the Steelers has likely come to an end, saying it's "hard to envision" Brown being on the team next year, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rooney noted that outside of releasing Brown, "all other options are on the table."

While much of the blame has been placed on the receiver, the seven-time Pro Bowler still believes he is in the right.