New Truth On Steelers' Brandon Aiyuk Trade Offers from San Francisco

If the Brandon Aiyuk trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers never happens, there will be those who will blame the club for "failing'' to pull off the blockbuster.

But there is a "new truth'' here as word is the San Francisco 49ers are now shutting down phone calls for the moment while, as NFL.com puts it, "making a renewed effort" to sign Aiyuk to the long-term contract that he's been pushing for all offseason long.

To be sure: We're not saying some Niners deal is done. We're not saying Aiyuk to the Steelers is dead.

But as colleague Tom Pelissero asserts that it's "increasingly possible" that Aiyuk returns to The Bay?

"The 49ers have made a renewed effort in recent days to strike a long-term deal with WR Brandon Aiyuk, sources (say),'' the NFL.com reporter writes. "The situation is fluid and other teams, including Pittsburgh, are still in the mix. But a return to SF appears increasingly possible.''

Fine. But consider this: The 49ers balked at Aiyuk's request (likely at least $30 million APY) and then shopped him, fully ready to trade him to another team. ...

And then they asked for a first-round pick and a star player in return?

The "new truth'' is that a Niners request of that sort does not represent "seriousness'' in negotiations; that price would be near the highest cost ever for a receiver ... as players far superior to Aiyuk have been swapped for far less.

At some point, the Steelers have to say "no'' to excessive demands from the Niners. And maybe they just did.