Antonio Who?
January 17th, 2022
Antonio Brown
For the nervous crowd that thinks the Bucs’ chances of reaching a Super Bowl were crippled when Antonio Brown jumping-jacked himself off the team, Joe’s got a few numbers with which to slap them in the face.
First, the Eagles’ defense, the one the Bucs mauled yesterday, was ranked higher than the defenses of the Rams and Cardinals during the regular season.
That’s right. The Rams ranked 17th in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed. The Cardinals were only slightly better and their defense was fading badly after their Thanksgiving weekend bye.
If the Bucs get past either of those teams on Sunday, Tampa Bay will land in the NFC Championship game, a place they found themselves without an injured Brown last season.
Second, Tom Brady had no trouble spreading the ball around yesterday. Nine different Bucs caught balls in the first half — the first half!
Receivers Breshad Perriman and Tyler Johnson were a little shaky out of the gate, but Johnson rebounded to flash great hands on his two catches for 30 yards. Brady finished the first half 20-of-25 for 159 yards despite being pressured into three sacks.
Yeah, Joe is feeling the ecstasy of a big playoff win this morning. Screw Antonio Brown. Barring another receiver injury, Joe thinks the Bucs can march to the Super Bowl without him.
Joe looks forward to Brown joining the Saints next season and walking out before Thanksgiving because he can’t handle the insult of playing without a Hall of Fame quarterback throwing him the ball.
January 17th, 2022 at 8:36 am
Possible we get Grayson back next week…..
AB must feel like a fool now (maybe not)…….but quitting a team headed into the playoffs….
January 17th, 2022 at 8:38 am
The nervous crowd will never be satisfied. They’re gona be better off without a clown asking for targets. His numbers will simply go to someone else. Brady will make new heroes. Just keep the turnovers down and it’ll be fine.
January 17th, 2022 at 8:41 am
RT is a serious concern…
January 17th, 2022 at 8:42 am
Antonio who? Bucs don’t miss him even banged up. Good riddance! Y’know, it sure would be nice to play the LA Rams here in Tampa again and avenge the 1979 loss. But, how injured are the Rams?
January 17th, 2022 at 8:47 am
I’d still rather have AB than not–if being truly honest. But he didn’t make or break the team.
Now Wirfs…that could be a big problem. That has me worried-
January 17th, 2022 at 8:51 am
In fact, not only we do not miss him, but we are fortunate he went away. The worst thing that can happen to a team is someone destroy the locker room connection.
January 17th, 2022 at 8:56 am
I thought it was a nice gesture in memory of AB, BA goes all psycho on Adam’s on the sideline. Now that’s a players coach!
January 17th, 2022 at 9:01 am
Can t help but feel this offense has really rallied since he blew up and has actually looked a bit more consistent until wirfs weren’t down
January 17th, 2022 at 9:03 am
What iis the story on practice squad reciever John Brown?
Go Bucs!
January 17th, 2022 at 9:03 am
Gee maybe that s why it took 10 weeks to get over an ankle sprainš¤ Old AB thought we couldnāt win without him and by week 12 weād be begging to guarantee his incentives ššš.
Jokes on you A$$holio.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:08 am
We got what we needed out of him. We got a Super Bowl and we got a bunch of guys that learned how to train better and with more energy. Thanks for your time, AB. Now get bent. lol
January 17th, 2022 at 9:11 am
orl, hopefully we’ll get some minor Rams/Cards injuries (nothing serious, just for a game) tonight.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:15 am
AB I hope you never come close to Tampa, yow are not welcome…..
Never quit on your team
Never a player is more important than the team….
I hope you donĀ“t step on an NFL field again….The game is so much bigger than you!!!!
January 17th, 2022 at 9:15 am
I wasn’t a fan when we signed AB….eventually you knew he was going to be a distraction. Luckily we got a SB from the gamble….we made it nearly the entire season and back to the playoffs without him. Lesson learned. He can be someone else’s headache.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:16 am
I recall one of the main people in the āNervous Crowd,ā articulating their fear about AB leaving on The Ira Kaufman Podcast. Perhaps this article should have been an in-house memo at JBF headquarters?
January 17th, 2022 at 9:46 am
If you look at ABās career playoff stats he could have really done himself a solid with a nice run this year. Itās unfortunate that he couldnāt handle the heat and BA. Dudes like AB will swallow it for a short period of time but eventually unless fundamental changes are made, the real $hit comes out. I was hopeful TB12 was guiding him into the mindset shift necessary for lasting change, apparently that wasnāt the case. āļø
January 17th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Just being real. If AB could keep his mind straight he would be an awesome guy to have on the Bucs. His combination of straightline speed and quickness in changing direction and great hands make him an electrifying receiver. But his obvious mental instability negates his outstanding physical skills. He had the potential to be one of the games all time best receivers. What waste! His brain is his worst enemy. Despite moments of brilliance I see nothing but hard times in his future. The money will run out eventually and the end will probably be ugly.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:50 am
He and Jameis can watch the next game together
January 17th, 2022 at 9:50 am
Hope Wirfs is ok, Wells wonāt be able to Contain Donald if we have to play the Rams. I would not be surprised if John Brown is activated this week. Also hope playoff Lenny can go this weekā¦
January 17th, 2022 at 9:56 am
The few miscues with Tyler and Perriman near the beginning look like they got fixed and I believe Gio opened up the field being the security blanket. I thought Bell would be involved but he is new to the system but having running backs who can catch and run offset AB a little bit. If our offensive line doesn’t heal up moving the chains will be through the running backs and short passes so the receivers need to be ready sooner.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:59 am
AB knows what he did, you think he has regrets. He keeps doing this, no āregertsā
January 17th, 2022 at 10:32 am
what I noticed yesterday is the Brady quickly recognizes when he has no targets and there is no outlet or escape route. He gives himself up easily rather than trying to scramble and possibly getting crushed. For a guy his age and with limited mobility that’s smart football. Sacks really don’t mean that much to Brady other than the loss of a few yards. I’ll take that every day over the chance of him being injured.
January 17th, 2022 at 10:34 am
Tyler Johnson got 2 catches, Perriman got 1, Miller got 1. Outside of Evans, we’re screwed big time. We’re totally dependent on him.
January 17th, 2022 at 10:51 am
Wow. Listened to Stephen A and Irvin talk about AB this morning. They destroyed him, deservedly so.
Stephen A- āAntonio Brown is fine until you need him. The second you need him, he abuses the privilegeā
Exactly. Perfectly stated
January 17th, 2022 at 11:24 am
If he werenāt a nutcase, he would cost $20M a year or whatever. Entirely an academic exercise.
January 17th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Jameis never quit on the teamā¦.ever.
January 17th, 2022 at 11:42 am
AB ruined his entire legacy with that stupid stunt. When you do something that horrible it eclipses everything you did before and itās all you get remembered for.
Evans is definitely stepping up big time with Godwin and AB gone. Would love to see Scotty and Grayson make a string of huge plays, too.
Now if we can just get Lenny and Wirfs back healthyā¦ I like our chances.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Come on man it was the eagles and by far the worst team in the playoffs. If we play the rams for instance, Ramsey will completely erase evans whoās not 100%. With wirfs not at full strength that is an ugly match up so is cardinals d line but letās hope itās the cardinals we play
January 17th, 2022 at 12:05 pm
WildBill
Yes AB has remarkable talent but he’s not a pimple on ME13’s arse when it come to manning up and showing character.
Perhaps it’s my past but I know I would not want to be in a bunker with AB but I would trust ME13 to have my back through thick and thin.
ME13 endured years of playing with bad quarterbacks on a chaotic franchise with a record for futility. Did he ever whine or gripe? Imagine AB!
ME13 watched CG14 blow up when BA put him in the slot. Was ME13 ever envious…did he ever gripe about a lack of targets? AB comes in and did ME13 EVER show any envy or resentment. In fact he was trying to save LOSER AB’s career by restraining him at the end.
ME13 is a true WINNER no matter the circumstances. He’s a three time nominee for the Walter Payton award for being a great citizen.
ME13 has class…AB doesn’t even know what the word means.
BTW this story is appropriate on a Bucs site, but notice already how little run the AB story is getting nationally. As I suggested once playoffs started and become the true focus AB would be consigned the dustbins with TO and the other jerks who have played WR.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
@Pewter Power: casuals said the same thing going into the Saints last season, too.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
They NEVER needed him!! And the “Joe’s” should have kept their integrity intact and continued their bashing of the bucs for picking up such a piece of trash!! I was VERY impressed with the Joe’s that they were against the signing… At first …. Football is just a game and yes it’s exciting when they win!! But America needs to bring back is values and morals if this country is to remain a UNITED States!!! …. We never needed him, and don’t need him now!!
January 17th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Let’s throw some love out to Scott Miller.
A total X Factor. The run to the right for the first down. The special teams play of the game. Big time players show up in big time games.
The playoffs are Miller Time.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
AB did his usual. He turned on all of his handlers. Get them treatment Wirfs!!
We need you.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
AB never gonna let a rook throw him a ball and he sure as hell aint playing with Jameis, perhaps saints trade for deshaun watson–imagine that team full of women abusers!
January 17th, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Remember last year, Brown didn’t play in the Green Bay game. It is Godwin who I will miss the most.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
Pewter Power Says:
January 17th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Come on man it was the eagles and by far the worst team in the playoffs. If we play the rams for instance, Ramsey will completely erase evans…
Raheem Morris has coached off ball coverage for Ramsey and the rest of the DB’s. Teams are completing 64 percent against Ramsey this year. 59 catches on over 93 targets. Not sure why you would be so confident based upon the defense that the Rams play and this year stats.
January 17th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
@ Stpetebucsfan. Hey I came to bury Ceasar (AB) not praise him. Stealing a line from Shakespear? AB is a tragic figure. Enormous talent. Unstable mind. Sad story. In no way was I defending him. He is what he is. And the Bucs knew it and risked that biscuit.
January 17th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
@WildBill
Point taken. My post was poorly written…I didn’t mean to suggest you weren’t burying him I was just piling on. Sorry for the misunderstanding I should have addressed my post better.
January 18th, 2022 at 11:46 pm
omg..all these comments about player’s catches and no one mentions one of the best we still have–GRONK. Forget about him??