The Pittsburgh Steelers won Sunday to move to 5-2 on the season, but disgruntled receiver Martavis Bryant threw a tantrum after the game on social media. Then on Monday, he reportedly didn’t show up for required team meetings, calling in sick instead.
Martavis Bryant did not show up for required steelers meetings monday. "Called in sick" one teammate said
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) October 23, 2017
Spoke to his agent Tom Santanello, who said Bryant went to the doctor this morning. https://t.co/FnTSgFYz0h
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2017
Pittsburgh is winning, and while the rest of the team is working on coming together for a common cause, Bryant is sniffling in the corner because he’s not getting the stats he feels he deserves.
So far this season, the receiver has managed to catch just 18 passes (on 36 targets) for 234 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster — the subject of Bryant’s ire on his Instagram account — has caught 17 passes (on 27 targets) for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
And remember, this is a guy who’s been suspended for the better portion of half his career due to failed drug tests. The Steelers did not abandon him, and now that he’s reinstated he’s not the focal point of the offense and he’s throwing a fit?
This is toxic stuff, and it’s not going to help Bryant’s cause going forward. Even if the Steelers did want to trade him, as he’s requested in the past, other teams might not be interested after the stuff he’s pulled recently. Attitude means a lot in the NFL, and right now Bryant has a bad one.