Still Curtain
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It’s over for former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown

By Jake Bendrick

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers waits on the field before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 18, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers waits on the field before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 18, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Oakland Raiders warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Oakland Raiders warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Why is this the end of the line for AB?

A lot of you already get it and probably think what I’m saying is redundant, but I think it fair to say that several fans around the NFL believe that Antonio Brown, based on talent alone, will find a team next year. They believe that team will deal with his off-field issues and once whatever suspension is carried out, he will help that team succeed in their passing game. Many, very recently, have decided that the Baltimore Ravens will be AB’s future landing spot.

Not. So. Fast.

First of all, nobody knows if and when the NFL schedule will resume, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We can already count on offseason minicamps being canceled. Training camp may well be pushed back into September if things go very, very well with the current social distancing and stay at home efforts by citizens across the United States.

What will the NFL do? A shortened season would be one possibility. If that were the case, why would a team take on a problematic wide receiver on the back end of his career? While we have seen teams like the Dallas Cowboys take a win-at-all-costs approach with the likes of Kevin Hardy, how often have we seen the approach succeed?

The New England Patriots have made it work with the likes of Randy Moss and Corey Dillon, but neither player came with the baggage that AB brings. Not only that, but the Patriots already tried the AB experiment and walked away when the talented receiver failed to control himself once charges of sexual assault were levied by a former trainer. If New England can’t reform you, who can? The Ravens?

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