Tim Benz: Feel no shame; wallow in Antonio Brown’s self-imposed misfortune
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This was too easy. I almost feel guilty about playing the “I told you so” card.
Almost.
Gonna leave this here for a while https://t.co/Ms5ywqMtiC @TribSports @TribLIVE
— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) September 20, 2019
Yeah, predicting Antonio Brown’s self-created demise in New England wasn’t exactly a stroke of genius. Especially based on how his tenures in Oakland and Pittsburgh ended.
Plus, as I wrote, technically, Brown’s time with the Patriots went better than it did with the Raiders. At least he got into a game and scored.
Behold. Video proof.
1st game, 1st TD for Antonio Brown as a #Patriots wideout. Pretty good throw too… pic.twitter.com/W1BUWJNcKV
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 15, 2019
Screen-shot that for evidence. Because the NFL may try to destroy the video.
They have some experience in that area, you know.
The internet’s reaction to Brown’s release from New England was spectacular.
— Benstonium (@Benstonium) September 20, 2019
Bill Belichick after two weeks of Antonio Brown … pic.twitter.com/hsuBFZ4Nht
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) September 20, 2019
Antonio Brown right now. ? #NewEnglandPatriots pic.twitter.com/OxCZOqa84w
— Drip Baeless (@MisterBaeless) September 21, 2019
A live look at AB getting kicked out of the Patriots facility #AntonioBrown #Patriots pic.twitter.com/yNgfTs2HOj
— Sean (@AmericanWolf_) September 20, 2019
Keep them coming ?? Do these ever get old?! #AntonioBrown #NFL pic.twitter.com/sarQvOttBD
— E (@e_kcco) September 21, 2019
Am I wallowing in Brown’s misfortune?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Do I feel guilty for doing so? No, absolutely not. Because is it really misfortune when the reasons for Brown’s collapse are completely self-inflicted?
I don’t care if 2019 turns out to be a rotten season in Pittsburgh. Any disappointment I may feel will be largely offset by my joy of seeing Brown implode.
Even if the Steelers go 0-16.
OK, 1-15. They do play the Dolphins, after all.
Let’s take the recent allegations of sexual misconduct against Brown out of the discussion. Let the legal proceedings determine his guilt or innocence.
But the alleged menacing texts sent by Brown to one of the women lobbing the allegations against the wide receiver are what got him cut by New England. That’s reason enough to have some level of schadenfreude, watching someone get something they deserve.
Some say Brown is mentally ill or unstable. He could be.
Some say Brown is suffering from CTE. Maybe he is.
I’m not going to pretend to know. If Brown wants to seek help to gain answers to those questions, good. I hope that, by now, someone has made that suggestion to him.
Until then, all I do know is that Brown has done nothing but repeatedly portray himself as a loathsome, arrogant, irresponsible jerk.
Foxborough is deemed to be the last bastion of professionalism in the NFL. Its reputation is that of a rare oasis for structure and discipline put forth by the head coach and willingly embraced by the players.
If you go there damaged, you come out fixed. And usually with rings.
Yet not even the Patriots could fix Brown. His personality is one of irreparable narcissism that renders him utterly uncoachable and unemployable.
Will someone else sign Brown? Probably. Eventually a contender will lose a good wide receiver to injury. The team will get desperate. Brown will insist he has been rehabilitated. And he’ll get signed.
If the NFL allows it. That’s not a given.
NFL indicates Antonio Brown *could* be put on the Exempt list if he’s signed by a team. Investigation continues.
Statement: pic.twitter.com/Zpzeip9ZxK
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 21, 2019
Maybe A.B. will wind up in the XFL and say “he won.” Why not? That’s essentially what Le’Veon Bell did this week when discussing his surprisingly undervalued signing with the New York Jets.
Until that happens, though, I’ll be interested to see how Brown will handle his biggest challenge to date — irrelevance.