I've seen this said by several analysts after the trade. I know you are saying something different, namely that AB forced the Steelers to trade him. That is true, and I don't disagree. However, I don't understand why so few teams were interested, unless in their due diligence they found that he was too much of a locker room problem. He seemed to be fine for his first ~8 years or so.

This isn't like the situations in the NBA with Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard where they only had/have 1 year left before free agency. In that case, no team is going to trade for them unless they get an agreement from the player that they will re-sign. This obviously limits potential trading partners.

Brown is still under contract for 3 more years. Trade him to the Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Cards, whoever. Is he really going to holdout and not get paid for a year? 2 years? I doubt it.

not a coincidence that the Steelers didn't win a title with him, but did without him (same for Bell). Clark, former safety, said he was a nightmare from day one and said the instant they paid him his second contract he was totally out of control.

There were only three teams because a) not all teams need a WR, b) He's 18 million per year and not all teams have that money, c) he is an EXTREME locker room problem.

Top it off that there were multiple games where he walked off the field during the game -- not just the final game this year. He was a huge problem for the Steelers too when Ben was injured and the backup couldn't perform at the same level as Ben. Brown made it 2x as hard to win with a backup QB.

He's a great talent, but he's extremely immature, and the Steelers did nothing to reign him in - and then it was too late.