The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown have a complicated history. Looking back on the separation from the Steelers after the 2018 season, it is hard to say that Brown didn’t sabotage his remaining playing career and potentially the rest of his life. He was the primary target of a future Hall of Fame quarterback and had a head coach that tolerated the unusual behavior that has not only derailed his NFL career, but has led to an extended police standoff at his Tampa home.
Steelers' Antonio Brown takes vicious hit from Bengals linebacker, Vontaze Burfict. Photo Credit: ESPN
Brown’s behavior issues have often been chalked up to the hit Vontaze Burfict inflicted on him, the last time the Steelers won a playoff game in 2016. But his history of self-sabotage goes all the way back to losing his initial college scholarship to Florida International University for fighting before he played a single game. He has had issues at every stop in his football career from Central Michigan to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the CTE excuse unfortunately does not hold water. Brown may very well have CTE at this point, but his behavior can’t be explained or dismissed at this point.
The Las Vegas Raiders gave him a $30 million contract and just before they would have been obligated to pay him, he antagonized the team and forced them to cut him. He went to the New England Patriots shortly thereafter, with the caveat from the team that he would not publicly attack a woman suing him. He defied the edict from Bill Belichick and did exactly that. When he was cut by the Patriots, he attacked Robert Kraft and most observers thought he was done in the NFL at that point by that condition.
Credit: NFL on Fox
The last ally he had in the NFL, Tom Brady stuck his neck out to get him to Tampa Bay the following season and they won a Super Bowl together. Brady fractured his relationship with his new head coach Bruce Arians, who had seen Brown up close and personal in Pittsburgh and did not want a repeat engagement. The Super Bowl ring wasn’t good enough for the endlessly malcontent wide receiver and we all know what happened in 2021. His striptease walk off against the New York Jets ended his NFL career effectively.
Brown embarked on a brief rap career, but began to skip performances almost immediately, so it is unlikely he will thrive in that arena, but anything is possible in the music industry. When Brady was going through an ugly public divorce, Brown taunted him with photoshopped naked pictures of his wife and tirades about how he was a bad teammate and his trainer owed him money. Brown has literally set every bridge between him and potentially positive influences in his life on fire.
Antonio Brown Snapchat
A little over a week ago, an arrest warrant was sworn out for the eccentric receiver. He is wanted for battery against his ex-girlfriend from an incident a month ago. The woman is pressing charges because he allegedly threw a shoe at her head while trying to remove her from his home. Brown is remarkably defiant, and the police have been extraordinarily patient with him. He is hiding in his home and openly posting pictures of him and a woman in what appears to be his bedroom. Social media mistook the pictures as potentially being Brown with Gisele Bundchen, but it does not appear to be her.
Brown’s behavior might be exasperating Brady, but he does not seem to be holding any hostages and the police seem to be content to wait out the mentally unstable Brown, rather than exasperate the situation into a violent confrontation. The former Pro Bowler has a dedicated fan base that are intent on explaining and excusing his bizarre behavior.
Brown is a tragic figure at this point, and it is hard not to feel some sympathy at what he has given up. The question of whether he is a Hall of Fame receiver has been posed a few times over the last year, but at this point, the more pressing question is when will he be eligible for parole?
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you feel sorry for Brown, or do you just wish he would go away? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
