The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown went through a messy separation in 2019. It has been five years since he departed for the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown torched virtually every bridge he ever crossed in the NFL, but has found the solution to the rigid rules set down by coaches and general managers. He decided to become the owner of a professional football team.
WRGB
Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown is now part owner of an arena football team in Albany, NY.
Brown bought the majority ownership position of the two-time defending champions of the National Arena League, the Albany Empire in March. In a move straight out of the plot of the baseball movie, Major League II, Brown channeled his inner Roger Dorn and decided to return to the playing field.
Steelers Former WR Antonio Brown Fails To Make His NAL Debut
Unfortunately, Brown forgot to turn in a physical at the end of May and did not return to the gridiron as planned. Brown’s failure to return to the field has not affected the perception of his importance in rescuing the Albany Empire as a franchise.
“I don’t wanna talk about the minutiae of what’s behind us, or what fans should believe,” said Brown. “The fans should believe that 'AB' saved Albany Empire football. You guys wouldn’t have football if it wasn’t for 'AB.' Antonio Brown’s here at practice; he’s taking all the proper procedures to play. I’m still that playmaker. And I can tell the fans one thing: whatever I say, we gonna do. I’m $2.5 million in a city that hasn’t even come out and showed no support.”
The Empire drew 4,500 fans to what was supposed to be his debut on May 27th, which is 2,000 more than their average attendance this season. Things change fast in the world of the National Arena League (NAL) and Brown may make his debut against the Jacksonville Sharks this weekend. Brown decided to take the opportunity on Wednesday to disparage the rest of the NAL and declare his team’s intention to join the Arena Football League (AFL) next year.
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Former Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown.
“This is the last year in the NAL, next year we are going to the AFL,” Brown declared. “Not a lot of owners in this league got the type of money to even be in this league. A lot of naysayers around here, you think I care what an NAL player say about me? I’m giving these guys jobs. I’m giving people an opportunity to live their dreams.”
Currently, the Albany Empire are not scheduled to join the AFL, but the 16-team league relaunch has not announced all of its franchises yet. It is possible that Brown could try to leave the NAL at the end of the current season. It would be a blow to the league to lose the Albany franchise. Rumors of mismanagement since Brown took over and players and coaches claiming that the payroll has become erratic might influence the NAL’s decision to attempt to stop the franchise from leaving.
“I’m not going to go back and forth with a NAL player who is trying to be what I used to be,” Brown continued. “I want to share with the people in the media who write negative about Antonio Brown and lose sight of what the truth here is in Albany. I didn’t come here to make money. I came here to represent something I grew up in as a little kid and give back to the community that helped shape me to be who I am today.”
Brown’s father Eddie Brown is an original Arena League Hall of Fame player and once played for the Albany Firebirds. Brown did spend time in Albany growing up and returning to the community where his father was a star player to give back is a completely understandable gesture. It would be interesting to ask the current owner of the franchise how his father might have reacted if the team had failed to pay him.
Albany NY was Always A Special Place For me And my FAMILY pic.twitter.com/FzWoQ7KbgB
— AB (@AB84) March 1, 2023
“As an owner, what is important is winning, sponsorship, and tickets,” Brown concluded. "Not the regular players who are 30 years old just trying to be regular in their life [and] play spring ball. I’m looking for the players who are ready to go to the next level in their lives. I’m trying to help players fulfill their dreams.”
After nine seasons in Pittsburgh around Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin, it is sad to hear Brown have so little regard for the men who put their bodies on the line for him. The Steelers’ culture made virtually no impact on the man who is now responsible for an entire football operations fortune.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Antonio Brown and Mike Tomlin.
Brown earned nearly $77 million through NFL contracts. The ownership and management of any professional sports franchise is an expensive proposition. It's contingent on the goodwill of the community and the on-the-field product. Brown is playing a dangerous game by showing callous disregard for both in his current role.
There is no safety net for him anymore, Brown is his own boss. The current trajectory of Brown’s erratic behavior is headed towards a very sad ending. Someone should step in and help him, but at this point, it is almost impossible to fathom who could make him listen.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is watching Brown implode still entertaining, or just sad? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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