By WFAN.com
The Jets are reportedly out of the Antonio Brown sweepstakes.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Gang Green is no longer among the teams pursuing a trade for the disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver. The Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos have also bowed out, Rapoport reported.
The report also said that the Steelers have begun telling teams "this is moving quickly and to give their best offers ASAP." According to Rapoport, the Oakland Raiders have consistently be engaged. On Wednesday, he tweeted that three new teams have entered the picture.
The Antonio Brown sweepstakes are heating up: Sources say the #Steelers have begun telling teams that this is moving quickly and to give their best offers ASAP. This could wrap up soon. 3 new teams have jumped in the last 48 hours. Meanwhile, #Jets, #AZCardinals are out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2019Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that a Brown trade is expected by Friday.
Other reports have linked the Titans and Redskins to the seven-time Pro Bowler. If Brown is still on the Steelers on March 17, they'll owe him a $2.5 million roster bonus.
Teams that have spoken to the Steelers about a potential Antonio Brown trade have been told that a deal is expected to be in place by Friday, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2019Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Jets had made contact with the Steelers about Brown.
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When asked last week at the NFL combine about Brown, Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said, "My policy is I pretty much call everybody at some point in time, about every name that flies out there, just to see."
Brown has asked for a trade after his relationship with the Steelers went south last season. After reportedly getting into an altercation with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during practice, Brown skipped the team's walkthrough before the season finale, was benched for the game and then left the stadium at halftime.
In nine seasons in Pittsburgh, Brown caught 837 passes for 11,207 yards with 79 touchdowns. Last year, he had 104 receptions for 1,297 yards with a league-leading 15 TDs.
