Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown has a great opportunity. Not only does he have a chance to get his career back on track, but he has a chance to play with Tom Brady again(played with Brady in New England last season) and an opportunity to possibly win a championship.
The 31-year-old Brown, who was suspended eight games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, is expected to make his debut on Sunday night when the Buccaneers host the New Orleans Saints.
On Wednesday, Brown, who signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay last week, practiced with the team for the first time, and according to Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians, Brown looked good.
“He was going full speed,” Arians said. “Everybody else was walking, but he was going full speed – that’s him anyway. It was good – guys were helping him [and] he’s got a really good handle on what we’re trying to get done [with formations] and everything. It was great interaction with all the guys, and it was a good start to the week.”
Brown was happy to be out there on Wednesday, which he discussed after practice.
“I’m extremely grateful to be here with such a great organization [and] to be around some great players,” Brown said. “For me, first and foremost, being away from the game for a year and a half – just to be able to be a part of the process. To be out there with the guys today was surreal – something I’m not going to take for granted, something I have a great appreciation for, a better perspective about, and a lot of gratification. To do what I love – it’s a blessing.”
Brown has had his share of issues over the past year, but according to the 10-year veteran, he used his time away from football to evaluate his life.
“I took a lot of time off from the game to re-evaluate myself, to look within, to get a better perspective of myself and working on myself within and without,” he said. “To be in this position, we followed the mission, and to get back on track is what I’m here to do.”
It should be interesting to see how Brown handles this opportunity with the Buccaneers.
Here is footage of Brown from Wednesday’s practice:
Photo/courtesy: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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