Antonio Brown makes unusual pitch to return to Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers shook off their Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers with a win over the Cleveland Browns this week but what the team displayed on the field had one former Steeler itching to put the Black and Yellow back on. Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown shared an old photo from his playing days after the first loss of the season, captioned: ‘Here me out…..’
Brown also posted, “Heard the Steelers need a WR……..”
The last time Brown was in uniform, he would take it off — literally — in the middle of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers road game against the New York Jets before parading around the sidelines.
The incident forced the hand of the Bucs’ brass and the two parties would go their separate ways following the game.
In seven games in 2021, Brown caught 42 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns. He was a shell of his former self after he strung together six 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons from 2013-18.
Since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown made a pit stop in New England for a one-game stint with the Patriots before settling down in Tampa for two more seasons.
Playing with the Steelers from 2010 to 2018, Brown accumulated 837 receptions and 11,207 receiving yards. His stats place him second in franchise history behind legendary wideout Hines Ward.
Brown embroiled in scandal since Tampa Bay departure
The wide receiver who ended his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has made few positive headlines since leaving the league. He took over the Albany Empire of the AFL but his ownership fell apart in stunning fashion.
The AFL kicked Brown’s team out as Commissioner Chris Siegfried reported that Albany owed $21,000 in league assessment fees.
The Empire’s coaches and players are also threatening a lawsuit against Brown and his trust after their final paycheck ended up leaving their bank accounts after they had already posted.
Empire wide receiver Fabian Guerra told the Times-Union he would join a lawsuit against Brown.
“I feel like this was his plan all along,” Guerra said in June. “I feel like he does stuff for social media and to sell his songs… think it’s just what he does. That’s the type of guy he is. No one trusts him anymore. I see it hard for him to get any future deals going because of how he is as a person.”