Antonio Brown may have burnt bridges with Tom Brady, one of the receiver’s few public sympathizers.
Brown was critical of Brady while making an appearance on the “Full Send Podcast” this week to discuss his NFL career, with a particular focus on his controversial exit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown ripped off his shoulder pads and shirt and left the field in the middle of the game in Week 17 over a dispute about an injury, with the Buccaneers and Brown telling vastly different stories about what really happened.
Brown hasn’t put an end to the controversy, however, firing off negative comments about people in the Bucs organization, now including Brady.
“Brady can’t do [expetive] by himself,” Brown said on the “Full Send Podcast” on Friday. “But you guys are going to make it seem like he’s just this heroic guy. Bro, we all humans, bro. We’re all dependent on somebody else to do the job.”
Brady has won seven Super Bowls, six with the Patriots and one in his only full season with the Bucs. He arguably is the greatest quarterback of all time. He had also been one of Brown’s few supporters around the league, approving his signing when he joined the Patriots — and lobbying for the Bucs to sign him last season.
“To me, a friend is someone who’s got your back,” Brown said. “Not everybody in sports is going to be your friend. Tom Brady’s my friend why? Because I’m a good football player. He needs me to play football. People have different meanings of what friendship is.”
Antonio Brown on his friendship with Tom Brady đ pic.twitter.com/GjbLaQtlFx
— Full Send Podcast (@fullsendpodcast) January 7, 2022
After asking for empathy for Brown immediately following the Jets’ game, Brady sidestepped questions about the receiver later in the week.
“I think there’s a lot of personal feelings,” Brady told the media. “I don’t think this is really the week to discuss it though. I’m just going to do the best I can do as the quarterback of the team and try to put together a great week and finish strong.”
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