Pittsburgh Steelers

Tomlin's message to frustrated Antonio Brown: Worry about rings, not stats

Published Oct. 20, 2015 12:40 a.m. ET

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Less than a week after Steelers receiver Antonio Brown expressed his frustration for his decline production, head coach had a different message for his star wideout -- go get some rings. 

Brown has now gone three straight games with fewer than 10 targets for the first time since 2013, according to PennLive.com. He pointed to Mike Vick's conservative tendencies in a new offense as the main reason for the lack of passes coming his way. 

Brown had just three catches for 45 yards in Sunday's win over Arizona, a game in which Vick left in favor of Landry Jones in the third quarter due to injury. Brown has just 11 receptions for 111 yards in Vick's three starts. He caught 11 balls for 108 yards in his last game with starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. While Brown surely can't wait for Roethlisberger to return, Tomlin said Brown should worry more about winning championships than his stat line.

"It's uncomfortable for him, no doubt. It's obvious," Tomlin said per PennLive.com. "He's got a great rapport with Ben Roethlisberger and Ben's not playing. What are we going to do to win the game? When you're hunting what he's hunting, his career will be defined on how many Lombardis he contributes to our stash."

Brown hasn't been to the Super Bowl since his rookie season in 2010 when the Steelers lost to Green Bay. Tomlin inferred that Brown's career will be incomplete if he doesn't earn a ring. 

"He realizes he's seen everything he's going to see in professional football, from an individual recognition and accolades standpoint," Tomlin said. "He's got to get a ring and that's what I've been talking about through some of this."

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