Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown is no stranger to making the news for his outlandish comments and behaviors. However, this is the first time he has made the news for displaying some humility.
Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire
Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been a near-constant source of controversy.
Brown might represent one of the best draft values in the Steelers' history. He was overlooked in college and was picked up by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He took the chip he had on his shoulder and turned it into productivity on a massive level.
His work ethic and production quickly made him a fan favorite. Brown was arguably one of the best receivers to wear the black and gold. During his time in Pittsburgh, he had 837 receptions on 1,275 targets for 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns.
During his NFL career, he has been a Super Bowl Champion (LV), a four-time First Team All-Pro, the NFL receiving leader twice, the receiving yards leader twice, and a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Despite the fact that Brown was incredibly talented, he managed to leave a bad taste in people's mouths wherever he went. He burnt more bridges than he built in Pittsburgh and the other cities he visited during his time in the league.
Brown always seems to be in the headlines, beginning prior to him leaving the Steelers. He got into a verbal altercation with then quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, walked out of the facility, and got benched for a game by head coach Mike Tomlin. This was seen as a huge red flag to many Steeler fans who tend to shun the "diva" behavior.
He left Pittsburgh via a trade to the Oakland Raiders, but almost immediately there were issues. He got frostbite on his toes during cryotherapy, filed a grievance because he couldn't wear his outdated helmet, badmouthed Oakland on social media, got into a fight with the head coach, and requested a trade before ever even playing for them.
ESPN
Antonio Brown strips off his uniform and leaves the field in dramatic fashion after a disagreement during a Tampa Bay game.
Brown moved on to the New England Patriots and the whole world held their breath as they waited to see if Brown and notable hard-nosed head coach Bill Belichick would butt heads.
Unfortunately, Brown's accusations got more serious at this time. He had a previous trainer accuse him of sexual assault and rape. Brown wasn't humbled by this, instead, he threatened a second accuser and even posted photos of her children online suggesting his fans get revenge.
Brown was then released from the Patriots and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where quarterback Tom Brady seemed to offer to take Brown under his wing. While his behaviors were less serious than in New England, he broke security cameras, created a fake COVID-19 vaccine card, and walked off the field during a game.
This is all really just the tip of the iceberg, there are enough examples of his self-destructive and selfish behavior to fill an encyclopedia set. Brown has made a secondary career out of pointing fingers and bashing anyone who doesn't coddle him on social media. Regardless of the reasons, Brown has grown into a selfish, egotistical player. A perfect example is something he said to Jeff Darlington of ESPN during the Oakland fiasco.
"I don't even have to play football if I don't want. I don't even need the game. I don't need to prove nothing to anyone. If they wanna play, they going to play by my rules. If not, I don't need to play. Obviously, I want to play the game, but I don't need the game. It's a difference."
Pittsburgh Steelers Former Star Antonio Brown Expresses Regrets
Now Brown has become a part owner of an arena football team with his father. Apparently, this new role as the owner of the very successful Albany Empire, has given him a change of heart.
Brown took to Twitter to say he was wrong all these years.
"As a owner I finally see now why it's important to make everyone know no one is bigger then the Team '! As a player I always thought opposite !"
As a owner I finally see now why it's important to make everyone know no one is bigger then the Team '! As a player I always thought opposite !
— AB (@AB84) April 8, 2023
ESPN
Patriots released Antonio Brown after sexual assault accusations emerged.
Brown's past surely makes people understandably skeptical since he hasn't shown much remorse before, or when he has, it hasn't stuck. However, he is older now and in a different role, so maybe it really has opened his eyes. We can only hope that Brown is able to count his blessings and use his new role to bring positive change to the team and the community.
What do you make of Brown's tweet? Do you think he has really seen the error of his ways? Are you holding your breath waiting for change or are you even cautiously optimistic? Let us know what you think, click to comment below!
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