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:
Antonio Brown to the Buccaneers is now official. On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they had signed seven-time Pro Bowler. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s a one-year deal.
The 32-year-old Brown was suspended eight games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and can return in Week 9.
In Tampa Bay, Brown will be reunited with Tom Brady and Bruce Arians, his offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, which should help him.
The 10-year veteran, released by the Raiders and Patriots last season, ranks in the top five all-time in receptions per game (second, 6.4) and receiving yards per game (fourth, 86.0) players with at least 50 games played. Also, he ranks 28th in NFL history in receptions (841), 29th in receiving yards (11,263), and tied for 35th in receiving touchdowns (75).
Over 131 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-18) and New England Patriots (2019), including 103 starts, Brown recorded 841 receptions for 11,263 receiving yards and 75 receiving touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per catch. He owns the longest streak in league history with 35-consecutive regular season games with at least five catches and 50-or-more receiving yards. He has recorded seven seasons with 1,000-or-more receiving yards, six seasons with 100-plus receptions, and four seasons with 10-or-more touchdown receptions.
With Chris Godwin out with a fractured finger and Mike Evans struggling with an ankle injury, Brown can help. In addition, when right, they’re not many wide receivers better than Brown. We’ll see what happens, but this move seems like a win-win for Tampa Bay. If Brown behaves, Tampa Bay gets a great football player. If not, they can cut him and move on.
Antonio Brown is back! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign the star wide receiver. The 32-year-old Brown has not played since last season after being released by the Raiders and the Patriots. Brown, who was accused of sexual assault, was suspended eight games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and will be eligible to return after Week 8.
Brown will be reunited with Tom Brady and his former offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians. After defeating the Raiders 45-20 on Sunday, Arians addressed the Brown signing.
Jake Paul has vowed to keep boxing as he prepares to make his professional debut against fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib at the Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami on Thursday, January 30, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.
After a fiery press conference in Los Angeles, Paul and Gib are in the process of completing their training camps in Big Bear, California and Las Vegas respectively, and Paul says he has fallen in love with the sport and wants to prove he is taking it seriously by not just beating Gib, but using victory to launch a boxing career.
“I see how big this is becoming,” said Paul. “It’s just the start of what we’re going to see, and that’s why I am so excited by it, I want to be the pioneer of this space.
“This is not a one-off stunt for me. I want to keep fighting, and I have a list of targets of people that keep talking shit, Antonio Brown, Dillon Danis, other YouTubers – the potential for this is massive, and I know that I will be the best ‘influencer-boxer’. I’ve fallen in love with boxing; I was watching my sparring back and just thinking, ‘I love fighting.’ It takes me back to why roots of being competitive playing football and wrestling.
“This is new; it is an untapped vertical for me. I look at myself as an innovator and a pioneer. I came into YouTube at a time when a lot of change needed to happen, and I was that change along with my brother. We went so big and viral and became the biggest.
“Boxing is making a huge comeback, and there’s a huge lane for ‘celebrities’ or whatever you want to call us to make huge noise. It’s a business. If we can see the most tickets, we’re going to make the most money and draw the most fans, and no-one can really hate on that. That’s why I want to be the best and most technically skilled ‘influencer-boxer.’”
Paul and Gib clash on a massive night of action in Super Bowl week with WBO World Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade (28-0 17 KOs) defending his crown against Irish challenger Luke Keeler (17-2-1 5 KOs), Tevin Farmer (30-4-1, 6 KOs) defending his IBF World Super Featherweight title against JoJo Diaz (30-1, 15 KOs), and unified World Super Bantamweight champion Daniel Roman (27-2-1, 10 KOs) defending his titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev (7-0, 6 KOs).
Missing the playoffs for the Pittsburgh Steelers was a colossal disappointment, especially when you consider they were 7-2-1 after ten games, but it all fell apart as the team went 2-4 in their final six games, including bad losses to the Broncos and Raiders, to finish the 2018 season 9-6-1.
As the season was winding down, issues started to surface. Star WR Antonio Brown, who missed the final game against the Bengals, was reportedly not allowed to play in the season finale after he refused to practice and attend meetings that week. Recently, according to reports, Brown had requested a trade from the team.
On Thursday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the following about Brown:
“We’ll look at all the options. We’re not going to release him, that’s not on the table. But I will say all other options are on the table,” he said.
Also, some have been critical of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who criticized Brown and rookie WR James Washington on his radio show after a loss to the Broncos back in November, which did not sit well with former Steeler and current Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders. If you remember, Sanders criticized Roethlisberger as a leader after he signed with Broncos in 2014.
Today, Sanders, who was a guest analyst on the NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning, gave his take on Brown, Roethlisberger, and the issues going on with the Steelers.
Watch below:
Mr Rooney doesn’t speak very often, so when he does he means it.
STELLAR STEELER: Pittsburgh wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN has 9,886 receiving yards in his eight-year NFL career.
Brown, who will play in his 115th career game on Sunday against New England, can tie CALVIN JOHNSON (115)for the fewest games to reach 10,000 receiving yards in NFL history.
The players to reach 10,000 career receiving yards in the fewest games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
FEWEST GAMES TO 10,000 REC. YARDS
Calvin Johnson
Detroit
115
Torry Holt
St. Louis
116
Lance Alworth^
San Diego
120
Jerry Rice^
San Francisco
121
Marvin Harrison^
Indianapolis
122
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
114*
*Has 9,886 career receiving yards
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Brown, who leads the NFL with 1,509 receiving yards and ties for second with nine touchdown receptions, can become the first player in NFL history with at least 1,600 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches in three different seasons, breaking a tie with Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON. Brown also accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2015.
With a touchdown catch on Sunday, Brown will record his fourth consecutive season with at least 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH and RANDY MOSS for the third-longest streak in NFL history.
The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
MOST CONSECUTIVE 1,200 REC. YARD & 10 TD SEASONS
Jerry Rice^
San Francisco
1989-1995
7
Marvin Harrison^
Indianapolis
1999-2003
5
Lance Alworth^
San Diego
1963-1966
4
Randy Moss
Minnesota
1998-2001
4
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
2014-2016
3*
*Has 1,509 rec. yards and nine TD catches through Week 14
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL –
CATCH ME IF YOU CAM: Carolina’s CAM NEWTON leads all NFL quarterbacks with 585 rushing yards this season.
Newton, who plays against Green Bay on Sunday, can tie MICHAEL VICK (four) for the most seasons with at least 600 rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Newton also accomplished the feat in 2011, 2012 and 2015.
The quarterbacks with the most seasons of at least 600 rushing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS WITH 600+ RUSH YARDS
Michael Vick
Atlanta, Philadelphia
4
Cam Newton
Carolina
3*
Randall Cunningham
Philadelphia
3
*Has 585 rushing yards through Week 14
— NFL —
PULVERIZING PEPPERS: Carolina defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS has 9.5 sacks this season and is closing in on his 10th career season with at least 10 sacks.
Peppers can join Pro Football Hall of Famers BRUCE SMITH (13), REGGIE WHITE (12) and KEVIN GREENE (10) as the only players in NFL history to have at least 10 seasons with 10+ sacks.
The players with the most seasons with at least 10 sacks in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS WITH 10+ SACKS
Bruce Smith^
Buffalo, Washington
13
Reggie White^
Philadelphia, Green Bay
12
Kevin Greene^
LA Rams, Pittsburgh, Carolina, San Francisco
10
Julius Peppers
Carolina, Chicago, Green Bay
9*
*Has 9.5 sacks through Week 14
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
WONDERFUL WILSON: Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON ranks second in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes and is second among NFL quarterbacks with 482 rushing yards.
Wilson, who plays against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, can become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and 500 rushing yards in multiple seasons, having also accomplished the feat in 2015. RANDALL CUNNINGHAMand CAM NEWTON are the only other quarterbacks to reach the marks in a single season.
The players with at least 30 touchdown passes and 500 rushing yards in a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
TD PASSES
RUSH YARDS
Cam Newton
Carolina
2015
35
636
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2015
34
553
Randall Cunningham
Philadelphia
1990
30
942
Russell Wilson*
Seattle
2017
29
482
*Through Week 14
— NFL —
BURSTING ON THE SCENE: New Orleans wide receiver MICHAEL THOMAS, who had 92 receptions as a rookie last year, ranks second in the NFC with 85 catches this season.
Thomas, who faces the New York Jets this week, needs five receptions to join ODELL BECKHAM, JR. as the only players in NFL history to have at least 90 catches in each of their first two NFL seasons. Beckham (2014-16) reached 90+ receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons.
— NFL —
CONSISTENT COLT: Indianapolis running back FRANK GORE has 941 scrimmage yards this season and has recorded at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his past 11 seasons.
With 59 yards against Denver on Thursday Night Football, Gore will join Pro Football Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH as the only players in NFL history to record at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in 12 consecutive seasons. Smith accomplished the feat in 13 consecutive seasons from 1990-2002.
The players with the most consecutive seasons with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS
CONSEC. SEASONS WITH 1,000+ SCRIMMAGE YARDS
Emmitt Smith^
Dallas
1990-2002
13
Frank Gore
San Francisco, Indianapolis
2006-2016
11*
Marshall Faulk^
Indianapolis, St. Louis
1994-2004
11
Jerry Rice^
San Francisco
1986-1996
11
*Active streak
^Pro Football Hall of Fame
— NFL —
BREES FOR 70K: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES ranks third in NFL history with 69,680 career passing yards.
Brees, who plays against the New York Jets on Sunday, needs 320 yards to join Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (71,838 passing yards) and PEYTON MANNING (71,940) as the only players in NFL history with at least 70,000 career passing yards.
The players with 70,000 career passing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
CAREER PASS YARDS
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis, Denver
71,940
Brett Favre^
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota
71,838
Drew Brees
San Diego, New Orleans
69,680*
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Brees, who will be playing in his 247th career game, would reach the milestone in the fewest games played.
The players to reach 70,000 career passing yards in the fewest games played:
LIVING LEGENDS: Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD and Indianapolis running back FRANK GORE continue to etch their names in the NFL record book.
Fitzgerald led the Cardinals with 10 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in their Week 13 loss. He has 1,207 career catches and became the third player in NFL history to reach 1,200 receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE(1,549) and TONY GONZALEZ (1,325).
Fitzgerald, who played in his 214th career game, is the fastest player in NFL history to reach the milestone (Rice, 221 games and Gonzalez, 247).
The players with the most career receptions in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
CAREER RECEPTIONS
GAMES TO REACH 1,200 CATCHES
Jerry Rice^
San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle
1,549
221
Tony Gonzalez
Kansas City, Atlanta
1,325
247
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona
1,207*
214
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Fitzgerald has 15,267 career receiving yards and surpassed ISAAC BRUCE (15,208) to move into fourth place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list.
The players with the most career receiving yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
CAREER RECEIVING YARDS
Jerry Rice^
San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle
22,895
Terrell Owens
San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo, Cincinnati
15,934
Randy Moss
Minnesota, Oakland, New England, Tennessee, San Francisco
15,292
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona
15,267*
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Frank Gore rushed for 61 yards in the Colts’ Week 13 loss and has 13,697 career rushing yards. He surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famers LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (13,684) and JEROME BETTIS (13,662) to move into fifth place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.
The players with the most career rushing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
CAREER RUSHING YARDS
Emmitt Smith^
Dallas, Arizona
18,355
Walter Payton^
Chicago
16,726
Barry Sanders^
Detroit
15,269
Curtis Martin^
New England, New York Jets
14,101
Frank Gore
San Francisco, Indianapolis
13,697*
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
SAINTS ARE MARCHING: New Orleans running backs ALVIN KAMARA (126 scrimmage yards with two touchdowns) and MARK INGRAM (122 scrimmage yards with a touchdown) combined for 248 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-21 win over Carolina in Week 13.
Kamara and Ingram have both recorded at least 100 scrimmage yards in the same game four times and are the first pair of running back teammates with four such games in a season since ROGER CRAIG and WENDELL TYLER of the 1985 San Francisco 49ers.
The pairs of running back teammates to record 100+ scrimmage yards each in the same game at least four times in a single season since 1970:
TEAM
PLAYERS
SEASON
GAMES WITH 100+ SCRIMMAGE YARDS EACH
Atlanta
Dave Hampton, Art Malone
1972
6
New Orleans
Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara
2017
4*
San Francisco
Roger Craig, Wendell Tyler
1985
4
Pittsburgh
Rocky Bleier, Franco Harris^
1976
4
Dallas
Walt Garrison, Calvin Hill
1972
4
*Through Week 13
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
RECORD-SETTING RECEIVER: Pittsburgh wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN had eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ 23-20 win at Cincinnati on Monday Night Football last week.
Brown, who has 569 receptions since 2013, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (563 from 1999-2003) for the most catches by a player over any five-year span in NFL history.
The most receptions by a player over any five-year span in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
RECEPTIONS
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
2013-17
569*
Marvin Harrison^
Indianapolis
1999-2003
563
*In fifth season of span
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Brown, who has 7,611 receiving yards since 2013, also surpassed Harrison (7,594 from 1999-2003) for the most receiving yards by a player over any five-year span in NFL history.
The most receiving yards by a player over any five-year span in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
RECEIVING YARDS
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
2013-17
7,611*
Marvin Harrison^
Indianapolis
1999-2003
7,594
*In fifth season of span
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
LEGENDARY LANDRY: Miami wide receiver JARVIS LANDRY ranks third in the NFL with 80 receptions this season.
Landry, who entered the NFL as a second-round draft pick in 2014, is the only player in NFL history to have at least 80 receptions in each of his first four seasons.
— NFL —
CLUTCH WILSON: Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON threw three touchdown passes, including one in the fourth quarter, in the Seahawks’ 24-10 win over Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football last week.
Wilson has 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes this season, tied with ELI MANNING (15 in 2011) for the most in a single season.
The players with the most fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a single season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
4TH QUARTER TD PASSES
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2017
15*
Eli Manning
New York Giants
2011
15
Drew Brees
New Orleans
2016
14
Blake Bortles
Jacksonville
2015
14
Peyton Manning
Denver
2013
14
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis
2002
14
Johnny Unitas^
Baltimore Colts
1959
14
*Through Week 13
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
JETS SOARING: New York Jets quarterback JOSH MC COWN completed 26 of 36 passes (72.2 percent) for 331 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 109.8 passer rating and rushed for two touchdowns in the team’s 38-31 win over Kansas City last week.
McCown, who turned 38 years old in July, became the third player in NFL history with at least two rushing touchdowns in a single game at the age of 38 or older.
The players with at least two rushing touchdowns in a single game at the age of 38 or older:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
AGE
RUSHING TDS
Josh McCown
New York Jets
2017
38
2
Doug Flutie
San Diego
2003
41
2
Jim Thorpe^
Canton Bulldogs
1926
38
2
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
DOMINANT DUMERVIL: San Francisco linebacker ELVIS DUMERVIL recorded a sack in the 49ers’ 15-14 win at Chicago last week. Dumervil ranks fourth among active players with 104.5 career sacks.
Dumervil’s sack of Chicago rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubiskyon Sunday marked the 50th different quarterback he has sacked in his 12-year NFL career. Dumervil is the fourth active player to have at least a half-sack against 50 different quarterbacks in his career.
The active players with at least a half-sack against 50 different quarterbacks:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
NO. OF QUARTERBACKS SACKED
Julius Peppers
Carolina, Chicago, Green Bay
74
Terrell Suggs
Baltimore
69
Dwight Freeney
Indianapolis, San Diego, Arizona, Atlanta, Seattle, Detroit
At times, NFL wide receivers can be divas! We saw that today with Steelers WR Antonio Brown. In the first half against the Ravens, Brown was wide open. However, Ben Roethlisberger did not see him; Brown was not very happy!
