An Easy Case For Antonio Brown
June 30th, 2023
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Antonio Brown is at it again, lashing out at a slew of new targets including Tom Brady.
Yes, Tom Brady, who has always had Brown’s back and once vouched for him with Bill Belichick. Brown can’t help himself. It’s always the fault of someone other than the man in the mirror.
His day of reckoning is coming.
Antonio Brown
Brown will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027, a stacked field that also includes Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Ben Roethlisberger and Richard Sherman as first-time eligibles.
Gronk, Roethlisberger and Peterson figure to sail into Canton in their first year as finalists. Sherman, a 5-time All-Pro corner who helped Seattle to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, was a key component of the Legion of Boom. He finished his career as a Buccaneer in 2021 and he’ll likely have to wait a few years for his Hall pass.
Now we come to the intriguing case of Antonio Tavaris Brown, who turns 35 in a few weeks but often acts out like a child.
By the numbers, Brown should be a no-brainer. From 2013-2018, Brown established himself as the league’s premier wide receiver. During those six seasons, an eternity by NFL standards, he averaged 114 catches, 1,524 yards and 11 TDs. He made the All-Decade team and earned first-team All-Pro honors four consecutive seasons.
Nobody could cover this guy and nobody could shut him up, either.
His average of 84.2 receiving yards per game ranks fourth all-time, trailing only Justin Jefferson, Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson. Brown even added four TDs as a punt returner and one score returning kickoffs.
A Gold Standard
Despite starting only three games in his initial two seasons with the Steelers, Brown caught 837 passes through his first nine years — more than Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.
“Brown was on a Hall of Fame trajectory, but he did not sustain it,” says NFL historian John Turney. “He derailed it. His peak was high enough, but certain milestones within his reach, 1,000 catches, 100 TDs, won’t be achieved — not because of injuries but due to his decisions and that will probably cost him the Hall of Fame.”
Not so fast, Mr. Turney.
Brown remains a compelling candidate for a gold jacket, but he’s not automatic. In presenting his case in 2027, you wouldn’t stand in front of the voting panel, merely say “Ladies and gentlemen, Antonio Brown,” and then sit down. He’s no slam dunk, even if his production suggests he should be.
Brown’s candidacy figures to generate the same kind of controversy Owens stirred up when he was first eligible in 2016. Like Brown, Owens compiled extraordinary numbers. And like Owens, Brown left a complicated legacy.
Owens received his gold jacket in 2018 and in typical fashion, he shunned the induction ceremony. He was pissed at the Hall for having to wait a few years for his bust, failing to acknowledge his failures as a good teammate.
Brown’s antics weren’t destructive until his ninth season with the Steelers. Late in the year, Mike Tomlin finally had enough after Brown skipped some practices and a team meeting.
Although Pittsburgh needed a win to have any chance at a playoff berth, Tomlin benched Brown in the final game. Despite edging the Bengals, Pittsburgh finished 9-6-1 and failed to make the postseason.
Brown requested a trade and was shipped to the Riaders, but he never played a game for Jon Gruden. Brady lobbied Belichick to add Brown to the Patriots, but Brown lasted only one game before New England had seen enough.
Brown helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl, but who could forget his meltdown at the Meadowlands that prompted Bruce Arians to say sayonara? Now he’s ripping the Bucs online, suggesting the organization didn’t do right by him.
The Bucs have been blessed to have big-time receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin represent the franchise in mature fashion instead of prima donnas like Brown and Owens.
The odds are Brown’s bust will be found within the walls of Canton someday. If John Madden is correct about the Hall of Fame busts having conversations with each other when the museum closes for the night, Brown’s bust should get what it deserves.
The silent treatment.
June 30th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Im ok with AB in the Hall of Fame for the same reason Gruden should be in the Ring of Honor.
How about doing an article on that IRA, you know, because when you think about it. AB should NEVER EVER be mentioned as going into the Hall if someone like Gruden WAS TAKEN OUT OF A TEAM ROH.
Know what I mean?
June 30th, 2023 at 7:54 pm
When exactly did ME13 mature?
June 30th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
What a KuKu.
June 30th, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Dear Ira,
If you are dumb enough to vote for Antonio Brown for HOF, I hope Sean Sullivan of Bill Currie Ford repossesses your Ford Explorer and Josh Martin of Florida’s Elite Restoration can remediate the mold in your brain.
HOF’s are not for reserved only for model citizens, but personal conduct should be a factor along with athletic production. Antonio Brown disgraced himself in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, New England, and Tampa Bay.
See Shoeless Joe Jackson, Pete Rose etc.
I will, however, send you a case of Big Storm Beer, if you can formally get Antonio Brown inducted into the NFL Hall of Shame. I’m sure you can wax eloquent on this nutcase and hs short-comings as a teammate.
TB
June 30th, 2023 at 10:45 pm
His stats belong to the Hall of Fame
but his personality belongs to the Hall of Shame
June 30th, 2023 at 11:35 pm
Not only his on and off-the-field behavior but he always seemed to battle NFL policies. He didn’t want to use a proper helmet when they changed it. He faked a covid test. I am sure he did other stuff the NFL would frown upon. He may end up in jail, and I don’t see anyone speaking up for his HOF entrance.
July 1st, 2023 at 12:29 am
I wouldn’t let this whack job mow my lawn. No business in the HOF
July 1st, 2023 at 12:35 am
This franchise had truly great men like Selmon, Brooks, Dunn, Barber and Lynch and yet this website concentrates on regurgitating the vomit like AB, much less discussing his chances for the HOF. SMH!
July 1st, 2023 at 1:42 am
And all but Warrick Dunn are in the Hall of Fame. And how many years ago was it that Dunn toted the rock for the Bucs, 15 years ago? Brown caught a pass in the Bucs’ last Super Bowl win. If you cannot see the difference, then neither Joe nor Ira can help you.
July 1st, 2023 at 3:34 am
Ira, you should be his presenter! Another Buc in the hall!
July 1st, 2023 at 4:29 am
AB doesn’t care about the HOF. Just cares about himself, and money. The hall should not want that type of player in. Imagine AB’s exceptence speach tho.
July 1st, 2023 at 4:39 am
brown is a disgrace.. give him the pete rose treatment
July 1st, 2023 at 7:43 am
I’ve stated this before on here, but they’re going to wait until he’s really old or when it’s necessary that one of his children will have to accept on his behalf because there’s no way the NFL is putting AB of today on a HOF ceremony stage with a hot mic and enough time for things to go completely left. Hell of a football player, that’s been established, but the dude is not a high character human being.
July 1st, 2023 at 7:49 am
No way he gets a speech on national TV. It won’t happen. If he ever gets in it’ll be long after he’s gone
July 1st, 2023 at 8:13 am
“ Brown’s antics weren’t destructive until his ninth season with the Steelers. Late in the year, Mike Tomlin finally had enough after Brown skipped some practices and a team meeting.”
I really think that severe concussion he suffered against the Bengals damaged his brain, specifically his prefrontal cortex. Check out the article about Phineas Gage on Wiki and you’ll understand why I think as I do. Here’s an excerpt:
Phineas P. Gage (1823–1860) was an American railroad construction foreman remembered for his improbable[B1]: 19 survival of an accident in which a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain’s left frontal lobe, and for that injury’s reported effects on his personality and behavior over the remaining 12 years of his life—effects sufficiently profound that friends saw him (for a time at least) as “no longer Gage.
July 1st, 2023 at 10:20 am
It is rumored that Brown changed for the worse after that vicious hit by Burfict.
July 1st, 2023 at 12:29 pm
His elevator doesn’t go all the way up.
July 1st, 2023 at 1:11 pm
He’s a horrible human being but as just as a football player he’s probably in the top 4 of his position all time
July 1st, 2023 at 2:59 pm
” Brown can’t help himself.
It’s always the fault of someone other than the man in the mirror.”
Hmmmmm, sounds vaguely familiar in a political way.
Lets face it…, brown has needed to be on Meds (bipolar?) for quite some time.
He knows he has screwed the pooch for his career and legacy.
Now he’s mad, and just lashing out at anyone that crosses his path.
If the media would just stop covering/reporting on his antics…, he’d just
disappear.
July 1st, 2023 at 9:18 pm
I get AB’s enormous talent. But he was always a me first player and the hell with the team.
His stunt his second year here could have very well cost the Bucs another SB run.
I guess I want guys who are team first in the HOF.
July 2nd, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ira as usual you are the man to give us info on Canton. Good job!
The HOF is gonna have to eventually draw some sort of line with off the field behavior.
Just a thought….
Why does it usually seem to be the wide receivers that are the biggest head cases?
Go Bucs!
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:45 am
Hey Dooosh on the Looose. Your contrarian quips are often thought provoking as well as humorous. But this one is a real dud. Sure, ME has flared up IN THE HEAT OF COMPETITION, but his adversary was always an opponent, not a team mate or coach. In fact, he was even saddled with a one game suspension for having his QBs back. As a teammate And off the field ME has always demonstrated maturity. His production is consistent and he guts out the injuries. I’ll take ME13 on my team any day.