Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown had one of the biggest downfalls in the history of professional sports. During his time in the Steel City, he seemed to be one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game. Then, during the 2019 season, he requested a trade after having a falling out with the team. He was then sent to the then-Oakland Raiders. The sole reason for this was so that Brown could get a new contract, which gave him $30 million guaranteed. After many altercations and Brown demanding to be released, the Raiders cut him before he even got to play in a regular season game with them.
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Antonio Brown warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019, in Glendale, Arizona.
After Brown's short-lived career with the Raiders, he got another opportunity with the New England Patriots. He played in one game with the team and was able to get 56 receiving yards. His time with the team ended after he was going through even more allegations. Following this, he kept toying with the idea of retirement and would even "announce" it, only to unretire four days later. He was then given one more opportunity to play in the NFL and it came with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This opportunity paired him back with his former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and arguably the greatest quarterback to play the game, Tom Brady. Although he finished his time with the team in one of the craziest ways possible, he wasn't too bad on the team. During 2020, he recorded 483 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. The following year, he had 545 yards and four touchdowns in just the seven games he played in. In that 2021 season, he was on pace to record over 1,000 receiving yards.
Sadly, his career will not be looked at for how legendary he was, but rather for all the stupid mistakes he made off the field. People have already forgotten that he is a Super Bowl Champion, seven-time Pro Bowler, an NFL 2010's All-Decade Team member, and at the time, looked to be one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play football.
AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown celebrates after catching a 1-yard touchdown pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl LV football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.
The Reason For Brown's Departure From The Steelers
Many people speculated that the reason for Brown's departure from the Steelers was because of a falling out, but that may not have been the case. Recently, Brown was on Tyreek Hill's podcast, It Needed To Be Said and stated that money was more of an issue than the team.
"The game was about money. As a player, you compensate for so many things and when you are with a team for so long and you're used to being extended and extended, you never get a chance to get that big free agent deal where you can really demand the premium of dollars."
Brown noted that with the Steelers, they kept extending and extending him until he could just sense that his time in Pittsburgh was over. He compared this to Hill's situation when he was in the free agency. That there came a point during free agency when he had to get that monster offer. The big offer that Brown received didn't even matter since he was cut before he was given his guaranteed money. It is what also started the end of what was a once-beloved career.
"Being at the Steelers, the older you get, you could sense the environment." Brown noted, "At some point, I thought this might be my last snap. So as a player, when you're in tune, you can sense that."
AP Photo/Doug Murray
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill flips into the end zone with a touchdown reception during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
So, what do you think, Steeler Nation? Will Brown ever regain his once-good reputation? Let me know in the comments below!
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