JuJu: Steelers 'need to stop being the Kardashians and just play ball'

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is doubling down after saying on Wednesday that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to "stop all the bull-ish."

"I think everyone has to stop being divas. I think we need to stop being the Kardashians and just play ball," Smith-Schuster said on Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Steelers have long dominated headlines for off-field issues. Star running back Le'Veon Bell sat out the 2018 season after refusing to sign a franchise tag that was extended to him for a second consecutive year. He'll now become a free agent in March.

The team's focus has since shifted to wide receiver Antonio Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The two reportedly clashed on the practice field, leading to Brown skipping practices and missing the Steelers' Week 17 season finale. He's now the subject of trade rumors.

Smith-Schuster says he's learned an important lesson throughout all of this.

"Being in that locker room, I've learned a lot," he said. "I know that I would never want to be a problem to any franchise."

The Steelers' No. 62 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft was added to last week's Pro Bowl as a replacement for the injured Brown. He led Pittsburgh with 1,426 receiving yards and 111 catches in 2018, and also scored seven touchdowns.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher addressed the conflict within his former team on Wednesday, saying he hopes Brown, Roethlisberger, and head coach Mike Tomlin can get in a room and resolve their differences.

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