The Antonio Brown trade saga may or may not be closer to the end than the beginning, but it sure seems like both Brown and the Steelers are going to continue getting their shots in for as long as it goes on. Just a few days after Brown appeared on an episode of LeBron James' HBO show The Shop and discussed his reported feud with Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin, and others, Brown is now out with an ESPN interview in which he discusses the fact that he does not actually need football.

"I don't even have to play football if I don't want. I don't even need the game. I don't need to prove nothing to anyone," Brown told ESPN's Jeff Darlington. "If they wanna play, they going to play by my rules. If not, I don't need to play. Obviously, I want the game, but I don't need the game. It's a difference."

Brown, whose trade demand was first reported by CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, is clearly done with the Steelers, at least in his mind. The Steelers have the beginnings of a trade market beginning to heat up with as many as three teams showing heavy interest in Brown. There are views in some circles that Brown continuing to trash his longtime team as he's on his way out may depress the market for his services, but that's actually better for the team acquiring him as it would mean they don't have to surrender as much to get Brown into the fold. That's not great news for the Steelers, though, as they continue to want a premium for one of the best receivers in the league.