One year ago, the consensus best wide receiver in the National Football League was Antonio Brown. Today, he doesn’t play football. And yet, his skills didn’t diminish. He didn’t get injured. He wasn’t arrested. What happened?
One year ago, Brown had just finished his ninth year in the NFL. He was the face of Madden NFL 2019. It was by any measure one of the best first decades any receiver had ever had in the league. Having the unique ability to play any receiver position on the field and run any route, Brown eclipsed 10,000 receiving yards in fewer games than all but two receivers in NFL history. And, all of this from someone who was practically dismissed as a pro prospect coming out of college. Brown was picked 195th overall in the 6th round of the 2010 draft. It took him until his third season to finally break through as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brown was fortunate to be on a team where he was able to work with a Hall of Fame Quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger fed Brown nearly all his 837 catches. They seemed to share a mind on the field.
But trouble was brewing. In December, Brown got in an argument with Ben Roethlisberger. Angry, Brown skipped practices and then was benched. He was outraged the team would back their quarterback and overlook his value. In his mind, he was the cornerstone of the franchise.
The Steelers’ management, one of the best and most successful front offices in all professional sports, disagreed. Brown would get in line or he would leave.
Brown fired back and demanded a trade. If the Steelers didn’t see his value, another organization surely would.
The Oakland Raiders offered a paltry third and fifth round draft pick for Antonio Brown’s services. The Steelers’ front office didn’t bat an eye lash. Brown was out the door.
Six months later, after another temper tantrum, the Raiders released Brown and the Patriots signed Brown. Two weeks later [i] , with allegations of Brown’s sexual assault, threats, and lewd behavior swirling, he was cut by the Patriots.[ii] He hasn’t played football since.
Tens of millions of dollars flushed down the toilet. A career destroyed. And lives damaged in the wake of his destruction.[iii]
The author of Proverbs cries out to Brown:
In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:15-18)
Where has your pride caused you to dig in your foolish heels? Where have you excused your sin because all you can see is the bigger sin of the person in front of you? Don’t walk the path of Antonio Brown, friends. Walk the way of the light, the way of humility.
Photo credit: Bardown
[i] http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001051723/article/that-was-quick-antonio-brown-signing-with-patriots
[ii] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/sports/antonio-brown-patriots-nfl.html
[iii] It’s worth noting that Brown’s behavior is so erratic that at least one author has wondered whether it was caused by CTE. See https://brobible.com/sports/article/does-antonio-brown-have-cte/.