Steelers' Antonio Brown hits back on Bruce Arians, Emmanuel Sanders for criticisms

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown pushed back on two of his detractors.

Brown has been criticized for his actions late in the 2018 season, in which the Steelers said he skipped various meetings and practices before being ruled inactive for the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Steelers owner Art Rooney II said last week to say it was “hard to envision” Brown being back with the team in 2019.

On Wednesday, Brown fired back at two of his critics: Denver Broncos receiver and ex-teammate Emmanuel Sanders as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who said in an ESPN podcast that Brown had “too much diva” in his personality.

“He didn’t draft me he drafted @ESanders_10 same guy who missed rehab to go on networks to talk about me on situation he have zero clue!” Brown wrote on Twitter. “Arians now wears kangoo hats n glasses 😂 but ima diva! Done seen it all then they say we friends stop lien (sic)”

A few minutes after Brown’s tweet, Sanders – who tore his Achilles tendon in December – responded with his own.

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.

“@AB84 😂😂😂😂 you know damn well I didn’t travel to LA to talk about you fam.” Sanders posted from his verified account. “You trippin yo. I went to be a (sic) analyst in which you acting foolish was the topic and I gave my analytical opinion. Get off the gas yo. You did it to yourself”

In an appearance this weekend on NFL Network’s 'NFL GameDay Morning" show, Sanders was asked about Brown’s situation in Pittsburgh. Sanders, who played for the Steelers for four seasons, didn’t hold back in his criticisms of Brown.

“It all sounds familiar,” Sanders said on the show. “But one thing I will say, when Art Rooney came out and said that, it's pretty much he's gone, because being around the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, Art Rooney doesn't say too much, but when he says something, he means it. This situation has really, really got out of hand. It's crazy, because I don't like to see, but I feel like Antonio brought it on himself.

“You cannot turn your back on your brothers, not on the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that gave you an opportunity to make you who you are in terms of Antonio Brown the football player. And so for you to leave on a Wednesday and then have your agent call on a Sunday is the ultimate disrespect to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.”

Sanders and Brown both entered the NFL as rookies with the Steelers in 2010 and were teammates through the 2013 campaign.

Arians, who served as the Steelers' offensive coordinator from 2007-11, also criticized Brown on Tuesday.

"From afar, there's too much miscommunication, too much ... diva," Arians told ESPN. "I've heard so many stories — and I like Antonio, he plays as hard as anybody on Sunday, and he practices hard. He's just got to make better decisions off the field, be on time, do some of those little things."

Brown caught 104 passes for 1,297 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns this season in 15 games.

According to multiple reports, the meetings and practices he missed prior to the regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals stemmed from a disagreement with a teammate, which NFL Network reported was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.