Roethlisberger, Not Tomlin or Brown, Favored to Leave Steelers First

• A winless start has stoked drama in Pittsburgh
• Ben Roethlisberger is under contract in Pittsburgh thru the 2019 season
• Brown’s absence from practice is being viewed as a challenge to Tomlin’s authority

The 2018 NFL season opened amid great optimism for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defending AFC North champions kicked off the new campaign perched among the favorites on the Super Bowl odds. But after going winless through the first two weeks of the campaign, all is not well in Steeltown.

The team remains without star running back Le’Veon Bell as he continues to hold out for a contract extension, while cryptic tweets and unexplained absences from practice by Antonio Brown have stoked speculation as to whether the two-time NFL receiving yards leader will be traded.

Odds to Be the First to Leave the Steelers

The ongoing drama has raised questions as to whether long-time Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has lost the room. But despite the intense pressure on Tomlin, and his +1600 odds to be the first NFL coach fired this season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has emerged as the favorite to lead the way out the door in Pittsburgh, pegged at +100.

Big Ben Pegged as Favorite to be First to Leave Pittsburgh

Roethlisberger has enjoyed a spectacular 15-year career with the Steelers, leading the team to a pair of Super Bowl titles while rewriting the franchise record book as the most prolific passer in team history.

Ben Roethlisberger Career Stats

The 36-year-old got off to a shaky start this season, throwing a trio of interceptions in the Steelers’ 21-21 tie with the Cleveland Browns, but rebounded last weekend with a three-touchdown performance in a 42-37 loss to Kansas City.

While Roethlisberger has seen his NFL MVP odds dip to +4000, he currently sits second in the NFL with 787 passing yards and 62 completions. With his current contract set to expire at the end of next season, offseason speculation about Big Ben’s playing future continues to linger. However, with limited alternatives under center to turn to should Big Ben leave town, and the team still perched as +150 favorites on the AFC North futures, a healthy Roethlisberger remains in control of his own destiny.

Ongoing Drama Threatens Tomlin’s Job Security

The same cannot be said for coach Tomlin, who currently sits as +150 wager to leave Pittsburgh ahead of Roethlisberger and Brown. Now in his 12th campaign as the Steelers’ bench boss, Tomlin has led the team to nine winning seasons and a Super Bowl victory, and remains under contract through the 2020 season.

Mike Tomlin Coaching Record

Brown Challenges Tomlin, Fires Up Trade Speculation

But the 46-year-old’s reputation as a player’s coach is now under threat. In addition to his inability to convince Bell to end his holdout before the start of the season, Brown’s unauthorized absence from practice earlier this week has been viewed as a direct challenge to Tomlin’s authority.

Trade me let’s find out https://t.co/4OeepI78zy

— Antonio Brown (@AB84) September 17, 2018

Brown’s delinquency comes on the heels of tweet by the star receiver following last week’s loss to the Chiefs that suggested he would be open to a trade, fueling +400 odds that he would be the first to leave the squad. Upon his return to practice, Brown publicly reiterated his desire to play in Pittsburgh, where he has compiled over 1400 receiving yards on four occasions, and remains under contract through 2021.

Antonio Brown Career Stats

However, the future of the Steelers trio will most likely be determined by the team’s performance on the field as they prepare for a stretch of six games that will set the tone for the remainder of their season. Five of those dates come against teams that finished outside the playoff picture last season, including four clashes with AFC North rivals.