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Antonio Brown Says Farewell To Steelers With Twitter Video, Despite No Movement In Trade Talks

By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Antonio Brown is ready to do what he wants. In the big picture, that means getting out of Pittsburgh. In the short term, it means posting a really cool video attached to a farewell message on Twitter.

The all-world receiver said bon voyage to "SteelerNation" on Tuesday, saying it's "time to move on and move forward." The accompanying video includes the repeated line, "Now I do what I want."

As far as farewell videos go, that's some pretty cool stuff.

Only ... there's a slight problem with Brown's goodbye message.

He's not actually gone yet.

Immediately after Brown tweeted the video and message, the NFL's information distributors jumped into action to try to discover if a trade was developing or if Brown was going to be released soon. Unanimously, the reporters (all likely contacting the same source) all said that no such movement was coming.

Got it.

Ultimately, it seems as though the Steelers will be left with no choice but to trade the 30-year-old, who led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions last season and led the league in receiving yards the year prior.

The bizarre scenario just works to accentuate what was a disastrous year for the Steelers organization. The team was upset at home in the divisional round of the 2017 playoffs against the Jaguars, essentially froze out and lost in-his-prime All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell for the season over contract disagreements, inexplicably missed the postseason despite a 7-2-1 record through 10 weeks, and now stands to lose their All-Pro receiver after he reportedly chucked footballs at teammates and then more or less skipped the team's must-win Week 17 game.

What a mess.

Antonio Brown, Julian Edelman
Antonio Brown and Julian Edelman attend the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Where it goes from here is anybody's guess, but one Hall of Fame receiver is willing to offer some advice.

We can only hope it gets to that point.

You can email Michael Hurley or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.

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