Today could have possibly been the end of a massive train wreck. Antonio Brown decided to head to the locker room in the middle of a game, tossing his equipment into the stands. Coach Bruce Arians released him after the contest, which had to be done. This is the curtain call that no one expected.
From 2018-present, Antonio Brown has done everything to sabotage a potential Hall of Fame career. In Pittsburgh, AB ascended to one of the best wide receivers in the game. However, behind the scenes, there was a riff between Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers and the wide receiver were headed for a divorce. During that off-season, AB was traded to the Oakland Raiders. A change of scenery was something that could steer Antonio Brown into the right direction.
In a word: Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.
Brown would continue to cause headaches by missing practice and collecting fines due to his precious helmet being discontinued by the shield. GM Mike Mayock decided to be stern with Brown's antics. Brown responded by verbally attacking him. Coach Jon Gruden tried to defuse the situation between Mayock and Brown, but I believe that the writing was on the wall. The Raiders suspended him and took away his guaranteed money. Antonio Brown wanted out of Oakland. Without playing a regular game for them, Antonio Brown was released by the Raiders. The most alarming issue was AB's reaction afterwards. He was jumping for joy as if he was freed from a volatile situation. He was, yet he caused it. The New England Patriots quickly signed him in an attempt to rejuvenate his career. He played one game and looked like the old, playmaking Antonio Brown. This is where the Hall of Fame career of Antonio Brown can take off. It didn't. His tenure with the Patriots lasted one game due to sexual assault allegations against him, forced the team to cut him.
So, after this, the end was near for Antonio Brown. Until, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians rolled the dice and gave AB a chance to totally redeem himself (Dumb and Dumber reference. Nice!).You see, Arians was the offensive coordinator with the Steelers when Antonio Brown had his breakout campaign in 2011. When the signing was announced, my first reaction was "Oh, no!" Antonio Brown was productive and didn't cause trouble since Arians had him on a short leash. He became a safety valve for Tom Brady and actually scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl to help the Buccaneers win their second title. It happened. Antonio Brown was a Super Bowl champion and his career seemed to be resurrected.
You probably have figured out the pattern of this career. Once positivity appears, negativity is soon to follow. AB was suspended by the NFL for three games for violating the league's protocols concerning COVID-19. After coming back, the media asked about the situation which led to his suspension and he claimed that the media was stirring up drama, which he caused.
(Side note: I will continue to beat this comment into the ground like no other. I tend to do that. Why do you think I continue to troll Jed York for his "You can't fire the owner" comment or O.J. Simpson at a public appearance and I have to point out if O.J. is looking for the killer of his wife, which he vowed to do by the way. The point is don't say stupid or mind-numbing stuff, because I will remember. Anyway, back to the blog.)
Everything I have mentioned has led to today. While working on this, more news about the abrupt departure has come to light. A video shows Mike Evans and O.J. Howard trying to calm AB down, but to no avail. Then a report that stated it was Arians who told Brown to leave after refusing to enter the game twice.
Well, it's over. As much as it hurts to see this happen, Antonio Brown did this to himself.
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