PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — In back to back years, the Steelers could see Hines Ward and Mike Wallace leave Pittsburgh. That would leave Antonio Brown as the last star receiver on the team, and it’s a role that he doesn’t take lightly.

“We gotta do what we gotta do,” Brown told KDKA-TV Sports on a recent visit to Children’s Hospital. “Guys like myself gotta step up.”

Brown plans to take more of a leadership role this year, and that includes off the field as well.

That was the biggest reason Brown paid a visit to the ninth floor at Children’s.

“It’s very humbling to see a kid go through that,” Brown told KDKA, “and any time I can get out and give support, I hope it makes a difference.”

Brown has become a part of the Pittsburgh community, and it’s a place he’d like to stay for the rest of his career, even if it meant sacrificing salary.

“I’d sacrifice whatever it’d take,” Brown told KDKA. “I know how special it is to be here…I always say I want to finish what I start, and wouldn’t it be great to finish my career here. [It’d be] something special.

“You don’t want to be a journey guy in this league. You want to stay in one place, and have people know that’s where you’re gonna be,” Brown said. “You don’t want to bounce around the league and have people say you were good for a little bit, chasing that with no respect for game. I respect this game and love this game, and know I’m part of something bigger than me.

“I definitely feel the specialness of me being here and I appreciate that fact,” he added.

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