Perhaps he's looking ahead for a big payday when he becomes a free agent. Aside from his (lack of) production, he really screwed himself with that one year suspension. He won't hit free agency until 2019.
Bryant has been getting plenty of snaps but he's on pace for lower number than last year.
2017 Snap Counts
Wk 1 -- 50 -- 83%
Wk 2 -- 47 -- 64%
Wk 3 -- 45 -- 70%
Wk 4 -- 48 -- 63%
Wk 5 -- 62 -- 78%
Opponent - Targets - Receptions - Yards - YPC - Catch % - Yards/Target
Wk 1 at Cle ----- 6 ---------- 2 ----- 14 ----- 7.0 ----- 33% ----- 2.3
Wk 2 vs Min --- 4 ---------- 3 ----- 91 ----- 30.3 ---- 75% ----- 22.8 ----- 1 TD
Wk 3 at Chi ---- 8 ---------- 2 ----- 30 ----- 15.0 ---- 25% ----- 3.8
Wk 4 at Bal ---- 5 ---------- 3 ----- 48 ----- 16.0 ---- 60% ----- 9.6
Wk 5 vs Jax ---- 8 --------- 5 ------ 21 ----- 4.2 ------ 63% ----- 2.6
Wk 6 at KC ---- 3 ---------- 2 ----- 27 ----- 13.5 ----- 67% ----- 9.0
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2017 Totals --- 34 -------- 17 ----- 231 ---- 13.6 ----- 50% ----- 6.8 ----- 1 TD
On pace for --- 90 -------- 45 ---- 616 ---- 13.6 ----- 50% ----- 6.8 ----- 2.7 TD
So the Steelers are averaging 6.8 yards every time they throw the ball to Bryant, with 50% of the passes to him dropping incomplete for no gain. By comparison Le'Veon Bell 5.6 yards per carry today, and Antonio Brown averaged 15.5 yards per target.
Martavis Bryant reportedly requests trade, but Steelers plan to keep him
Source confirms Steelers WR Martavis Bryant has requested a trade, as [Rapoport] reported. Request was made weeks ago, source says. Bryant spoke with Steelers coaches ahead of Week 5 game, asking to be more involved in the offense. He's upset with target share distribution and sub packages that swap him out for rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. Bryant returned this year from a one-year drug suspension and is signed through 2018.
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Early indications are the Steelers do not plan on trading Martavis Bryant, according to sources, one of which was pretty adamant. Perhaps that can change closer to trade deadline, but seems unlikely. They still value him.
Bryant sounds like he would prefer to be the number one receiver on a team with a losing record, to having a supporting role on a playoff team. Good luck with that...
