Antonio Brown’s life is a mess right now.
He is one of the most talented wide receivers to play in the National Football League; however, off-field issues and problems within his own mind have him as a free agent.
He was set up for potentially success with either the Oakland Raiders or New England Patriots, but instead his pride wants him out of the league as he stated that he “does not want to play anymore.”
Before the legal issues, Brown was in his hometown of Miami, Fla.
A sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft, he trained all summer with some gifted student-athletes – including Jerry Jeudy. Currently a junior at the University of Alabama, Jeudy is arguably the best receiver in college football and a top-five draft pick.
A native of Deerfield Beach, Fla., Jeudy’s game is similar to Brown’s.
An alumnus of Central Michigan University, Brown was a relentless worker that spent hours training on agility, change of direction and fine-tuning his body. His spent his first nine years in the NFL making toe-tap catches, setting up defensive backs with killer moves, working back to the quarterback on timing patterns, and perfecting his craft as the game’s premiere route runner.
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His career accolades include seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro selections, 11,263 receiving yards and 75 touchdowns. Brown was hands on with all the guys over the summer, but it was Jeudy that took everything in.
A five-star in the 2017 recruiting cycle, he was already a juke move sensation on social media.
This quickly turned into the tandem of he and teammate, Tua Tagovailoa becoming the best duo in competitions that featured elite high school talent.
In his third season with the Crimson Tide, Jeudy is the big star on campus.
Like Brown, he is the benchmark for route running at the collegiate level.
His blend of speed, route concepts, manipulation of defenders and making things simple for his quarterback rank second to none.
After winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top receiver) last season, Jeudy has picked up where he left off. He leads Alabama in receptions (30), yards (404) and touchdowns (six), while averaging 101 yards receiving per matchup through four games.
Pro scouts have Jeudy has the first receiver taken in the 2020 draft and while being around Brown was an interesting experience, there is both good and bad that comes from it.
The Good
-Work Ethic
Antonio Brown did not become the playmaking receiver he is today by sitting down.
He was constantly working to get better. His idea was crafting different ways to make defenders move where he wanted them to move.
He precisely set his routes up to give him the best angles for separation and provide the quarterback with a window to throw. Jeudy had a work ethic before arriving at Alabama, but training alongside Brown did enhance it for this season.
-Football conversations
He is a couple of inches taller (6’1”) and a few pounds heavier (192) than the former NFL superstar; nevertheless, Jeudy and Brown have the same body structure.
More than likely, Jeudy had questions for Brown on conditioning and how to adjust his body on different routes.
A conversation may have even struck up about how to maintain balance on certain catches along the sideline.
Anything needed to better himself and present him as an untouchable force in college football, Jeudy had to have been willing to consult Brown.
The Bad
–Excessive need for social media
Fortunately for Jeudy, he is not much concerned with Twitter, Instagram or any other form of social media.
He is not much of a conversationalist when it comes to the media as well, delivering straight to the point answers. The football field is where he does his dialogue.
This is a vast difference from Brown.
He is all about social media. Whether it’s getting his brand across, talking smack, trying to make a point (even if it’s not needed) or whatever the case may be, one rarely sees a moment where Brown is not on Twitter, Instagram, etc… In a time where people have lost touch with interpersonal communication, Brown is one that solely conducts things on social media.
Sometimes, the things he posts can be offensive.
Also, there are moments it becomes a giant distraction for the franchise he is employed by and gives talking heads of the media content for shows.
When he is not on social media, Brown gets the feeling of not accomplishing his job in trying to get the world to see how he views things.
-Diva complex/Bad teammate
Wide receiver is a coveted position in football, so it is not a shock to see it come with a “diva complex.”
Former NFL stars such as Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson or “Ochocinco” were divas at some point in their careers. Guys at the position want the ball every play and when it does not come, disruption and chaos happens on the sideline for the quarterback and coaches.
Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin had a number of run-ins with Brown’s antics in Pittsburgh over the years.
He had verbal spats with Roethlisberger and even took to social media on a few occasions to blast his quarterback. Even in his departure, Brown had some thoughts about JuJu Smith-Schuster that the third-year receiver from the USC Trojans did not take kindly toward.
Despite getting his money from the Raiders, he held out of training camp and was not participating with the team in the preseason. Following a win over the Denver Broncos in week one of the NFL season, Derek Carr told reporters that he wishes the best for Brown, but it’s not like he was here with the team. The whole issue regarding a helmet was such as distraction for Jon Gruden and general manager, Mike Mayok that the organization had to cut ties with him.
-Legal troubles
Brown has been fined by the NFL quite a few times.
In reflecting back on the helmet issue, Mayok fined him $54,000 for missing two team practice sessions and having multiple unexcused absences.
The 31-year-old posted the letter of him being fined to social media, had a verbal altercation with Mayok, and even punted the football while saying ‘Fine me for that’ to the GM.
Prior to his release from the team on Saturday, Sept. 7, Oakland fined Brown $215,000 ($269,000 in fines) for his altercation with Mayok.
However, it does not compare to what he is in now.
Brown is facing a sexual assault charge from his former trainer, Britney Taylor, in a filed civil lawsuit.
The situation occurred shortly after he signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million for the New England Patriots. He played in one game, posting four catches for 56 yards in the team’s 43-0 win over the Dolphins. Browns would later be released by the Patriots.
Overall
As an old saying would have it, “you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have the facts of life.” For Jerry Jeudy, it is the hope of Alabama fans that he gleamed the good qualities and let the bad traits of Brown fall by the wayside.
The young man is going to be a high draft pick and many are expecting great success. He is trying to win a national championship and maybe grab one more Biletnikoff Award before he leaves college.
Hopefully, he remains focused.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
