First Call: Antonio Brown rips JuJu Smith-Schuster; Jets coach dismissive of Le'Veon Bell

As has been the case for most of 2019, the year couldn’t end without another day of former Steelers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell being in the headlines.

Brown couldn’t pass up one last chance to take a jab at former teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster on social media.

Boo Boo Shoester was ready under 500 U Bum learn some Respect

— AB (@AB84) December 30, 2019

I think what Brown is trying to suggest there is that anyone who thought Smith-Schuster was ready to replace him as the Steelers top receiver was wrong.

I think.

If what A.B. is attempting to express with the “500” reference is that Smith-Schuster was under 500 yards receiving, eh, he was close. JuJu had a meager 552 receiving yards. He had 1,426 a year ago when he was playing with Brown.

No one should refute Brown’s criticism of Smith-Schuster’s season. Smith-Schuster regressed. He did struggle with the role of being the lead dog of the receiving corps. Sure, he played hurt and with bad quarterbacks. But he had crucial drops and fumbles throughout the year.

However, we should question Brown’s need to be critical. Despite Brown’s vain attempt to make it sound different, Smith-Schuster wasn’t disrespectful of Brown this offseason.

Yes, Smith-Schuster tweeted a photo of himself scoring a touchdown with Brown in the background and the quote “I’m ready” back in March.

That was after Brown was traded to Oakland. It may have been a partial swipe at Brown. But it was only after three months of Brown taking much more direct and hurtful jabs at Smith-Schuster, as well as the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.

So Brown has no place calling out someone for being disrespectful.

And why lash out at Smith-Schuster anyway? How does that aid Brown’s image as a self-absorbed malcontent?

It doesn’t. He’s augmenting it, in fact.

Plus, it’s not like Smith-Schuster asked for this. He never went to the front office and said, “Trade A.B.! I want to be No. 1 around here.” It was Brown who forced his own way out of town.

Meanwhile, in New York, Bell is also having issues getting along with people.

Namely, his head coach.

In this case, though, Bell seems more swept up in the drama than actually creating it. Ever since Bell was signed by the Jets, there have been suspicions that coach Adam Gase never wanted him in the first place.

And Gase has done nothing to quell those beliefs, either in the media or based on his play calling.

Bell only had 311 touches this year. He had 406 his final year in Pittsburgh, back in 2017.

When asked about Bell’s future in New York, all Gase offered back as response was, “He’s under contract for three years. You can ask (general manager) Joe (Douglas). I’m not in charge of personnel.”

Ringing endorsement, huh? Here’s how Bell responded.

https://t.co/csolpvucXt pic.twitter.com/RFNcgQLjq5

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 30, 2019

To be fair, Gase did praise Bell for his professionalism during a tough season. And Gase promised to study Bell’s old Pittsburgh tape to figure out how to involve him more in the offense next year.

He better. Because Bell is signed for three more years and that contract may be hard to move if Gase really does want him out.

Bell never topped 87 yards rushing or 61 yards receiving in a game. That can’t be all his fault or the fault of those blocking for him. It’s got to be about how he was deployed. And Gase needs to figure it out, or Bell will be an albatross around that team.

But, hey, don’t let me stand in the way of Bell and Brown continuing to provide content from afar! I raise my champagne glass to both of them back here in Pittsburgh.

Thanks for a great year, you two. I mean, for me. After all, your years stunk!

However, you helped “Breakfast With Benz” more in your absence than you ever could’ve by staying. Here’s to what was a great 2019 thanks in large part to both of you, and here’s to an even better 2020.

Keep tweeting away!