There’s no reason to trust Antonio Brown. None.
As “Good Morning Football” host Kyle Brandt pointed out on Thursday, Brown is the master of managing a press conference. The newly-minted Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver knows how to say the right things in an attempt to get in the good graces of whoever is listening. But Brown is saying the same things — and I mean the exact same things, like expressing his respect for “offensive guru” Bruce Arians like he did with coach Jon Gruden — that he said when he was given a second chance with the Raiders (and, later, a third chance with the Patriots.)
It’s dumbfounding that Tampa’s decision makers — and anyone else — is expecting a different result.
Be very careful believing Antonio Brown’s BS. He’s good at delivering it…. pic.twitter.com/EDFpBxxhhK
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) November 5, 2020
When Brown joined the Raiders, he was fresh off causing turmoil in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room. “I bring accountability. I bring actions. It’s not what I say, what I do,” Brown told the media when he arrived in Oakland. But of course, he proceeded to wreak havoc within the Raiders organization, too.
When that brief experimental failed, he landed in New England. At the time, it seemed like the perfect place for the mercurial talent to fall in line for the first time in years — until the allegations of sexual assault and rape emerged. And it went beyond those allegations. He faced additional accusations of sexual harassment before sending intimidating text messages to his accuser.
"I'm here to elevate everything around me. I'm here to just be a surge of energy, of positivity, and good force. A great teammate and to bring out the best of everyone around me cause we all know it's not just about me."
– Antonio Brown at his introductory Raiders presser.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 7, 2019
It’s one thing to push aside Brown’s tantrums and antics. It’s another to push aside allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Knowing Brown’s history of saying all the right things and doing all the wrong ones — and allegedly heinous ones — you’d think the Bucs would be wise enough to avoid him, even if he remains one of the most talented players in the league. But that’s what the NFL does for its most talented employees. Morality doesn’t matter so much when a player elevates the football team.
Perhaps Tampa Bay feels it did its due diligence and has decided Brown has done enough to warrant another shot. That’s certainly going to be the company line. But if it’s based on the sort of sincere-sounding-but-empty promises Brown has made in the past, it’s worth nothing at all.
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