“He’s Going To Torch Whoever Is In Front Of Him”
November 7th, 2020
Defends Antonio Brown.
Last week the gang at “Good Morning Football,” seen and heard weekday mornings on NFL Network, had their takes on Antonio Brown returning to the Bucs, and specifically returning to the NFL.
Joe brought you Peter Schrager’s take yesterday. Today, Joe has Nate Burleson’s words.
A former NFL wide receiver who played alongside Randy Moss with the Vikings during his 11-year NFL career, Burleson said he is more concerned with Brown off the field than he is on the field.
Burleson also wondered if the Brown that he saw in his first Zoom interview with the Bucs is still the same dog that lit up defenses when he was with the Steelers.
“He will make an impact,” Burleson said of Brown with the Bucs. “Antonio Brown was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. There are folks who don’t like the move, who don’t like Antonio Brown. And that’s your business. I will never tell you how to feel about a player. But if you love the league, love the decisions that they make. They allowed Antonio Brown back in the game. So let’s see how this works out.
“Now as far as him working out, I too feel like Antonio Brown, with the amount of guys on this team, the playmakers in the backfield and at wide receiver, he’s going to torch whoever is in front of him.
“What are you going to do if you are a defense? Are you going to take your best player and put him on Mike Evans, because he deserves that type of attention? You going to put your second-best player on who, on Gronk? Because Gronk is now catching a rhythm. Or Chris Godwin when he is healthy? Are you telling me Antonio Brown is going up against your third- or fourth-tier DB? That’s Torch City all day long!
“Let me say this because it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say this, full transparency: Listening to Antonio Brown, he has to figure out a way to find a balance. A Balance of who he was that motivation that made him an absolute dog on the field, but not be that guy who was, for lack of better words, an absolute jerk off of it at certain times of his life. The reason I bring that up is, he does seem a little more reserved. A little more thoughtful. You can see he feels bad for some of the decisions he’s made over the last couple of years. He also seems docile.
“Me being a sports fan, I can’t help but think of a moment that I will always remember when Mike Tyson just got beat up by Lennox Lewis and he was wiping the sweat off of Lennox Lewis’ face. And I remember saying to myself, ‘That is not the same Iron Mike Tyson.’ He doesn’t have the same kind of pitbull in him. So I know there is a fine line of Antonio recapturing who he was and not being a dude that people don’t like. I just hope he can tap into that absolute beast of a wide receiver. Because when he was on his game he was a joy to watch.
“With all that said, I could care less about how many touchdowns he scores. I am just concerned about his soul and his spirit. And right now, he seems like his spirit is right.
Joe has always wondered about this: We all want if not demand football players to be frothing beasts on the field but regular guys off the field. Perhaps not everyone has the ability to shut off the animal in them just by wearing street clothes, as if they were turning off the water to a garden hose.
Brown did look extremely docile in that Zoom interview earlier in the week. Is that because he is a changed man and therefore a changed player? Or is that an act? And does he still have that edge to him on the field that set himself apart from normal players?
Guess we will all find out soon enough.
It’s an all-new TAMPA TWO, featuring Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman and Derrick Brooks, who needs no introduction.
Brooks and The Sage dive into all things Bucs-Saints. The fun is presented by The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
November 7th, 2020 at 6:14 pm
X-a-n-a-x
November 7th, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Last night I had a dream that they set AB in motion, he turned upfield right after the snap, was uncovered down the seam, and scored the easiest TD of the year for the Bucs.
A couple good plays from AB/TB and defenses will have to show him respect. How do they cover the rest of the Bucs? They can’t.
November 7th, 2020 at 6:47 pm
I want to believe that AB has changed and it is going to work out for the Bucs, but then I read the transcript from a recent Ryan Shazier interview on AB. Now I’ll probably just be holding my breathe all season hoping this doesn’t blow up in the Bucs faces.
November 7th, 2020 at 7:05 pm
My prediction is that Gronk & Brate will be the big benefactors of AB…..New Orleans will have to cover the WRs……leaving the TEs….open….
November 7th, 2020 at 7:06 pm
One thing about great players is the game is a escape from life and the more they engulf it or focus on it the farther their real life seems. AB has been away from the game and has had to work on his life without that escape even though his workouts and focus has been to get back in the game he still has had a chance to work through some of his personal issues but now he has he ability to play the game again knowing this is his last chance to have that escape which is a euphoric feeling almost a drug so hopefully he knows this and does not sacrifice his opportunity. I am sure he is ready to play now whether that translates into success this first game back depends on the chemistry that he and TB have develop in a short time as Tom has a split second to feel comfortable throwing to him or not but as time goes on AB will be ready and more focus to prove or show his worth and the chemistry and trust will definitely come in time if not sooner. I just hope Tom doesn’t feel a obligation to throw his way as the defense will be looking for it knowing that Tom is trying to get him back in the game. As many options as this team has Tom will be able to bait the defense and really get much easier throws as AB will definitely become in time hard to guard as we get closer to the playoffs but this game is a statement game which needs to be won not for a individual but for the team and other teams to take note.
November 7th, 2020 at 7:12 pm
The medicine for Bipolar Disorder can make you seem weak, and even make you weak, if the dose is too high.
November 7th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Jmarkbuc may be right.
AB had “that look” in his eyes during his press conference. He may well be legitimately on some kind of regimen that has been determined by professional medical people during the past year and a half sometime.
Go Bucs!
November 7th, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Mitch
But the final nail in the interview was when Shazier took it to the football field with an interesting prediction about Brown and his new team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“The moment he makes it about himself, Tampa’s not going to go to the Super Bowl.”
November 7th, 2020 at 8:44 pm
its not “could care less” its “couldn’t care less”
November 7th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
It is what ever they type
November 7th, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Talking football, I don’t think AB coming to throw a bitch fit in Tom’s locker room. Coming to the Bucs to get a badazz ring with the GOAT.
November 7th, 2020 at 10:24 pm
Whomever The Saints Choose To Double Cover Is Going To Leave TB12 With 2 Easy Targets To Connect With. If Tampa Bay Stays Healthy The 2nd Half & Playoffs Will Be Like BRADY’s 2007 Season.
UNTOUCHABLE & Another Lombardi In His Trophy Case. I Expected This When BRADY Was Signed.
November 8th, 2020 at 12:17 am
He has everyone to prove wrong and Steelers vs bucs Super Bowl
November 8th, 2020 at 12:19 am
It’s about redemption and that’s a animal no one understands till ur the animal who fighting for ur life
November 8th, 2020 at 12:52 am
Standing ovation for Burleson and Joe for posting that.
We should all take a breath and digest that.
November 8th, 2020 at 1:56 am
after reading this and seeing his presser i was thinking the same thing…
xanax…
it sure will kill off his libido too tho
November 8th, 2020 at 2:30 am
He could be medicated. By if the practice behavior is any indication, he’s still going to kick ass on the field.
November 8th, 2020 at 6:54 am
“What are you going to do if you are a defense?”
How often did we hear that?
For once i’d like someone telling me we’re now carving them up cause they don’t know what to do
November 8th, 2020 at 8:47 am
I hope that Brown has found his way to being a better person and if he can get back to even 60% of his former self, that’s one hell of a 3rd receiver.
If he becomes dominant again during the second half of the season, I wonder if we would risk signing him long term over Godwin? I don’t see any way that we keep 3 receivers making over 10 million a year (probably a lot more). Freaking awesome problem to have though considering our wide receiver history!
November 8th, 2020 at 2:22 pm
@TBBF
I agree with your assessment about Gronk and Brate being the biggest beneficiaries.
BOTH of those guys also seem to have an innate talent to exploit any openings in a defense while still staying on route for a Brady pass. Gronk of course is already famous for this but I think Brate is underrated in this area….he has a great feel for openings especially in the end zone and he has solid hands. He also seems to have figured out where Brady want him to be on his routes.
Agree with you TBBF our TE’s might feast tonight.
November 9th, 2020 at 3:22 am
Lmao 38 to 3 and 31 to 0 in the first half was a massacre AB is about to cry the buccs be better if they played him on defense