Last Thursday night Antonio Brown had a monster game. Brown, a 6th round pick out of Central Michigan University. Hooked up with another 6th rd pick by the name of Tom Brady. The two made music to the tune of 7 receptions 127yds and 1 touchdown. When Brown joined the Bucs midseason last year there were many Tampa bay fans who denounced his arrival. Citing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as more than enough talent. They were wrong. Antonio Brown, as WR’s go. Might be better than both of them. Brown should not take this misjudgment of his importance personally. Many of the very same people thought that the Buccaneers should have stayed pat with Jameis Winston as opposed to bringing in Tom Brady.
Brown’s arrival in Tampa Bay was not without a reason for trepidation. He had screwed up royally while a Steeler and he had done it with gusto. He was the best WR in the league at the time yet the Pittsburgh couldn’t part with him fast enough. Oakland traded a 3rd and 5th rounder in exchange for Brown. Then signed him to a new contract with 30 million in guaranteed money. But Brown wouldn’t play a down in Oakland. He passively-aggressive engaged Mike Gruden in a series of disagreements and was released by the team. A couple of months later Brown was signed by New England. He played only one game there. He was released when a Twitter rant with one of the mothers of his children surfaced. Then he was charged with multiple misdemeanor and felonies. No team, rightfully, would touch him. Just that quickly it looked to be the end.
Brown was out of professional football for over a year and a half before those charges were cleared up. But his reputation was that of an out-of-control disrupter. Though his on-the-field talent was undeniable. His off-the-field behavior cast doubts on his sanity. No team needed a sure-fire headache. No team wanted him. It did not look good for the kid out of Miami. He had worn out his welcome in the NFL. But something had happened in that one game in New England. He and that other 6th rounder had bonded. Tom Brady, the reigning GOAT, in the NFL quarterback saw something in Antonio Brown that no one else did. What it is, nobody knows but Brady. But Brady went to bat for Antonio Brown even after Buccaneer head coach said AB wasn’t a fit on his team.
We have seen what has happened since then. Brown has balled out for the Buccaneers. His game has got better as time has gone on. He is able to get free and get open. Brady looks for him because Antonio Brwon can and will get it done.
I admit. I doubted that you could stay in your lane. But thankfully I’ve been wrong more times than I have been right in life. I am pulling for you, Mr. Antonio Brown. Not because you play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I am pulling for you because the bigger the challenge. The bigger the reward. As the one game in new England proved. If you change you and keep plugging something will open up. Something better than you ever imagined. Maybe a repeat and a chance at football immortality. Then after that, who knows.