Ex-Steeler: Roethlisberger, Brown have 'love-hate relationship'

The current drama surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and receiver Antonio Brown has been brewing for years, according to those who have been in the locker room.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke with nearly 20 current or former Steelers players to learn what caused the current chasm between Brown and his team.

Many of those teammates shared that most of the frustration originates from years of leniency shown to Brown, as he's been allowed to arrive late for meetings and have special living arrangements during training camp. Others pointed to Brown's partnership with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

"They've got a love-hate relationship - they'd love each other and hate each other at times, like all relationships," said former Steelers wideout Markus Wheaton.

"It's usually a misunderstanding - something Ben did set A.B. off, or A.B. did that set Ben off. But they would get through it, and then it's hugs and touchdowns."

The duo connected on a league-leading 15 touchdowns this season, but a reported incident during practice ahead of the team's must-win Week 17 game led to Brown being made inactive for the contest.

Brown and Roethlisberger have had well-documented disputes, including when the quarterback blamed his receiver for a play that resulted in a game-ending interception against the Denver Broncos in Week 12.

"We just know they are heated at each other," linebacker Bud Dupree said. "It's not Coach Tomlin, but two grown men ... butting heads."

However, another player who chose to remain anonymous downplayed the problems between the two.

"Ben and A.B. talk more than a lot of people on the team ... I've never seen the dynamic between these two (that's demonstrative)," the player told Fowler. "If anything, Ben is really easy on him and always blames himself when a mistake happens between the two."

Brown has yet to speak publicly about the Week 17 incident. Team president Art Rooney II said Wednesday that there is still "some work to do" before determining how the team will proceed with Brown.

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