Steelers Daily Links: AB Promises He’ll Play ‘Real Soon,’ Bell Trashes Gase

Albany Empire owner and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was supposed to suit up on Saturday night, but those plans were altered due to his physical paperwork not coming in on time. National Arena League Commissioner Chris Siegfried said that since Brown’s an owner of a team, he can play without a physical. That did not happen, however, as Brown missed the game. As the owner of the team, AB admitted he could have overridden this decision, but said he wasn’t because he wanted to set a good example for his players.

“Stay tuned, AB’s coming. There’s proper procedures you’ve got to do to play football,” Brown told Rodger Wyland of WYNT.  “You’ve got to pass the coach, the commissioner. You’ve got to be in physical condition. You can’t just pop up, so I’ve got to get my feet wet. We’ve got to get the proper equipment. We’ve got to do the right thing.

“But I am going to be playing. Everything is going to fall in place. You’re going to see (No.) 84 in the stadium real soon,” he added.

The Empire once again got crushed, falling to the Fayetteville Mustangs, 49-27. The average crowd at an Empire game is 2,500 fans. However, 4,500 fans showed up on Saturday night with the expectation to see Brown in action.

🏈 Steel Here podcast: Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell didn’t hold back on just how awful of a head coach Adam Gase was. Bell said Gase confused Sam Darnold so much that he didn’t even know the proper protections. He also believes that the 2019 New York Jets team would’ve won nine games if Mike Tomlin was the head coach.

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Sam Monson of PFF has Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson ranked as the ninth-best wide receiver in the AFC.

🏈 Maurkice Pouncey posted a throwback photo on Instagram of him with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown at the Pro Bowl in 2018.

“Forever Legendary! Top Generals,” Pouncey wrote.

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