Long removed from a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, former All-Pro wide receiver, Antonio Brown is making headlines once again. It may actually interest Steeler Nation that the controversial Pro Bowler finally addressed a long-time question and theory that many fans have been wondering for quite some time now. Hosted by Patrick Bet-Davis, Brown took to the PBD Podcast this week and spoke about the infamous hit in 2016 by former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, Vontaze Burfict. The play came during an AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paycor Stadium, knocking Brown out cold.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown (#84) is comforted by teammates Markus Wheaton (#11) and Ramon Foster (#73) after a vicious hit by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, Vontaze Burfict (#55). | Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Via 93.7 The Fan, Bet-Davis asked Brown:
"You're saying you're the same person you were before that hit and after that hit?"
Brown responded:
"That's what I'm saying." He continued. "You try to take me back to a moment that you think got me acting this way.""I won a Super Bowl, the best player that you guys call the G.O.A.T. [Tom Brady] called me to come help him win the Super Bowl, I'm the number one receiver in the Steelers' history."
Brown was quick to disregard the idea of a change in his behavior based on the Burfict hit, and followed the above statements by addressing the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) rumors as well:
"People are saying I have CTE, but this is the same thing that's killing players, we have players that recently just died from this issue." Brown continued. "The same thing I walked off the field for, that I didn't want to get CTE, it's the same thing they put on me I got CTE to crazy."
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Since 2016, Brown has been benched by the Steelers (eventually being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders), made headlines refusing to wear the NFL's new helmet in 2019, and missed workouts with the Raiders (was fined $54k). He requested a release later in 2019 (eventually being picked up by the New England Patriots), was sued for sexual assault (later led to being released by Patriots), was suspended eight games in 2020, finally debuting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November 2020.
He then got suspended for supplying the NFL with a fake vaccination card in 2021, took off his jersey and ran off the field at MetLife Stadium at the beginning of 2022, was caught "exposing" himself at a hotel pool in Dubai back in October, while also being accused of a fake jewelry scam shortly after. All this to be named just to give yinz an example of the pattern we've seen with Brown since the hit.
Brown has played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL, garnering 928 receptions, 12,291 receiving yards, and 88 receiving touchdowns. He also added 187 punt returns for 1,761 yards. He's a Super Bowl champion, a 4x First Team All-Pro, 1x Second Team All-Pro, and a 7x Pro Bowler. Not to mention, he's been the NFL's receiving yards and receptions leader twice each. Those are all Hall of Fame level numbers, but of course, his off-the-field antics may be the one thing that keeps him out of induction in Canton, Ohio.
So what do yinz think? Has Brown's behavior gotten progressively worse since 2016? Make sure to check out his interview with former Steelers safety, Ryan Clark from earlier this year. Great insight on possibly where things even began to spiral sooner for Brown.
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