Welcome to the terrible take a daily segment telling Steelers nation what's on our mind.

I'm Alex Kizora.

The news of the day Tuesday was San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon IUC officially requesting a trade following months of speculation and negotiation.

So is IUC really on the way out?

Potentially. That's a real possibility, but it is hardly a guarantee.

Flashback to teammate and fellow wide receiver, Debo Samuel, just a few years ago.

Perhaps his situation didn't feel quite as messy,

but it was the same general framework,

a long contract dispute, a trade request,

and Samuel ultimately signed a deal to stay. So this stance is not over even as Ayuk looks to leave the floor. It's just part of the leverage Ayuk holds.

Asking for a trade is pulling his biggest card but it's nothing a couple

extra million from the 49ers can't fix. Now don't expect John Lynch and company to cave

and give in right away. This is a situation poised to last well into training camp.

The Niners will use their leverage of fines and the right and ability to keep him as

incentive for IU to buckle.

Ultimately, even after this request, we're still no closer to answering the question whether IU

spends 2024 in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, or somewhere else.

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