No surprise here, but former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and cause célèbre, Antonio Brown is back in the news again. According to recent reports, he also wants to be back on the gridiron again. This time, he is talking about playing for the Albany Empire, instead of the Baltimore Ravens.
WRGB
Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown is now part owner of an arena football team in Albany, NY
Brown already has a complicated history with the Empire - is he the sole owner? Partial owner? It depends on who you believe. We do know that Brown bought a stake in the Arena Football League with his father, Eddie Brown. The senior Brown played for the team back in the 90's when they were known as the Albany Firebirds.
When the news that Brown bought a stake in the team first broke, it was reported that it was a partnership with Mike Kwarta and Charlotte and Steve von Schiller. While there may be some dispute over who owns what percentage, there is no doubt that Brown has brought drama to the organization.
As Brown was disputing ownership and bragging about paying the team's worker's compensation insurance, he was ordered by a judge to pay a $30,000 arrearage on his child support. He was also sued by a jeweler for failure to reimburse him for over $1.1 million in custom pieces.
Almost immediately after announcing how humbled he has been by team ownership, he physically threatened a security guard at the Albany facility, prior to the start of a game. Brown was shown on video after the guard had requested he leave the field so the game could begin.
TMZ
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and jeweler Shuki performed Brown's tribute rap "Shuki Diamonds" at a concert.
Then there were reports that Brown wasn't paying his players and locked them out of their hotel rooms so they couldn't get their personal belongings. All this ensued after he fired interim Head Coach, Damon Ware. There was some kind of dispute among the players, and frustrations over not being paid, which led to a fight breaking out on the bus.
Steelers' Antonio Brown Wants Back In The Game
Now Brown is saying he might play again. According to A.J. Pankowski, who is the sports director for CBS6 in Albany, he tweeted that according to the Empire Head Coach Tom Menas, Brown is planning to suit up and play. This could happen as soon as their next home game which is May 27th.
BREAKING: Just got off the phone with @thealbanyempir Head Coach Tom Menas and team representatives. They both told me it's their understanding that @AB84 plans to play for the Empire as soon as their next home game on May 27th.
— AJ Pankowski (@PankowskiAjCBS6) May 17, 2023
More on @CBS6Albany.
Pankowski returned shortly after and tweeted again that he is hearing Brown is doing this to show NFL teams that he still has what it takes to play with the best of the best.
More from today's news of Antonio Brown suiting up for the Empire.
— AJ Pankowski (@PankowskiAjCBS6) May 17, 2023
Seems as if Brown could be using this opportunity to show NFL teams he can still play at a high level. https://t.co/pPtZV2RBmL
The last time that Brown set foot on a professional field as a player, he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He appeared to throw a temper tantrum, stripped off his jersey, ran up and down the sidelines, and hit the locker room. Brown said it happened because the team wasn't listening to him about a foot injury he had.
ESPN
Antonio Brown strips off his uniform and leaves the field in dramatic fashion after a disagreement during a Tampa Bay game.
While Brown had some impressive stats during his time in the NFL, this has trainwreck written all over it. The idea that a team owner is going to suit up and play for his own team is absurd. Of course, when it comes to Brown and his actions, not much seems to be off the table.
What do you think about Brown potentially playing in the AFL? The NFL? Do you think he can still perform at a high level? Would you want him on the Steelers roster? Click to comment below.
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