Bruce Arians Details Antonio Brown’s Rare Dominance
December 29th, 2021
If you can get past Antonio Brown’s sordid misdeeds and ridiculousness, you’ll find an absolute superstar performer.
That was back on display Sunday despite Brown missing two-plus months with a bad ankle, and only having limited practice time last week.
Bucco Bruce Arians was talking about Brown’s special ways on his Buccaneer Radio Network show yesterday.
A stud cornerback shadowing Brown on the road? Not a problem.
“They had Stephon Gilmore, you know, he’s one of the top corners in the league and I think they thought they could play man-to-man on [Brown] and maybe take him away and it just didn’t happen,” Arians began. “A.B.’s a great route runner. So it’s going to be hard for any corner and take him 1-on-1 and just try to get rid of him in a ballgame. It’s just not going to happen.
“He’s just so quick and decisive. And when he cuts, he cuts. I mean it’s not a slow down, it’s a speed up. And very, very few guys can do that.”
Six-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday was howling on ESPN TV this week about Brown’s route precision and how he can get open in any receiver role, calling him a “man-beater,” who “can sit down in zones” and do it all. “He makes it easy on quarterbacks,” Saturday explained.
Without Brown, Joe is convinced the Bucs’ chances of repeating would be diminished significantly. Joe’s not going to insult the roster and say it can’t win without Brown, but it would be extremely difficult.
December 29th, 2021 at 2:26 pm
The man seems to not be able to control his personal life but when it comes to
the game of football I believe that AB could be the very best of all time.
It truly is amazing how many HOF bound players the Buccaneers have. Go Bucs
December 29th, 2021 at 2:34 pm
Brown was blessed with freakish speed and agility. Great hands. On the field a superstar.
He still is an idiot, who unfortunately is also a lousy human being.
I root for all Buccaneers, no matter what they do with their lives, they are exciting to watch and provide entertainment but off the field, Brown is a person that makes awful decisions over and over.
Just catch the ball and shut your mouth, Antonio!
December 29th, 2021 at 2:38 pm
We need AB….and perhaps 1 other very competent receiver…..perhaps that will be Perriman….but I hope it’s Evans….
With Brown & Evans…..Gronk & Brate…..Rojo running…..we’ll be still very hard to stop.
December 29th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
@’..man seems to not be able to control his personal life..”
—————-
His personal life is not our business, nor local sport’s analysts.
JW personal life was not our business; he was a terrible QB, that’s why most wanted him out of Bucs team.
AB is a hard working; exceptional football player; Tom want him; we want him in our team, we are lucky he is in our team.
Looks like, not important from which point of view, BA is saying this fact out loud at last.
December 29th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Wow Ed, If I were AB and read what you just posted I would not want to be in Tampa at all. I’m sure in your life at some point you too did things you regret having done. Have you always been honest? Never hurt anyone? AB has difficulty in seeing the repercussions in life before he acts. He’s really a nice guy who put’s himself in bad situations.
December 29th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
We need AB, particularly with Godwin out for the season. My big concern headed into the playoffs is Covid. Don’t want the o-line or any key players to start testing positive just before we start playing the one and done games.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
By all accounts, the other receivers were awed by his game knowledge and workout regimen when he got here. Kinda like a Sherm in the receiver room
December 29th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Absolutely right, Joe. He has become nearly indispensable – and Arians nicely describes his special talent. Spectacular receiver.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:10 pm
Where are all the haters that wanted his cut and banished from the face of the earth? Where are all those that verbally abused me for my claims that he is the teams #1 receiver and better than ME13. Come out, come out wherever you are.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
For those who understand the game, Antonio Brown has been the de facto WR1 since arriving in Tampa Bay. He doesn’t have an equal on this team in terms of route running, he finds holes in defenses and exploits vulnerabilities in the DBs covering him. He shares the same mindset as Brady, which is they are only rarely not on the same page.
He’s also incredibly versatile, capable of doing damage from the slot as well as from the outside. If we had suited up for the Washington or New Orleans games, he would have made an impact and likely would have reversed a loss or two. It’s not only his catches, it is the attention he draws from defenses, which sets up opportunities for the other WRs and TEs.
December 29th, 2021 at 4:07 pm
^^^^ Thank you for PassingThru!^^^
December 29th, 2021 at 4:39 pm
If Brown absolutely owning Gilmore after two months off doesn’t convince people that we needed to keep this dude, then nothing will. He’s more prone to injury at this stage of his career, but he’s a first ballot ball of famer all day long and I hope that he can stay healthy until Mike gets back.
Quit the silly talk that Brown is better than Mike right now. Brown in his prime was hands down better than Mike in his prime, but Brown isn’t that guy anymore. He’s far more injury prone now and there is a reason why his reps are limited even when he’s healthy. I’d rest Brown as much as possible, so that we can unleash him at his best for the playoffs.
December 29th, 2021 at 4:55 pm
AB is 6-0 as a Buc this year. I’m, yeah we should cut him because…..of some snowflake idiots who are offended if the wind blows from the south.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
I’m ME13’s biggest fan, but AB can do a LOT of stuff that he can’t
December 29th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
ME13 played in 14 games has 64 receptions or 4.5 per game. AB played in 6 games has 39 receptions 6.5 per game.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
And to think some people here wanted to get rid of AB
December 29th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
What is sordid is the media’s and NFL’s ignorant and ridiculous acceptance of the incessant BS spewed forth by the bureaucrats in Washington without even a minuscule amount of independent investigation… shameful.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Kinda silly to debate two awesome receivers, but I’m bored. There is no way in hell that Brown could have gone up and caught that crazy good pass from Brady against the bills. That’s an “all time great catch” folks. Plenty that Mike can do that AB can’t even attempt due to his size.
Stats can be cherry picked all day to show that you have a valid argument. Mike averages more yards per catch and averages more touchdowns (the most important stat in the game) than Brown. If you are going to post stats, you gotta post em all.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
F the holyer than thou crowd out there. You listening Florio? AB is right. They’re drama queens. Politically incorrect? Sue me.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:34 pm
The complaining over AB with this latest incident (if you want to call it that) is like hating on a pedophile for jaywalking. AB just owned the entire Carolina secondary. That’s not a bad secondary either. Josh Norman is just a couple years removed from being elite. AB destroyed them all.
@Buczilla. You ain’t lying. That’s literally one of the filthiest catches I have ever seen.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:50 pm
Bugzilla, don’t fool yourself AB has a pretty good vertical leap.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Listnforfootballknowledge
Lol, not in yours or Browns wildest dreams does that Smurf (compared to Mike) make that catch. You had a stronger argument when you were cherry picking stats dude.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
Thanks for finally recognizing the best receiver in the league.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
Here’s a stat for you Buczilla, AB height 5’10” his vertical leap is 33.5″, your man crush ME13 is 6’5″ his vertical leap is 37″. This is just a guess but it appears ME13 is 7″ taller yet only jumps 3.5″ higher. Not too bad for a smurf.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Listnfrmafar
37 is more than 33.5 unless I’ve somehow entered a new universe where the laws of reality are a$$ backwards. Their respective heights have zero to do with measuring their verticals. Don’t sell me short. I have a man crush on Brown too, but he ain’t making that catch in anything but your dreams.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:39 pm
Excellent post. Unlike the endless river of tears flowing from the Tampa Bay Times.
December 29th, 2021 at 10:44 pm
I said that on this site right after the game. AB took Gilmore to the woodshed. Came back just in time with Godwin being out. Evans n AB should be fine going forward. Obviously you miss Godwin.
December 30th, 2021 at 2:15 am
Joe do you know how amazing it is for A.B to miss that much time and then to step out on to the field and preform like he’s never mist a game. 10 ketches plays the whole game. That just goes to show not just how great of a athlete he is but the dedication and how he trains. Not to mention he’s does it at the age of 33 I don’t think that’s old but for some reason in football people think that’s like 50
December 30th, 2021 at 3:06 am
Great WR? Without a doubt a future Hall of Famer. Probably in the top 3 in route runners in the NFL currently. When motivated has a work ethic bordering on obsession. Unfortunately, off the field he makes the boys from Delta Tau Chi (Animal House Reference), look like pillars of society. He will always be Antonio Clown or Cornholio Clown to me. But, I wouldn’t have a problem with his scoring the game winning TD to win the Super Bowl.
December 30th, 2021 at 5:29 am
It’s undeniable that AB has made some dumb decisions as he is maturing through life. WHO HASNT. Just reading the hyprocrisy in the comments though is annoying. Athletes are still human. I would wager a bet that EVERY person in this world today has an Antonio Brown somewhere in their family. I refuse to define AB on a small fragment of his life. Why do we expect those athletes to be perfect and not make mistakes as they are maturing. Because they get paid millions? Doesn’t work that way.
Its interesting some organizations are more tolerant of past indiscretions and I respect the handling of AB here in Tampa. A globally respected man Tony Dungy has written some inspirational stuff and I would like to believe his time in Tampa laid the foundation of the culture with Bucs football (along with ownership) where AB gets to continue to play football and grow as a man. Go Bucs!
December 30th, 2021 at 11:53 am
As much as I love Evans and Godwin neither have that special level of God-given talent that Antonio Brown possesses. He is a true elite.
With his personality and character flaws I think it is AB’s incredibly good fortune to come to this franchise and be availed the opportunity to learn from from the examples of Evans, Godwin, JPP, and, of course, Tom Brady.