Antonio Brown Finally Broke His Silence Since Joining the Buccaneers
Star wide receiver Antonio Brown is on the doorstep of getting his first NFL action in more than a year. Brown has an opportunity ahead to become a significant offensive factor with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With that in place, the Pro Bowler has made his first comments since joining the franchise.
Antonio Brown inks a deal with the Buccaneers
Following more than a year away from the league, Antonio Brown secured his comeback with the Buccaneers.
The chatter around his status this season recently heated up as his eight-game suspension to begin the 2020 campaign neared an end. The Seattle Seahawks were long believed to be the favorites to land Brown, but the Buccaneers swooped in to sign him.
Their efforts were led internally by star quarterback Tom Brady, who has a previous connection with the star wideout dating back to last year with the New England Patriots. The two sides quickly agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million if it reaches incentives.
The last several days have seen Brown work with the training staff and attend meetings as his suspension neared a close. With that time frame finally passed, he has voiced his first public comments to the media.
Antonio Brown’s first comments since joining the Buccaneers
Since agreeing to a deal with the Buccaneers, Antonio Brown has continued to work with the team.
Brown took another significant step forward this week as Tampa Bay activated him to the active roster ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. All that opened the door to the 31-year-old making his first public comments to the media on Wednesday as he voiced his commitment to staying ready to go to play. (H/ Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
‘I’ve been spending a lot of time, working on myself, being resilient,” Brown said. “Even when times got hard, staying in shape, not listening to the naysayers, good people around me to stay encouraged. I tried to check every box to make sure I was ready to go.”
He also voiced that he used the time away to get himself “back on track” and to further assess his mental mind frame. In his brief time with the Buccaneers, Brown has quickly impressed his teammates and coaching staff with his physical shape despite being out of the league over the last year.
Brown has a situation in front of him that can help get his career back where it was as one of the game’s premier talents.
Golden opportunity ahead in Tampa Bay
The comments from Antonio Brown further clarify the importance of the opportunity ahead with the Buccaneers.
Brown may have the ideal situation that could greatly benefit his long-term NFL future. The 31-year-old has a chance to become a central piece to the puzzle in Tampa Bay’s offense behind his big-play ability. His previous on-the-field chemistry with Tom Brady could come quite useful in quickly establishing his role.
He will also have the chance to showcase that he’s still an elite talent in the league that would cement his future well beyond the 2020 season. Brown can become a critical piece to the Buccaneers’ offense that could provide them the separation as the clear-cut Super Bowl favorite in the stacked NFC.
Tampa Bay took the risk because they can only gain from the situation given the little financial commitment this season to Brown. Ultimately, it entirely lies on the star wideout’s shoulders to make the best of it.
