AB could’ve been a Bill, but now he’s a Raider.
AB could’ve been a Bill, but now he’s a Raider.
It was Friday morning when I woke up to the ecstatic news that was sent to my phone. The text read, “Bills got Antonio. WTF?” It had to have been too good to be true but when consulting Google, it was looking like the leagues best receiver was trekking to Western New York. Finally, things were starting to swing in momentum for the Bills.
I, along with everyone else, know Antonio Brown can be a diva. This past season displayed perhaps the most selfish behavior I’ve ever seen from an NFL player. Even T.O.’s sit-up interview wasn’t as bad as what Brown did during the season. As understandable as some of his reasons are, he just made himself look like the biggest jackass.
All would be forgiven if Brown came to Buffalo but I’m not sure how it would work. For one, I don’t think Sean McDermott would have tolerated Brown’s diva attitude. At the same time, all you hear about Brown is how hard he works and maybe they could’ve bonded in that regard.
Josh Allen is a young QB but having a target like Brown to throw does wonder for the young QB’s development. The question was would someone like Brown have the patience to put up with Allen? We all saw the fanned flames on that relationship with Ben Roethlisberger but I feel Josh Allen and Brown would’ve been fine.
Once more, a move like that could attract other big names to Buffalo, should all go according to plan. Brown could’ve been the man to prove that Buffalo can be a contender when the right players and the right situation are at hand. At the very least, it would’ve juiced up the fans. Ah yes, Brown in Buffalo would be quite the time.
Of course, nothing goes according to plan in Buffalo.
Now, Antonio Brown has joined the team that best suits his attitude, the silver, and black. Of course, they’re headed to Vegas in a very short amount of time and like the man they just signed, the Raiders are going for the money. Forget what people say about the stadium, it’s all about the money, money, money!
If Antonio Brown wants to be the highest paid receiver in the NFL, that’s his right. He led the NFL in touchdowns last season and has proven that he’s well worth the paper. The problem now is he’s just shot himself in the foot. The Raiders don’t have Rich Gannon, Tom Flores or Kenny Stabler. They’re a black hole of misery to which Brown may find he’s sinking in quicksand.
He did it to himself.
This is what he gets for saying that “he doesn’t need Football”. It appears that much of the Football world doesn’t need him either. Theoretically, should things go wrong with the Raiders, what options will Brown have for himself? If he falls off, no one is going to want him and by the time his contract with the Raiders is up, he’ll be too old to generate interest.
All he can hope for now is that the Raiders recapture the magic of those early 2000s Jon Gruden days. To many in Pittsburgh, he’s broken their hearts by joining one of their oldest rivals. Was this move by Brown did to spite the Rooney family? It’s possible but it would’ve worked a lot better if the Raiders didn’t currently suck ass.
Yet, this is such a classic move by the Raiders. A team that for so long has been known for taking the troubled players and making them into champions has been such a huge part of their lore. I know for a fact Al Davis would be crying tears of joy. Maybe the Raiders are onto something with this move. Maybe they’re on their way back to being the Darth Vader of the NFL.
The Raiders have some picks in the first round this year and they’re certainly targeting talent to build around the Carr-Brown connection. Truth be told, much of their focus is needed on the defensive side of the ball but this move might’ve just saved Gruden’s reputation after the unceremonious axing of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. Let’s hope Brown’s time with the Raiders is more Jerry Rice than Randy Moss.
And if it is like Jerry Rice’s, let’s hope the Raiders bring home a ring this time.
-By: Thomas P. Braun Jr.