OT: Antonio Brown is ridiculous
First he gets frostbite on his feet from going in a cryotherapy machine barefoot, and now he's threatening to not play if he can't wear his old helmet, which is not up to safety standards anymore. The guy is good at what he does, but IMO not worth the headache he brings.
https://deadspin.com/report-antonio-brown-is-threatening-to-quit-football-o-1837109513/amp
He's definitely good at being a grade A douche, that is for sure.
May be a Grade A douche. May be a gigantic pain in the ass. But he gets paid to produce and produce he does.
August 10th, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
There were actually 32 players whose helmets were banned prior to the 2018 season including Brown as well as Tom Brady. Although their helmets were banned, several players (including Brady and Brown) were given a one-year grace period where they were allowed to wear their old helmet while they started the search for a new helmet. There are a total of 32 players, including Brady, who wore an illegal helmet last season and will have to make a switch for 2019.
Brady actually tried to wear a new helmet for about 2 games last season, but he ended up switching back to the Riddell VSR-4 that everyone is familiar with. There are now 34 different approved models. It looks like Brady will now wear the Riddell SpeedFlex helmet. It sounds like the transition wasn't easy for Brady.
Water is wet.
Gruden just doesn't seem like the kind of guy to put up with this shit. I suspect however that Brown will be out of the field for the opener.
He seems exactly like the kind of guy to put up with this shit, since he signed him and all.
Fire up chips
AB took this motto too far..
Excited to see how they cover these “issues” in the upcoming Hard Knocks episode
Apparently they found him? I heard this morning he was MIA from the team. Can't wait for hardknocks on Tuesday night.
Stupid is....as stupid does.
I can't blame him for only drinking real Cambodian breast milk. Delicious.
I only drink the finest breast milks.
August 10th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
Grow up. I gave that stuff up before i was 14.
August 10th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
I read this in Creed's voice.
Heard Brady was selling his house for a cool 40m.
There's winners and losers.
Uh. What?
I'm pretty sure AB is doing OK for himself financially.
I'm sure there's a point here, but I don't know what it is.
August 10th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
Lmao I think he’s referring to me, when he talks about losers. I can’t even sell mine for 350k
I wonder if he is serious about this helmet ? Or maybe it is just a scheme for attention or an excuse to skip practice.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
I'm thinking this as well, like maybe his feet are in bad shape from the frostbite and he is using this to buy time. He could be worried about his contract being voided for his negligence with the cryo treatment.
Or clowns gonna clown
August 10th, 2019 at 7:51 AM ^
Actually, refusing to wear league-mandated safety equipment is a FAR quicker way to get your contract voided by the team, as opposed to an off-season injury from a questionable therapy session.
This stuff has to be scripted for Hard Knocks.
Sounds like a teenager in an adult body. Some people just never grow up.
Sounds even more like someone suffering from a mental disorder. Some people crack under the strain.
August 10th, 2019 at 12:58 AM ^
Or cte
And a disproportionate number of them seem to be WRs.
Braylon says hello! Plaxico, Charles Rogers, TO, Ochocinco, Steve Smith, on and on and on....
August 10th, 2019 at 9:34 AM ^
Not sure I'd put TO in that group... Dude was a Grade A prima donna, but he wasn't a total whack job like those other asshats. I don't think one teammate, or coach, of TO's ever had an issue with him. He said some weird shit to the press, but did what the coaches wanted, and gave everything, on the field. I have no problem with him. The others you listed? Pure assholery for assholery's sake....
I say make him play week one with bare feet and no helmet.
As a Steeler fan, I can confirm he's the diva-est of wide receiver divas, which is saying something.
Is he worth the headaches? It's a close question. I don't know, man. The guy balls on the field. He is a totally elite difference maker who wrecks defenses. Paired with Ju-Ju, that was a difficult duo to stop.
I mean, look at his numbers from the past 6 years. They're just stupid. Cryoburns his feet stupid as a diva, but first or second ballot HOF stupid numbers.
YEAR REC-YDS-TD
2013 110-1,499-8
2014 129-1,698-13
2015 136-1,834-10
2016 106-1,284-12
2017 101-1,533-9
2018 104-1,297-15
I look at that and think how can he not be worth it?
I've always wondered how much Ben contributed to the "dysfunction" reportedly coming from the Steelers that was attributed to AB, Le'Veon, etc. but they've had a ton of success so it doesn't really matter. Big egos don't really hurt you if the guys are hard workers.
August 10th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
As a Steelers fan I can believe Rapelesburger contributed but Brown had to go. What I can’t forgive is getting a 3rd rounder in return from a team famous for getting fleeced in trades and being oblivious to character issues.
August 10th, 2019 at 7:04 PM ^
Lol unless AB doesn’t even play for the Raiders, then it’s loke a free 3rd round pick
August 10th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
As a Steelers fan I can believe Rapelesburger contributed but Brown had to go. What I can’t forgive is getting a 3rd rounder in return from a team famous for getting fleeced in trades and being oblivious to character issues.
His father worked at my high school 25 years ago. Let’s just say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree...
I love that he tried painting his old helmet and sneaking it onto the field. I hope an image of that painted helmet surfaces.
Done well, an amateur restoration paint job is hardly noticeable.
If you are an NFL GM, star wide receivers are often more headache than benefit. It is better to round out your roster in the trenches and the secondary and get gritty WR's than blow your salary on some WR who has a huge ego
Perfect for Jon Gruden and the Raiders
I think it is pretty silly, but is he any different than other ppl in society? Like the guy who complains about certain regulations at a job, that are put in place by a company to ensure the health and safety of their employees. A lot of we see in sports is really a reflection of reality in a lot of instances. If he knows the risks involved with playing with that helmet, let him play.
Maybe. But I wouldn't threaten to quit my job because they make us wear safety glasses when we go down into the shop...
August 9th, 2019 at 10:48 PM ^
Employers are liable for the safety of their employees. The nfl and players association have agreed on helmet brands which meet safety standards. Given how deep the NFL’s pockets are and the tightrope they are walking vis-a-vis CTE liability, does anybody think they would let any player on any team play with an unsafe helmet? AB gonna get the goon hand on this issue.
I think you guys say around here "he gone"
Gruden might not play around with that attitude.
Raiders deserve all of the shitty stuff that comes their way for ditching Oakland for Vegas. Great tire fire choice for Hard Knocks.
Gruden is more caricature than coach ("QB guru" who hasn't had a star QB since 2001) and the league has passed him by. The GM is another TV guy and their personnel moves have been wildly stupid over the last two offseasons. Mark Davis is a walking case for the estate tax.
Hope Mo Hurst does well, though!
August 9th, 2019 at 10:35 PM ^
Raiders have fallen so far from their glory days & it will be interesting to see if Gruden can possibly turn it around. Interested, but not rooting for it one way or the other. BTW, the concept of confiscating money from a dead person's family will always be disgusting to me.
Cryotherapy frostbite is what ended Manny Harris' career. Why athletes continue to use it is beyond me.
Him and guys like OBJ are exactly the same. Among the best at their craft but full-on divas who cause a whole host of problems.
Thats where I wonder about the Browns this year. How are two high-strung personalities like Mayfield and OBJ going to work together? Could be beautiful, but it could also be a disaster.
Diva with a capital D
Vince McMahon is writing a helluva script for Hard Knocks.
So he did the ‘ole Manny Harris?