AB did a radio interview with a local station here
Antonio Brown goes in-depth on his tumultuous life post-Steelers
Antonio Brown goes in-depth on his tumultuous life post-Steelers
Former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown joined 93.7 The Fan’s “Fan Morning Show” with hosts Chris Mack and Colin Dunlap on Thursday morning. It was his first interview with local media since leaving the team in controversial fashion late in the 2019 season. Here are some of the highlights:
● On whether he had any apologies for Steelers owner Art Rooney II, coach Mike Tomlin or quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the way things ended in Pittsburgh: “I apologize to those guys for the distractions. The unwanted attention I probably caused those guys. To the fans and organization. So obviously you want to clear out any baggage or disrespect or unintended attention that was brought on to the the organization. You know these guys gave me an opportunity when I was 21 years old, and I’m forever grateful for those guys. To not only have the opportunity to play with those guys but be in so many amazing moments, and we’ve been through so much. So I’m forever grateful and indebted to the organization. Mr. Rooney. Mike Tomlin. Kevin Colbert. Ben Roethlisberger. You know I started my career with those guys. A lot of beautiful moments. A lot of amazing things. So it’s not all bad. I just think from an emotional standpoint, when stuff got bad, it just seem bad. But we got more good moments than bad.”
● On his recollection of Week 17 of the 2018 season, when he was benched for skipping practices before the game against Cincinnati at Heinz Field: “Well for so long, when you’re playing football, you bottle up so many emotions and you carry those emotions for years and years and years and years. And it just got to the point where I was like now I wanna have more ... (long pause) ... continue to live with my heart happy and really live in-person. Not unhappy. So for me, the last game, I had some adversity, but it was just time to move on. To do something more positive. I just was emotionally drained and just frustrated about how everything went down. A lot of stuff go down and people don’t know what really happens. People just write about it and make assumptions. But people don’t know the truth of what the emotions and what players really go through.”
● On why he felt like he didn’t get respect late in his career with the Steelers despite perception in Pittsburgh that he was the best receiver in the NFL: “I think I got respect. I don’t think it was me not getting respect. I think everyone was respecting me and my craft and what I went about it and what I did. I just think at the time, what was important for me was winning the Super Bowl, and guys and what we wanted to do. I just think we had a lot of things that were important to individuals, but it wasn’t really important to do the big thing, which was win the Super Bowl. So for me, I’m getting to the point where I’m older in my career, and the things that were important to me were winning. And I just think as a team and being around the team and being on the team for so long, having the chance to go to the Super Bowl one time ... (feedback) ... At the point I was at, I was just felt like ‘Man, guys on the team wasn’t really ready push to go get what was important, so for me it was all about getting that next carry and being able to be a winner.”
● On his mental state following his arrest and court-order psychiatric evaluation: “I’m pretty good man. Those guys put me in a crazy check, and I don’t even know why they did that. But I just think mental health is really important. It’s really difficult for me when I can’t even go out in the public, everyone coming up to me putting their camera phone. Everyone got an agenda for what they want to get from me. What they can make off me. So it’s good to be around people and talk to people that don’t have no agenda. That can support your mental health and just listen to you. It’s not about the material things or the money. People need support. Support and love. Meaning someone they can call, people that can listen to you. And people that can give them the right encouragement without no feedback of selfishness or wanting. So for me, it’s about surrounding myself with people that protect my best interests, people that will work as hard as me and people that are inspired to win. I’ve always been a guy who just wanted to win. Positive guy. I don’t really have anger. I just think I’m really bored. You know, football keeps a lot of my focus. And not being able to have that thing that took my energy, that put my focus toward allowed me to be bored and react to things I wouldn’t normally react to. So for the most part, I think that’s the case. I don’t think it was a case of anger. I’m a blessed guy. I’ve got a blessed life. I’m healthy. I don’t take it for granted.”
● On his social media confrontations with former teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster: “I never said anything about JuJu. The problem is when you’re Antonio Brown and you’re this big guy in this big spot, it’s like if someone [comes] at me negative I can’t even come back at ’em. JuJu Smith-Schuster was a young guy who’d send me DMs when he was in college. So much how he looks up to me. So much how he wants to work with me. And then you get a chance to work with me. You have your best season ever. I’m about to leave and you post a picture of you scoring a touchdown on the team I’m going to saying you ready. That’s a form of disrespect.”
● On his relationship with Smith-Schuster compared to his relationship with former teammate Hines Ward: “[Ward] didn’t show me the respect I needed. Or gave me the support or positivity I needed. I’ve never been to his house. I never studied plays with him. I never went over how to win or get open or how to do this right or how to do this. I gave the guy JuJu Smith all the positive cheat codes. All the stuff to be successful. And to watch a guy call me out when I’m moving forward for positive ... (inaudible) ... The first thing he do when I get picked is post me like he ready. So I just think, man, that people got to show more respect and be more considerate to others. And I’ve got to learn not to let people who come at me negative react because I’m the leader. What I do is going to be magnified times ten. So there’s no beef. I don’t have anything against JuJu Smith-Schuster. Why would I? I’m who he wants to me. I’m in a position that he’s striving to be in. So the only thing I want to do is encourage people and show people that it’s all about respect to me. ... I just think, man, people are twisting and turning. They’re making it feel like I’m coming after people. I have nothing to really come after people about. You want to call AB out? You better set your standards high like AB because if they’re not, someone needs to tell ‘em. I think that’s the problem with the culture these days. These young kids have no one to tell them the truth. JuJu Smith-Schuster running around here with 500 yards, and everyone’s speaking like he’s the world. The Steelers didn’t make the playoffs. That is a problem. But if we go back to the Instagram and everyone wanting to be cool. No one knowing respect. Everyone just clout chasing. Mentioning someone’s name to get on. So really, I’m just here to explain, really ... to give people the mentality of Antonio Brown because it seems like I’m always painted as the negative guy.”
● On getting respect after cussing at police on Instagram: “There are a lot of things people judge me on off reacting a certain way. But people don’t know why I react, the certain way that what I’ve been through. You never know what a person’s been through to react the way they react. ... I’m not saying no one’s out to get me. The police were at my house to help me with someone trying to take something from me. It took one hour. I’m not making an excuse. I could have reacted in a positive way. But you understand when people try to be negative and take stuff from you because all the time. You ever know what it’s like for someone to try to sue you to say they want to take money from you because of the position you’re in? You ever been in the position where someone write articles about you and the world takes it and runs with it? You can’t even defend yourself. So people don’t understand the position that I’ve been in. Is it an excuse for my emotional, negative reaction? No. There’s no excuse for it. But when you don’t understand what a person’s been through...”
● On his speeding incident on McKnight Road: “I was going to a meeting and they pulled me over and said “Hey, AB, you’re speeding. You’re going to fast. X, Y, Z. The traffic lights don’t even allow you to go that fast. It’s a light on every stop on McKnight. That’s what I’m saying. I’m always the person painted and put in the wrong light based off the position I’m in. That’s what I’m saying. So let’s be fair. Let’s treat everyone fairly. Then you guys just have JuJu Smith-Schuster in the car doing 100 miles per hour. Did you guys pull him over? No. He put it on video. Did anything happen? No. But when Antonio Brown in that position, it’s all over the news. I don’t have no disrespect for the police. I apologize to the police for my emotional reaction.”
● On whether he ever approached Ben Roethlisberger to address their differences. “Of course. I just think, man, over the course of time, a lot of stuff had just built up. Our last meeting was from that last week of 2018 and I met with him. And he was trying to slander me, like, “AB, man, everyone don’t hate me.” I just think Ben is really nonchalant to what people think about him. People are really talking to him behind his back. They won't really share to him in his face. So a lot of people who deal with Ben, it's not dealing with him out of the reality of what it is. And a lot of people are really nervous to tell him what it really is because based on the position he's in. So a guy like me, we had a real heart to heart to hash it out. But I just think too much stuff built up that it was too late. Do I hate Ben? No. Do I love Ben? Yes. Ben's a great guy. Great person. Great quarterback. All the disappointment and frustration we had could have been hashed out. But when guys' emotions and egos get involved, a lot of stuff goes different ways. Plus, he had JuJu Smith-Schuster. I guess, you know, that worked better for him."
● On his commitment to his kids to be a good dad: “My kids just went to school in the morning. No question about me being a good dad. My kid’s have 529 trust accounts. They’ve got a consistent relationship with their dad. You see my kids up there everywhere in Pittsburgh. I don’t think it ever was a question about my fatherhood or being a dad or my commitment to my kids. I just think, you know, a lot of things get twisted and turned. My kids are blessed, man. They go to a new school. They’re doing really good down here in Miami. All of them down here in Miami, Florida with me. So the kids are blessed, man. Everything is beautiful. It’s just a real adversity I have to go through. Everyone loves comeback stories, man. I’m in shape. 2020’s going to be a great year. And it’s a great opportunity to bounce back.”
