The Timeline of the Antonio Brown Controversy

Photo courtesy of wikimedia.org

For those of you who don’t know by now, Antonio Brown, who was the best receiver in the league statistically and socially, doesn’t play for a team. Every team he has been a part of has gotten rid of him. Most of the reasons were disagreements between Brown and former teammates, but also former front office people he worked with. But the latest reason is because certain accusations involving Brown led to a team releasing him to be a free agent.

Brown has arguably been the best wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the past decade now. Brown is a seven time pro bowler, two-time receiving yard leader, two-time receptions leader and has been selected All-Pro five times. Now with all of these accolades, why can’t he and a team reach terms? Well one, it all depends on who he is willing to play for and two, which team would sign him after all of the stuff that has publicized through the media throughout the past two years. These are the situations he has encountered in the past year:

• October 1, 2017 - Brown threw a tantrum on the sideline after his quarterback, Ben Rothlisburger, missed him on a read. Brown was wide open on that play and that’s why he was angry. Rothlisburger then said after the game that he didn’t make the wrong read, he just didn’t see Brown because he wasn’t on his side. Rothlisburger said that Brown’s actions on the sideline were a distraction to the team. Rothlisburger then stated, “It’s just unfortunate that it happened, and it’s unfortunate the way he acted and reacted that way.” 

• September 16, 2018 - Brown was frustrated after the ball didn’t get thrown his on a fourth down play. Rothlisburger ran in for a touchdown instead. While the offense was celebrating, Btown walked to sideline and distanced himself from others. They ended up falling short to the Kansas City Chiefs that game, 42-37. An hour after the game, a former team PR employee tweeted out that basically Rothlisburger made Brown. Brown then responded, “Trade me then, let’s find out.” He later deleted the tweet and they supposedly “squashed” the beef they had between one another to get through the season.

• November 25, 2018 - The Pittsburgh Steelers were down by a touchdown with one minute left against the Denver Broncos and Rothlisburger threw an interception and slammed it all on Brown for wanting the ball in that situation.

• December 26, 2018 - In a practice leading up to their last game of the regular season, Rothlisburger demanded they replace Brown because he ran a wrong route in warmups. Brown then stormed out of practice and didn’t communicate with anyone with the team leading up to the game.

• December 30, 3018 - Brown showed up to the game assuming that he was going to play because their head coach, Mike Tomlin, excused him from practicing that week because of his knee. But that whole first half of the game, Brown didn’t get put in. That angered him and he left the stadium at half-time.

• February 16, 2019 - Brown tweeted that Rothlisburger “has an owner’s mentality.” Brown also said that Rothlisburger can call anybody out including coaches without any repercussion.  

• March 1, 2019 - On Lebron James’ Show “The Shop,” Brown said that Rothlisburger called him out by Rothlisburger saying, “AB should’ve ran a better route.” Brown then said, “Bruh you threw the S*** to the D-Lineman how the F*** ima run a better route?”

• March 2, 2019 - An ESPN interview aired Brown, saying that he would’ve loved being cool with Rothlisburger but that wasn’t the case. Brown then later said that they have both been to each other’s house only once throughout their time together and they never worked out together in the off season.

• March 10, 2019 - The Pittsburgh Steelers trade Brown to the Oakland Raiders.

• End of July - August 8, 2019 - Brown missed multiple practices because of cryotherapy injury with his feet.

• August 9, 2019 - Brown threatened to retire because the NFL banned the helmet he has always worn.

• September 4, 2019 - Brown got into a verbal altercation with Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock.

• September 5, 2019 - Raiders suspend Brown for the first game of the season. They also fined him $215k and voided his guaranteed money which was $30M

• September 7, 2019 - Raiders release Brown; he became a free agent. The New England Patriots sign Brown to a one year deal worth $15M with $9M guaranteed.

• September 20, 2019 - Following two accusations of rape, the Patriots release Brown after only having him apart of the organization for 11 days.

    After all of the madness that has happened in the last two years of his career, the question is we he ever get a chance to play NFL football again? Only time will tell.