Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown shook up Steeler Nation with a simple post on Twitter, saying he wanted to "retire a Steeler." It has touched off a firestorm within the fandom. Some fans are preaching immediate forgiveness and incredibly want him back in uniform. Other sections of the fanbase are adamantly opposed to Brown returning, even for a day to retire.
Just wanna Retire A Steeler
— AB (@AB84) May 16, 2022
Younger fans who only started watching in the Mike Tomlin Steelers era, seem more forgiving than fans who go back to the Bill Cowher era. Those of us who go all the way back to the Chuck Noll era seem split as well. Typically, I would not begrudge a player retiring for the team that drafted them. It is a symbolic gesture and can be a way to heal rifts with the fanbase. Brown is a little different. Art Rooney II met with him in 2019 to try to patch up the fracturing relationship with Brown. Art Rooney and Dan Rooney were legendarily inspirational to players, and virtually all former players speak of these men in reverent tones. The Rooney family has treated their players like family for decades. It is especially troubling that he came out of that meeting, stating that both parties agreed to move on, that he spent the better part of 2019 trashing the Steelers.
Emotion: boy fumbled the whole post season in the biggest game of year ! Everyone went blind to busy making guys famous not enough reality these days ! 🤙🏾 by the way check the list https://t.co/2SWWT8k0jx
— AB (@AB84) April 7, 2019
The post Steelers saga is well known when it comes to Brown. He never played for the Oakland Raiders in 2019 and lost $30 million dollars that he forced his way out of Pittsburgh to get. He found his way to the New England Patriots for a few games before his treatment of a woman who was suing him caused the Patriots to part ways with him. Brown unleashed a tirade against the Patriots and did not spare Robert Kraft, the owner of the team. The only notable Patriot that was spared his wrath was Tom Brady. After disparaging the Patriots owner, most of the national media predicted he was done, that the NFL was not going to give him a fourth chance.
The 2020 off-season saw Brady move to Tampa and the speculation over Brown started soon after his announcement he would play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians refused to bend to Brady initially and bring Brown in, but ultimately relented and Brown was a key cog in a Super Bowl run for Tampa Bay. I wonder if the rift between Arians and Brady was exasperated by Brown’s behavior in 2021, although neither party would acknowledge that Brown’s quitting on another team was a big ‘I told you so’ by Arians behind the scenes. Brown did not spare Brady from his histrionics this time around, torching him on Twitter.
Andrew Mills / NJ Advance Media, via Associated Press
I am not a Brown apologist who chalks all of this bad behavior up to the 2016 Vontaze Burfict hit. Brown was exhibiting bad behavior all the way to back to his college days when he was expelled from FAU for fighting before he ever suited up for the team or being constantly late for meeting when he walked on at Central Michigan. Part of the reason he slipped to the sixth round in the 2010 NFL Draft were character concerns. Then of course there was the infamous Ryan Clark, Dick LeBeau incident in 2012. I am not completely discounting the Burfict hit, I am not a doctor, but the main point is he was exhibiting questionable behavior before that time.
At this point, the only person who has not incurred Brown’s wrath is Mr. Rooney. He is in a unique position. Does he forgive the transgressions against the franchise, and allow an obviously troubled young man to find some peace? I don’t believe for one second Mr. Rooney would let him suit up, but allowing him to retire a Steeler is the kind of thing the Rooney family has done for decades. Do I want him on my football team at any price, no. Do I condone his terrible actions of the last four years, no. Will I be mad if Mr. Rooney lets him sign a one-day contract? It is a good question, but if Mr. Rooney forgives him, I think we can too.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Please comment below or follow me on Twitter @thebubbasq.
Should the Steelers and Mr. Rooney allow AB to retire a Steeler?
— Bob Quinn (@thebubbasq) May 17, 2022
