Five days ago, July 10th, was Antonio Tavaris Brown’s 31st birthday, and there was nothing to talk about. There was no report of lavish star-studded party heard of. Why? Because he wasn’t there. No strip club ‘making it rain’ video circulating in the bowels of the newsrooms. Why? Because he wasn’t there. No baby mama drama audio to looped and re-looped for intros and exits for a merciless media. Why? Because he wasn’t there. I haven’t heard or seen anything about AB since the Bucs won the Super Bowl. He wasn’t there at the Academy Awards. He wasn’t there at the BET awards. He wasn’t there at the ESPY awards. He wasn’t there at any of these mentally damaging menageries and was better for it. Just like not getting any mail means you are up to date on your bills. No news is good news when it comes to Antonio Brown. Whatever is going on, let it continue. Antonio Brown isn’t there.
If Antonio Brown isn’t there physically. It also means he isn’t there mentally. If, mentally and physically, he isn’t there in some combustible situation. Then he is where he should be. In an environment conducive to him slaying the demons that have held him back. Conquering the dragons that have threatened to eat him whole. If he is not there making the news. He is finding he can handle the peace and quiet. That he doesn’t need the noise. That he doesn’t need the lights, the cameras, or the action. He has checked out of the danger zone in his mind.
That is good news for him and good news for the Bucs. But it’s bad news for the rest of the NFL. Brown has played sparingly over the last 3 years. So his body is not banged up. Now that his mind is where it should be. It could spell big trouble for the NFL. A focused Antonio Brown is a force no team wants to reckon with. AB isn’t out there making waves off the field. But soon, he will be on the field to make waves. He’ll be alright out there.
I wish Antonio Brown all the luck in the world. Life can be tough, and football is a tough profession. They, football players, make it look easy. When it is anything but. Everyone wants a piece of them on the field and off. Good luck in the upcoming season and life, Antonio Brown. Wide is the road, and narrow is the gate for the man who isn’t there.