Dunlap: Brown Gained Zero By Commenting On Vick

Sometimes you have to speak up.

Sometimes you have to shut up.

Sometimes you end up speaking up when you should probably have shut up --- and that happened on Wednesday afternoon in the Steelers locker room.

Man, could Antonio Brown have picked a worse time?

Could Antonio Brown have selected a more inopportune time to pop off?

Couldn't Antonio Brown just, well, have kept his yap quiet?

Or, if he felt the need to talk, couldn't Antonio Brown have internalized things, kept it within the team and not put his gripe out there in public?

Just as Steelers-backup-turned-starter-because-of-injury Mike Vick is coming off of mustering the lone semblance of continuity he's shown (in the fourth quarter on Monday), one of the foremost receivers in the game felt the need to put him on blast.

Among other things, Brown --- who has seen his production dip with Vick in command --- said: "I didn't think I got the ball enough. But I always got to stay positive. Obviously, my guy is not at quarterback. Mike Vick's out there and I just think he's playing conservative to make sure we get the win."

Perhaps this comes as a newsflash to Antonio Brown, but when Ben Roethlisberger went out in that Rams game (for who knows how long) Mike Vick's paramount purpose had to be to stay within the gameplan and attempt to win football games.

There wasn't any reason for Vick to take big chances; it would be unwise for Vick to do anything but play it safe. Heck, that's why offensive coordinator Todd Haley felt the need -- because of Vick's real limits --- to install a Wildcat package for Monday's game.

And with it all, with Vick playing the part of game manager, the targets and receptions for Brown have been down.

Over the first three games, Brown was targeted 11, 11 and 13 times. During that same span he caught 9, 9 and 11 passes. Since Vick has taken over as the full-go starter the last two games, Brown has been targeted 9 and 6 times, pulling in 5 and 3 passes.

It simply is what it is --- a case of Mike Vick doing the things that he feels gives his offense the best chance at success given his limited skill set.

But, apparently, that isn't good enough for Brown. No, he wants the rock more, he needs that ball in his hands even as the Steelers are coming off a last-second win and what should be a joyous time.

And he felt the need to gripe on Wednesday.

"Some things are out of my control," Brown said.

He continued later in the conversation with: "Obviously our quarterback is not at quarterback and I think Mike Vick's just playing within the gameplan."

Here's the thing: Antonio Brown is probably more right than wrong about all he said.

He probably does need to get the ball more.

The Steelers should take more deep shots when they have a guy as electric as Brown that secondaries must deal with.

And he didn't say this, but I will because the entire football-watching world knows it: Mike Vick ain't Big Ben. It isn't even close. There is a momentous gap in the talent between the two with Roethlisberger holding a considerable edge.

But here's also some fact: That's the kind of stuff that does the Pittsburgh Steelers --- and in particular Vick --- positively no good making public in a time like this.

If Antonio Brown has a grievance with the way he's being used (again, as Vick is trying like hell to win games) then Brown should go to coach Mike Tomlin, Haley and/or Vick and express his concerns. He should also then leave it there.

There's a time and a place to say many things in life.

The time not to say anything --- especially negative --- is when you should be trying to gather confidence within Mike Vick who is, obviously, limited. And, obviously, not Ben Roethlisberger.

Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can e-mail him at colin.dunlap@cbsradio.com. Check out his bio here.

Like The Fan On Facebook
Follow The Fan On Twitter

In:
• Michael Vick
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Football
• NFL
• Antonio Brown
• Ben Roethlisberger