The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were without wideouts Mike Evans(hamstring) and Chris Godwin(ACL) against the Carolina Panthers(5-10) Sunday, but fortunately, they got back Antonio Brown, who missed the past eight games with an ankle injury and suspension due to allegedly misrepresenting his vaccination status.
The Buccaneers went on the road and routed the Panthers 32-6 to win their seventh division title in franchise history. At 11-4 with two games left, Tampa Bay is one game behind the Packers(12-3) for the best record in the NFC.
Back to Brown, in his return, he came up big! Brown had 10 receptions for 101 yards. Since entering the league in 2010, Brown has recorded 23 games with 10-or-more receptions – the most-such games in the NFL during that span. In addition, Brown’s 46 100-yard receiving performances since 2010 are the second-most in the NFL during that span.
However, after the game, the questions shifted to the alleged misrepresentation of his vaccination status, which he did not want to discuss.
When asked about being supported by Bruce Arians after another controversy, Brown said the following:
Next question, next question,” Brown said. “We just want to talk about this game… I don’t want to talk about that. You guys are all drama. It’s all about football. We’re going to talk about Carolina, or I don’t want to talk to you guys.”
When asked about the injury that kept him out, Brown said the following:
“It’s a lot of drama you guys create, a lot of drama that people create who want stuff from me. That’s a part of life, that’s a part of being in the position. I can’t control what people want from me; I can’t control what people write about me; I can’t control what people say about me.”
With Godwin gone for the season, the Buccaneers will need Brown going forward. Say what you want about him, he’s a playmaker, and if the Buccaneers want to repeat, they are going to need what he brings to the table.
Watch below as Brown talks return against Carolina:
