What Brown Can't Do For You?

Why the Antonio Brown experiment will not work for the Buccaneers

by Brendan Smith, Sports O'Clock Writing Team Member

Brown (left) will reunite with Tom Brady (left) and the Buccaneers in Week 9 (photo credits: NFL.com)

Antonio Brown is one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL. After a multitude of high profile off-the-field incidents, Brown had been unable to find a new home until the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him last week. Many reports indicate that quarterback Tom Brady was instrumental in convincing the Buccaneers to sign Brown even though head coach Bruce Arians publicly stated last season that he would never sign Brown. Once Brown clears COVID-19 protocol, he will join an already deep receiver room that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller, and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Even though Brown is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, there is a danger involved with bringing him into a new team. The Buccaneers will soon realize this, and there is a good chance Brown’s tenure in Tampa Bay will not be extensive for several reasons.

1. He will not be the No. 1 receiver

Brown surely knew this when he signed, but only time will tell if he grows to accept it. As previously mentioned, Brown is joining arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL that already has two proven number one receivers in Evans and Godwin. So far, when healthy, Evans and Godwin have been Brady’s favorite targets, while Gronkowski is seeing his targets increase each week. Brown will have to ease his way into the offense while he learns the intricacies of the playbook, which means he will not get a high volume of targets right away. In his last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown was unhappy with the amount of receptions made by fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which played a part in his eventual trade. We will have to wait and see if Brown can accept a smaller role than he is accustomed to.

2. He is unfamiliar with COVID policies

The NFL has strict COVID-19 protocols in place to prevent serious outbreaks that could force games to be rescheduled. So far, most teams have been able to abide by the protocols without any problems, including the Buccaneers. Brown has developed a habit of bending rules to benefit himself at the expense of his team. While such infractions could have previously been handled with a fine or a suspension, any antics from Brown that fall outside of the proper COVID-19 protocols could have disastrous consequences. If Brown cannot obey the COVID-19 protocols, the Buccaneers will have to be quick to make a decision on his future.

3. His track record speaks for itself

Since he was traded away by the Steelers in 2019, Brown has been an absolute disaster everywhere he has gone. He forced the Raiders to release him after a litany of issues, specifically public arguments with general manager Mike Mayock, complaints about his helmet, and a bought of frostbite resulting from a botched cryotherapy treatment. Brown then signed with the Patriots but was released after one game due to sexual assault allegations. While most NFL fans would like to see a new, better behaved Antonio Brown, there is no guarantee that he won’t revert to his prior destructive tendencies, which would hurt the Buccaneers chance at a Super Bowl victory.

Many football fans are touting the signing of Antonio Brown as the move that will help secure the Buccaneers a spot in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, even though the move looks nice on paper, the reality of the situation is that Brown remains a massive risk and could derail the Buccaneers season before it gets completely on track.

(All photos are cited properly. No copyright infringement intended.)