Play me or else, warns Steelers receiver Bryant

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Tuesday urged the club to make more use of him or allow him to be traded before next week's deadline.

Bryant on Sunday triggered speculation about his future after requesting a trade in a post on Instagram which was later deleted.

It came after the 25-year-old had caught just one pass for three yards during the Steelers' 29-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bryant then failed to show for team meetings in Pittsburgh on Monday citing an illness.

On Tuesday he told ESPN he simply wanted to be used more by the Steelers offense.

"I just want to be happy, whether it's here or it's somewhere else," Bryant told the network.

"I just want to help contribute. I just want to be the best player that I can on and off the field, and I want to be given the chance to be that. But I would like for it to be here. If not, then, oh well. Just got to move on."

The deadline for trades is October 31. Bryant said he hoped to discuss his future with Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin this week.

"I feel like it is necessary for me to talk to everyone," Bryant said. "I mean, I'm going to sit down and whoever wants to talk to me, I will talk to them and tell them how I feel."

Bryant missed all of the 2016 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He was also suspended for four games in 2015 for the same offense.

source: AFP