Pittsburgh Steelers

Richard Sherman tells TMZ Sports if Antonio Brown is REALLY wanting to join the Niners ... he doesn't think it'd be a mistake, saying his time in S.F. has been great so far.

A.B.'s on his way out of Pittsburgh after causing tons of drama this past season ... and Jerry Rice says the All-Pro wideout wants to play next for the 49ers, "really bad."

So, when we saw Sherm hitting up Catch in L.A. on Thursday night, we had to ask if he'd welcome the WR with open arms.

"Good luck to him," the defensive back told us -- and when asked if he had advice to Brown added, "Go wherever makes you happy."

Of course, Sherman signed with the 49ers last March after a legendary career with the Seattle Seahawks -- and, despite the 4-12 record, Sherman says he's enjoying his experience in San Fran.

Besides being a superstar on the field, Sherman is also advocating for lifetime health insurance coverage for NFL players ... so, we asked how that fight is going too.

Jerry Rice says he had a long talk with Antonio Brown about his NFL future -- and the guy REALLY wants to play for the San Francisco 49ers.

"He wants to come here really bad," Rice said on the "Joe, Lo & Dibs" show on 95.7 The Game.

"He's talking about running the hills with me, doing all that and just working out ... you know, just picking my brain."

Of course, A.B. is on his way outta Steel City after his recent antics led Steelers owner Art Rooney to say last week it's "hard to envision" the WR coming back in 2019.

But, Rice says the Niners NEED to step in and trade for the wideout -- guaranteeing Brown will behave -- and flourish -- if he's given the opportunity in S.F.

"I would be looking forward to just passing some of that knowledge on to him, and being around this guy, because I know he's a great individual."

"If it was left up to me, he would be here in a heartbeat."

Seems Jerry's got a pretty strong finger on A.B.'s pulse -- the two talk often ... and Brown even has a painting of Rice up in his home gym.

And, per Jerry, Antonio's a stand-up guy that would only make the Niners better.

"I don't know what happened in Pittsburgh. But, I know that if this guy comes here to San Francisco, he's going to do everything possible to help this team to win."

The times they are a-changin' ... which is why a legendary NFL wide receiver thinks Julio Jones and Antonio Brown should team up to win it all.

TMZ Sports got Cowboys HOF'er Michael Irvin outside of Catch in Weho Friday night, and he tells us he'd like to see the Falcons WR and the Pittsburgh WR -- who's on the outs with the Steelers -- get together to win a Super Bowl ... because neither one of 'em has won anything yet.

We broke the story ... Jones rejected the notion of A.B. coming to Atlanta, saying his team was good as is. But, Irvin thinks if LeBron can hook up with D. Wade, and Durant can hook up with Steph to get a ring ... Julio should be a little more open to the idea.

Antonio Brown clearly ain't sweatin' his Pittsburgh issues one bit ... 'cause dude was smokin' stogies with Chad Ochocinco on Friday and saying he's, "still excited to play the game."

A.B.'s been surrounded in Steelers drama the last few weeks ... fighting with teammates and coaches and looking like he's on the verge of being traded very soon.

But, if you think Brown's sweatin' all that beef ... you're wrong -- 'cause dude was chillin' with Ochocinco for happy hour Friday and sayin' he's fired up for his 2019 season already.

"Yes, I'm 31 and I'm still excited to play the game. I'm motivated, inspired, encouraged."

As for where that season will be played ... Steelers owner Art Rooney said Thursday it'd be "hard to envision" seeing it in Pittsburgh.

Does that mean San Francisco, Oakland or even Miami are all possibilities? Perhaps ... all A.B.'s sayin', for now, is he's willing to listen to anybody that wants him.

"Stay by the phone. My phone line's open."

How dope would a 1-2 punch of Julio Jones and Antonio Brown look in Atlanta?!?!

Not that dope ... according to Julio himself -- who tells TMZ Sports he and the Falcons actually don't want to see that at all.

"Nah, man. We tight over here. We good over here."

Of course, the pairing will be possible in what appears to be a matter of days ... seeing as A.B.'s antics have pretty much ended his time in the Steel City.

But, don't expect Julio to openly recruit the stud wideout to the Falcons once that happens ... 'cause when we got Julio out in L.A. -- he seemed to want no part of it.

Why?? Sure seems like Jones thinks the baggage Brown would bring to the locker room wouldn't be worth his insane production on the field.

As for the guys currently on Julio's team ... Jet spoke with us about Steve Sarkisian's firing and what he expects to see from new OC Dirk Koetter.

Antonio Brown's time in Pittsburgh appears all but over ... 'cause Steelers owner Art Rooney II doesn't expect the NFL superstar to be on the team next season.

A.B.'s been at the center of controversy in Steel City after getting into heated exchanges with teammates, skipping practice, getting benched for a crucial game during a playoff push AND reportedly requesting a trade ... just to name a few incidents.

Rooney says the team will NOT cut Brown, but made it very clear the Steelers aren't afraid to move on from their top receiver ... and said it would be "hard to envision" he's with the team come training camp in July.

"There’s not much we can do right now. We have time to make a decision,” Rooney told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“We’ll look at all the options. We’re not going to release him, that’s not on the table. But I will say all other options are on the table."

Rooney isn't completely shutting the door on reconciling with Brown ... he thinks making up is possible, but unlikely.

Antonio Brown might want out ... but here's one guy who REALLY wants to be on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster next season -- ex-Browns backup QB Brogan Roback!!!

You remember Brogan from this season's "Hard Knocks" ... he busted his ass behind Baker Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor in the preseason. And then, he famously took his smokin' hot GF to a butterfly garden.

Yeah, she's insanely hot.

It didn't work out for Brogan in CLE ... but the former Eastern Michigan star got a bunch of workouts with other teams after getting cut and ultimately signed a reserve/futures deal with Pittsburgh.

We spoke with Roback and you can tell he's SUPER excited about his shot in the Steel City -- telling TMZ Sports he's laser-focused on making that roster.

"I want to help in any way I can. If that's practice, do cards, whatever it may be. I just want to be able to prove myself."

He added, "[Making] that roster is the biggest thing. This is a dream."

Brogan says he's grateful to have an entire offseason to learn the Steelers playbook and promises to study like crazy so he's prepared for camp.

Shannon Sharpe just went scorched earth on Ben Roethlisberger ... saying the QB is a "terrible leader" who's the problem in Pittsburgh 'cause he's "a finger pointing, divisive, selfish player."

Of course, seems Big Ben would disagree ... 'cause the Steelers superstar said on a radio appearance this week that Le'Veon Bell deserves blame for Pitt's demise this season.

"It hurts you when you don’t have one of the better players in the game,” Roethlisberger said ... “but I think the biggest thing that hurts us was that it was a distraction."

Sharpe couldn't believe the QB went after the team's star running back ... so Sharpe blasted HIM for being the real problem in Pittsburgh.

"Big Ben is terrible leader. He’s a finger pointing, divisive, selfish player. Who constantly looks for someone to blame or throw under the bus for his shortcomings," Sharpe said on Twitter.

"Le’veon situation was the prob now. Le’veon wasn’t the reason 7-2-1, but the problem for missing playoffs. FOH"

Ben does own two Super Bowl rings and is destined for the Hall of Fame -- but Sharpe ain't alone in criticizing the QB's leadership.

Ben has taken heat from many recently -- especially after he seems to be one of the key reasons Antonio Brown is beefing with the team.

Antonio Brown is gunning for G.O.A.T. status -- and he's starting with a sick new diamond ring!

Check out AB's new jewelry ... 6.5 carats, 1,000 diamonds and some serious meaning behind it.

Here's what we know ... the Steelers WR hit up Gabriel the Jeweler -- who works with superstars like Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry -- and said he wanted a custom piece to symbolize his quest to become the greatest receiver to ever play.

Gabriel tells TMZ Sports ... he spent countless hours blingin' out the ring with 1,000 micro-pave set VVS diamonds -- explaining, "it's a very precise job."

If you've seen A.B. before ... you've seen Gabriel's work. He's the guy behind Brown's $200,000 gold and diamond birthday pendant, which features the names of Brown's children.

Gabriel was tight-lipped on how much Brown dropped for the G.O.A.T. ring ... but we're told it's valued at $20k!

The Pittsburgh Steelers' season rests on the Cleveland Browns beating the Ravens this weekend ... which is why Antonio Brown just became the new LEADER OF THE DAWG POUND, BABY!!!

Yeah, they're divisional rivals ... but forget all that, AB knows he needs Baker Mayfield and company to shut down Terrell Suggs or they can kiss the playoffs g'bye!

So, Antonio decided to make some slight tweaks to his Steelers jersey to show his commitment -- changing the name on the back from "Brown" to "BROWNS."

The WR posted pics of his gear on social media with the caption, "Who else has their #84 browns jersey ready for this weekend?"

Of course ... even if Cleveland takes care of business in Baltimore -- the Steelers still gotta beat the Bengals to get to the playoff party.

Sounds pretty easy ... but Pitt has lost 4 of its last 5 games -- so anything can go down Sunday.

Saints superstar Cameron Jordan says there's NO WAY IN HELL Ben Roethlisberger is a Hall of Famer ... saying the Steelers stud ain't even a top 5 QB of this era.

"I'd honestly put Eli before I put Ben," Cam says.

The piping hot take came straight from the Saints' locker room this week ... when Jordan scoffed at a reporter's insinuation that Big Ben is a surefire HOFer.

"Is that true?! Really?! In this era, you'd put him at like a top three of this era?! A top five of this era?!"

Cam certainly doesn't think so ... saying he'd have Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers AND Eli Manning over the Pittsburgh superstar.

It's a smoldering take from the New Orleans pass rusher -- who just made his fourth Pro Bowl -- 'cause most not only have Ben as a Hall of Famer, but a 1st-ballot one at that.

Big Ben is a two-time Super Bowl champ, a six-time Pro Bowler AND owns a career 143-68-1 record as a starter.

Best news for all of us?? Ben gets to face off against Cam in a must-win game this weekend ... and will have every opportunity to prove Jordan wrong then.

James Harrison says it ain't just Big Ben and the Steelers' D causing problems in Pittsburgh ... 'cause the legendary LB tells TMZ Sports it's time start pointing fingers at Mike Tomlin as well.

"I think now, a lot of it has to be put on to what the game plan is -- the coaching."

Tomlin's been Teflon in Pitt -- the dude does have a Super Bowl ring -- but a lot of people ... including Terry Bradshaw himself ... have grown tired of seein' him as head man.

Doesn't seem James is quite at that point yet -- but the ex-Steeler does tell us the coaching DEFINITELY needs to improve if Pittsburgh wants to end its 3-game losing skid.

"Now it's actually where you gotta kick it in -- and EVERYBODY has to be held accountable. From the top down."

Tomlin and the staff better get going quickly ... the Steelers have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick this week.

Le'Veon Bell's locker turned into a garage sale on Wednesday ... with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates savagely raiding his things after he bailed on the season.

Bell no-showed for the league-imposed deadline on Tuesday ... which ended his 2018 season before it even started.

Players quickly found the silver lining of the situation after practice ... taking all his Jordan brand cleats and team gear.

Oh ... and a mixtape labeled "Le'Veon Bell #1," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"Appreciate the cleats, my guy," Bud Dupree said while takin' his new Js.

It's probably all in good fun ... the Stillers are 6-2-1 and James Conner is straight-up COOKIN' on the gridiron. So, it doesn't seem like there's any bad blood over there.

Steelers fans ain't the only people pissed off at Le'Veon Bell today ... here's David Spade giving up on the Pittsburgh superstar completely after he destroyed his fantasy season!!!

ICYMI ... Le'Veon's held out all year looking for a new mega-deal from the Steelers -- but decided to officially quit on the season Tuesday when he failed to report at the league-imposed deadline.

This, of course, crushed fantasy owners who not only picked Le'Veon in the first round in summer drafts -- but kept him on the bench all year waiting for his return!!

Spade happened to be one of those unlucky people ... and unleashed his hatred for the running back outside of Craig's on Tuesday night.

"I gave up on him today when the rest of the world did too," David says. "He's got to win me back!"

Le'Veon Bell ain't playing for the Steelers this year ... and maybe never again -- 'cause the All-Pro RB just missed the deadline to report to the team.

Bell -- who's been holding out since the offseason in search of a new mega-deal with Pittsburgh -- had until 1 PM PT to sign his franchise tag.

But ... the deadline came and went with no Bell to be found.

As we previously reported ... Bell's been tearin' it up on jet skis and in nightclubs during his time away from the squad -- but most, including the team's owner, expected him to be back with the team today.

Bell, though, decided against it ... and will now forfeit ALL of the $14.5 MILLION the Steelers were set to pay him this season.

It's not like Pitt's exactly crying over the move ... James Conner's been killin' it in Bell's stead -- and teammates have ripped the RB for his holdout throughout the past few months.

Cam Newton's going against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the field ... but he's standing united with the city Thursday night ... honoring the synagogue shooting victims with "Stronger than Hate" cleats.

The Panthers superstar revealed the kicks just minutes ago during pregame warm-ups ... showing a mock-up of the Steelers logo with a Star of David and the phrase "Hatred Can't Weaken a City of Steel."

Ben Roethlisberger wore similar custom cleats over the weekend against the Ravens ... and Julian Edelman showed support with a Team Israel hat from the World Baseball Classic after the Patriots game on Sunday.

As we previously reported ... an active shooter opened fire at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh during a prayer service on October 27, leaving 11 people dead in the anti-Semitic attack.