{"id":80459,"date":"2020-02-06T19:09:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T00:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=80459"},"modified":"2021-05-26T06:40:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T10:40:40","slug":"antonio-brown-apologizes-to-the-pittsburgh-steelers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/02\/06\/antonio-brown-apologizes-to-the-pittsburgh-steelers\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonio Brown Apologizes to the Pittsburgh Steelers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown<\/strong> spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>. He was drafted to the Black and Gold back in 2010. Brown\u2019s split from the franchise after the 2018 season was shrouded in drama. His apology comes on the heels of a series of apologies the former Steeler has delivered since his interview with <\/span>Josina Anderson <\/b>last week<\/span>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Antonio Brown Issues Apology to the Team That Drafted Him<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThey Gave Me an Opportunity When I Was 21 Years Old \u2026\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n

Brown apologized on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan yesterday. Back in Pittsburgh, Brown explained that he is sorry for being a distraction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys gave me an opportunity when I was 21 years old. I\u2019m forever grateful to those guys,\u201d said Brown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown told the radio station, \u201cI apologize to those guys for the distractions, the unwanted attention that I probably caused those guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite being asked directly if he had anything specific to say to his former quarterback <\/span>Ben Roethlisberger<\/b>, his former head coach <\/span>Mike Tomlin <\/b>or team owner <\/span>Art Rooney II,<\/b> Brown didn\u2019t specify. He instead addressed the organization as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo the organization. Obviously you want to clear out and disrespect or unintended attention that was brought to the organization.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Juju Smith-Schuster Fit Into All This?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Steelers drafted rookie wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster back in 2018. As many expected, he was taken under AB\u2019s wing. The two were seen early on in the season as a powerful and dynamic duo, even celebrating one another with dances and jokes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They are now known for their contentious relationship on social media. They\u2019ve each exchanged jabs via Twitter and Instagram. The most recent incident between the former teammates came when Brown posted a throwback picture of him and Smith-Schuster with the caption, \u201cIt\u2019s all about inspiring the culture; it\u2019s all love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith-Schuster <\/span>responded to the post on twitter.<\/span><\/a> The young wide receiver tweeted, “Unblock me so we can talk then.”<\/p>\n

Smith-Schuster was mentioned by name in Brown\u2019s interview with The Fan. Brown said the younger wide receiver showed him disrespect on social media after he was first traded from the Steelers to the <\/span>Oakland Raiders<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Football Fit Into All This?<\/span><\/h3>\n

After administrative issues with the Raiders, Brown found his way to Foxborough where he played one game for the New England <\/a><\/span>Patriots. Since the Patriots released him amid sexual assault investigations following a lawsuit levied by his former trainer, <\/span>Britney Taylor<\/b>, Brown has been a free agent in the NFL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his elongated off-season, the former wide receiver has not been absent from headlines. Brown was most recently arrested in Hollywood, FL on charges of burglary and battery. Released on bail, Brown said he still doesn\u2019t know what is next for him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a free agent he is still eligible to be picked up by teams ahead of the 2020 season. Fans and analysts alike have speculated that starting his apology tour at ESPN could be an indication that the former wide receiver hasn\u2019t given up on the NFL.<\/span><\/p>\n

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell<\/strong> isn’t ready to discuss the free agent\u2019s future in the league quite yet. Last month, Goodell told media he is more concerned for Antonio Brown the person than the prospect of his return.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to help him get on the right track, get him in a position where he can be successful in life. We are confident that can happen,\u201d Goodell said. \u201cWe want to work hard to do that. From our standpoint, that is the first step. The first step is making sure that we\u2019re doing everything to help Antonio.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown told 93.7 The Fan that he doesn\u2019t know what will come.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do right now,\u201d said Brown. \u201cI\u2019m taking it one day at a time.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>