What the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should expect from the signing of WR Antonio Brown
Recently, the Bucs signed WR Antonio Brown to a one-year deal, loaded with incentives, to see what the troubled player may be able to add to the Tampa Bay offense.
Many on the outside looking in saw this as a bad move, only remembering what we saw the last time Brown was part of an NFL organization.
It’s true, when AB was last in the league, there wasn’t a lot to be happy about in terms of his character. After the trade from Pittsburgh, the wheels seemed to come off the bus. His feet were damaged from cryotherapy, the helmet ordeal, lashing out at Raiders practices, all culminating in him being released by the then Oakland Raiders.
New England took a shot on the player. Who wouldn’t? When on the field the man is a machine, arguably the very best we’ve seen play in a long time. We all know, though, this is a “what have you done for me lately” league.
What is also lost in the judgment, is that Antonio Brown was not on a roster when he had his most recent suspension. The Patriots had released him before the punishment could come down from the civil suit levied against him.
There have been some locker room issues, albeit minor, until the end with the Steelers. Late to meetings, being caught with his phone out when that was not allowed, and other, somewhat typical outbursts of diva-like behavior if things didn’t go his way on the field.
Reports dating back to February show that Brown has been in therapy for mental health issues, and although bridges were burned, the last relationship he had with the ex-QB of the Patriots has stayed very fresh, and supportive.
I’ve written a lot about the issues that could be in play, and this is more about how those issues may have finally be addressed, like the lack of consistency in his life dating back to childhood. How his helmet became a sort of a security blanket, since he had used the same exact helmet for nine years, and then they told him he couldn’t any longer.
That was most likely the breaking point, similar to when you start to ween off your toddler’s blanket, he has gotten used to it, doesn’t want to let it go. The difference is, Browns’ whole identity was tied to that helmet. At least to him.
The fact Tom Brady wants Antonio Brown should speak volumes
These issues seem to be at bay, and the fact that Tom Brady wants him in Tampa, should speak volumes. Brown stayed at Brady’s house for a time in New England, so there is a strong bond there.
So let’s get back to what we know about the player. Until 2019, Brown was able to amass six straight seasons of over 100 receptions, over 1200 yards, and 5 of those seasons he had double-digit touchdown catches. The year he didn’t, he had nine.
Antonio Brown signing with Tampa Bay is a major win for both the team and the player. Considering the past, what he has done since his last team sent him packing (should be noted once again, he wasn’t released for something he did while he was a Patriot), which is received therapy, life coaching, and stayed in touch with positive people.
One of the big things to happen in his private life recently, he has stayed off social media. This once was a major issue for him, trying to get attention from Twitter, and Instagram, he would find himself in situations he couldn’t get out of. But he’s not been on Twitter in a while.
There is progress. He has been given direction from Coach Arians, “Be a team player, or you’re out”, and his QB trusts him. The strengths he brings to the offense, one that has seen both starting WRs miss time due to injury, are off the charts.
He won’t be able to play until Week 9, but he can practice, so he will have a jump on the playbook before he hits the field. Two months to show that he can be what he was, a perennial All-Pro WR, that will end up in a gold jacket.
Since Brown is starting from the bottom, the only way to go is up.