football

Two Players Accuse The New York Jets Of Mishandling Injuries

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2023 was all set to be the Year of the New York Jets. They swung a blockbuster trade to bring Aaron Rodgers to MetLife Stadium. That launched them right into playoff contention. Around Rodgers was a young, exciting core of players who could turn the long-ailing franchise into a perennial contender.

However, there has been trouble bubbling under the surface for some time. First, there was Denzel Mims, the intriguing 2020 rookie who became a terrible sophomore receiver and then beefed with the team with his lack of playing time. Then there’s the fact that O-Line cornerstone Quinnen Williams has removed the team name from his Twitter bio amid tense contract discussions. Now, much more serious claims have emerged.

Mekhi Becton and Ty Johnson Accuse Jets of Mishandling Injuries

FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 3, 2021: Ty Johnson #25, Josh Adams #26, and Mekhi Becton #77 of the New York Jets take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Two players have both come out with bombshell claims that the New York Jets mishandled injuries sustained by the players. The first claim came from running back Ty Johnson. A sixth-round pick by the Lions in 2019, Johnson joined the Jets in 2020. However, Johnson was waived earlier in 2023 after sustaining a torn pectoral during non-team workouts. After telling the Jets’ medical staff, Johnson claims he was pressured into undergoing surgery. After eventually agreeing to the procedure, Johnson was cut just days later. As a result, Johnson believes that this has negatively affected his chances to sign with a new team.

One day later (May 22), offensive tackle Mekhi Becton came forward with similar claims. While Becton is still on the team, he has put the medical staff on blast. His claims dated back to a position change ahead of the 2022 season. “I got forced to play a position I don’t play, and then I was pretty much telling them I wasn’t feeling good the whole time throughout camp, and I was told I shouldn’t be complaining,” Becton said. “Go out there and do it. I was limping throughout the whole practice, and I just took a step and my knee buckled and I got hurt again and had to get reconstructive surgery.” The Jets have not responded to either allegation but especially given that Becton is still with the team, it’s still to be a very tense period in New York.

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The New England Patriots Show Out For Taylor Swift

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It’s not been a great year for Boston sports. After entering the history books for a record-breaking regular season, the Boston Bruins choked in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics are facing a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs. Furthermore, the New England Patriots are still trying to find their post-Tom Brady identity. They went 8-9 in 2022, finishing third in the AFC East. While they added some new pieces in free agency and the draft, it’s unclear where their future is headed.

However, that’s not stopped the team from having some offseason fun. Taylor Swift is currently on her 52-stop Eras Tour. Starting back in March in Glendale, Swift has been crisscrossing the United States. May 19 brought her to Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots, for three concerts. And the Patriots were eager to show Swift felt some hometown love.

Mac Jones And Others Show Out For Swift

Leading the way amongst the Patriot Swifties was quarterback Mac Jones. The three-year starter headed to one of Swift’s tour stops alongside girlfriend Sophie Scott. “This night was SPARKLING ✨ I’ll never let it go 🥹💖🪩🫶 @taylorswift,” Scott wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of her and Jones. Jones also posted a clip from the concert to TikTok with a caption saying that he was “Entering Swift Nation”. However, he was not the only Patriot to show out for the singer.

The Patriots posted a video on their official social media in which a number of Patriots players revealed their favorite T-Swift song. While a number of players said “End Game ft. Future”, Jones’ favorite was “The Last Great American Dynasty”, with “Karma” being a close second. However, not every player appeared to be as much of a fan as Jones. Some of his teammates only knew one or two songs from the artist. Meanwhile, Swift’s tour continues, heading to MetLife Stadium for three shows starting May 26. Maybe we’ll get to hear Aaron Rodgers’ favorite Swift song. The tour concludes on August 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

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Tom Brady Becomes Part-Owner Of The Raiders

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Tom Brady is easily the greatest player in the history of the NFL. Overall, he has seven Super Bowl rings and countless records. However, he is no longer an active player. For the first time since 2000, we will be subjected to an NFL season without Brady. Ultimately, this is going to take a lot of getting used to for a lot of NFL fans. Although, for those who hate Brady, this is definitely something to be thankful for. Now, he will no longer be able to terrorize some of your favorite teams.

Subsequently, he has a lot to think about in terms of his life away from the game. Of course, he has his contract with Fox which is supposed to kick in as of 2024. Although reports circulated claiming that he would back out of the deal, Brady appears to be on track to hit the booth. Furthermore, he has been tied to the Las Vegas Raiders in a potential ownership role. Today, Tom Brady got one step closer to officially being an owner in the league that he loves.

Read More: Travis Scott Mentors Rookie Quarterbacks Alongside Tom Brady

Tom Brady Is Still Active, Even In Retirement

Tom Brady attends the Los Angeles Premiere Screening of Paramount Pictures’ “80 For Brady” at Regency Village Theatre on January 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

According to TMZ, Tom Brady and the Raiders have agreed to a deal. This would help make him a minority owner in the team. However, 75 percent of the league will have to approve the sale. This means 24 of the league’s other owners are going to have to vote yes on Brady. Although, it doesn’t seem like that will be an issue. Brady is a respected individual, and there is no reason for anyone to deny him this opportunity.

For now, it remains to be seen what kind of role he will have with the team. Perhaps he will get to make decisions on their quarterbacks and maybe even the rest of the offense. Or, he will simply take a backseat and allow his investment to accrue interest. Let us know what you think of Brady’s latest move, in the comments below.

Read More: Tom Brady Shares Mother’s Day Post Featuring All His Exes

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Travis Scott Mentors Rookie Quarterbacks Alongside Tom Brady

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In a star-studded reunion that probably very few people expected, Travis Scott and Tom Brady teamed up to lend important advice to rookie quarterbacks. Specifically, they attended a luncheon hosted by Michael Rubin that brought together a few different star first-timers in their transition from college field to professional NFL stadiums. Moreover, this group included the No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. Each had specific messages for the group, with Brady advising them to not let failure weigh down on them. Also, he remarked on not being satisfied with his pick at No. 199 during his draft, and how he kept aiming for more.

“I just outlasted everybody,” Tom Brady told the young players. “There’s another me back there. So how do I keep my edge on everybody? I had to keep working. I didn’t go, ‘Hey, I’m good, I won three Super Bowls.’” On the other hand, Rubin told the group that it’s not about your mistakes, but rather how you bounce back from them. “Every day we’re screwing things up,” he stated. “We’ve just got to get a lot more right than wrong and keep learning from it… The tougher s**t gets, the more focused I am.”

Read More: Travis Scott’s Biggest Songs

Travis Scott, Tom Brady & Michael Rubin Speak To The Top QBs Of The Draft

Meanwhile, Travis Scott’s message leaned more towards each player’s inner circle. According to La Flame, it’s important for each individual to have a core group of people that they can count on, learn from, and be free with. Not only that, but it’s also crucial to be able to hold them accountable, based on what the Houston rapper said. For those familiar with Travis’ involvements with Michael Rubin, maybe this link-up isn’t too surprising. After all, he was among the many famous guests at Rubin’s Super Bowl party.

Still, a big question must be bugging fans: “Trav, that’s cool and all, but where is Utopia?” He kept up a lot of teases and hints towards the album’s prompt release recently, making hype for it more fervent than ever. Even if he’s quite busy with that, it’s quite heartening to see him give his two cents to burgeoning players along with a business magnate and one of football’s greatest players. For more updates on these figures and the latest news on Utopia‘s release, keep checking in with HNHH.

Read More: Craziest Tom Brady Stats

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Legendary Running Back Jim Brown Dies

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Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has died at the age of 87, according to his wife Monique. Announcing the news on Instagram, she said that Brown had “passed peacefully” at their Los Angeles home on Thursday night.

Brown was a legendary figure who helped define the early days of the professional football. After a successful career at Syracuse University, Brown was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He retired after eight seasons and a pre-merger NFL Championship in 1964. After retiring, Brown became a prolific actor and community organizer. In 1988, he found Amer-I-Can, a program that helped rehabilitate gang members.

Jim Brown – The Man Who Walked Away In His Prime

Starting out as a four-sport athlete in Long Island, Brown committed himself to football and in 1954, joined Ben Schwartzwalder’s Syracuse Orange squad. While the Orange would win a National Championship in 1959, they went just 16-9 over Brown’s three seasons on the team. Their best season was in 1956, when they went 7-2 and made the Cotton Bowl. Brown rushed for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns that season was drafted sixth overall by the Cleveland Browns in 1957. Over the next eight years, Brown amassed 12,312 rushing yards and 106 touchdowns. He was the NFL rushing yards leader in all eight seasons he played and led the league in rushing touchdowns five times. Brown’s jersey has been retired by both Syracuse and the Browns.

However, Brown abruptly retired at the age of 30 and just one year removed from the Browns’ 1964 NFL title. Brown wanted to act and had been cast in The Dirty Dozen. But production ran long and Browns owner Art Modell threatened to cut his pay, so Brown hung up his cleats. He would go on to make 51 on-screen appearances, many as a leading man at MGM. He also enjoyed a long career in sports broadcasting and fight announcing, becoming the first black boxing announcer on a televised broadcast in 1965. However, Brown would also face numerous legal challenges throughout his life, being acquitted a number of times on charges of assault. Elsewhere, Brown also sought to give back to his community, serving as a major civil rights advocate, especially in his home state of New York.

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Antonio Brown Asks Cam Newton To Join Arena Football Team

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Things aren’t going great for Antonio Brown in regard to his ownership of the Albany Empire, a team in the National Arena Football League. After taking over ownership in April, the back-to-back defending champions currently sit at 1-3 in the standings. Furthermore, Brown has reportedly missed multiple payment deadlines for players and staff. This was enough for the head coach to quit. That is even if Brown is the owner of the team, which we will discuss later.

Things have gotten bad enough in upstate New York that Brown is reportedly preparing to suit up for the team himself. The current leading receiver on the Empire is Nikolas Brassell, who has 151 yards and 2 touchdowns through four games. But he might not be the only former NFL star joining the team.

Brown Asks Newton To Join “In Some Capacity”

ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Antonio Brown attends Friday’s at Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge on February 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Antonio Brown WNYT‘s Rodger Wyland that he had spoken with former NFL quarterback Cam Newton about joining the team “in some capacity”. However, Brown did not elaborate, meaning that it is unknown if the move would be as a player, owner, or even coach. As “owner” is trickier than it sounds, let’s start with the player possibility. While a major stretch, especially with Newton eager to rejoin the NFL, maybe this is where Newton’s next step is. Arena football doesn’t have a traditional QB position, but Newton’s speed could see him take the field as a receiver or rusher.

However, even the more likely prospect of an ownership role is unlikely. Despite claiming he owns the team, investigations have discovered that Brown has no actual control over the Empire. Abigal Rubel of The Times Union found that a “foreign national” named Antonio El-Allah is the actual owner and Brown is simply a representative of El-Allah’s ownership trust. Furthermore, Rubel’s investigation uncovered a bizarre web of shell corporations and layers of ownership both linked to Brown and other entities. Therefore, it’s unclear how Newton would become involved, or who he would even be involved with. When asked directly who El-Allah was, Brown simply told Rubel “that’s a good question”. What do you think of the situation? Let us know in the comments.

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San Francisco To Host Super Bowl 60

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In January 1967, the respective champions of the rival AFL and NFL American Football leagues met at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first AFL-NFL Championship Game. The Vince Lombardi-coached Green Bay Packers dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 and thus, the Super Bowl was born. The game would adopt the now iconic moniker in 1970. That coincided with the merger between the two leagues to create the modern NFL. Originally played in January, the Super Bowl has been played on one of the first two Sundays of February since 2004.

The last major milestone in Super Bowl history was Super Bowl 50. It was held at Levi’s Stadium, home of the 49ers, and won by Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos. Super Bowl 60 is set to take place in 2026. Furthermore, the Bay Area is pegged to play host to another major milestone.

Sources Expect Bay Area Super Bowl

The 49ers playing at Levi's Stadium
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: San Francisco 49ers warm up before their game against the Miami Dolphins at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec.4, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)

According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Levi’s Stadium is expected to be named the host of Super Bowl 60. This will be finalized during next week’s NFL Owners Meeting in Minneapolis. This comes after conversations at the NFL League meetings in March all but confirmed the bid’s success. The Niners also sought a $120 million loan from the league to make renovations to Levi’s Stadium. The upgrades to premier seating areas and scoreboard are being done in regard to both the 2026 World Cup and the potential of hosting future Super Bowls.

Super Bowl 60 will become the third future Super Bowl with a confirmed location. Super Bowl 58 (2024) is scheduled to be hosted at the Raiders‘ Allegiant Stadium in Nevada. Meanwhile, Super Bowl 59 (2025) will be held at the Ceasers Superdome in New Orleans. If San Francisco is confirmed as the host of Super Bowl 60, it will mark just the third time the NFL’s biggest game has come to the Bay Area. As mentioned, Super Bowl 50 was held at Levi’s Stadium in 2016. However, the area also hosted Super Bowl 19 in 1985. That game, contested by the 49ers and Dolphins, was played at Stanford Stadium. Furthermore, a San Francisco Super Bowl would be the third Super Bowl held in the Western United States since 2020. How do you feel about San Francisco hosting the Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments.

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Antonio Brown Considers Suiting Up For Arena League Team

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In April 2023, former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown announced that he was stepping into the world of sports ownership. His avenue of choice was the National Arena Football League, where he assumed 95% ownership of the Albany Empire. However it has not been happy takeover. In the words of former head coach, Damon Ware, “It became all about him, not the football team,” Ware said. “We built a wonderful organization over three years — he came in and killed it.”

However, despite being the back-to-back defending champions, the Empire have struggled this season. After blowing out the Orlando Predators 70-33 in their first game of the season, they have dropped the next three. This has come amongst allegations that Brown has missed multiple payments, with players and staff supposed to be paid on a weekly schedule. Now, Brown is considering another course of action for the team.

Brown To Play Arena Football

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 19: Professional football player Antonio Brown performs with GloUpJake at the Summer Smash Festival at Douglass Park on June 19, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage)

According to a representative for Brown, the former All-Pro wideout will be ready to play as early as May 27, when the Empire hosts the Fayetteville Mustangs. “He wants his team to win and give the community a good show,” the rep tells us. “But, we will see.” However, TMZ confirmed with the NAFL League Office that Brown had not yet submitted a player contract. The current leading receiver on the Empire is Nikolas Brassell, who has 151 yards and 2 touchdowns through four games.

Brown last played in the NFL in 2021, concluding a tumultuous stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via a memorable exit from a game against the Jets. Before he began to run into numerous off-field issues around 2020, Brown was an elite receiver. A seven-time Pro Bowler and four All-Pro, Brown racked up 12,291 receiving yards and 83 receiving touchdowns during his career. This is a developing story and you’ll find any updates here on HotNewHipHop. Do you want to see Brown back on the field? Let us know in the comments.

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Deion Sanders Flexes Custom Ford F-650

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Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, has been making waves ever since he arrived at Folsom Field to lead the hapless Colorado Buffaloes NCAA football program. Despite the team not playing a competitive snap yet, everyone wants in on Prime’s vision. Furthermore, the Buffaloes’ Spring Game sold out for the first time in history, and attendance outnumbered the last nine games combined. It’s a new era in Colorado.

However, not everyone has been a fan. Sanders raised eyebrows with his liberal use of the transfer portal. According to OurLads, nine of Colorado’s 11 projected starters on defense are transfers. Meanwhile, 46 of Colorado’s 83 scholarship players have left the program. Sanders has completely rebuilt the program but their success in a loaded Pac-12 remains to be seen. Colorado’s last winning season was in 2016, when they went 10-4. They have won a combined nine games across the last three seasons.

Coach Prime’s Newest Transfer

However, Coach Prime has proudly unveiled his latest addition to the Buffaloes – a customized F-650. The base model of the heavy-duty truck retails for $150,000. Sanders’ version includes multiple customizations, including a large “PRIME” logo on the front grille. Showing off the truck, Sanders joked “You gotta jump like Ja Morant to get in my car.” Safe to say that Sanders was very excited, “My baby’s here,” Sanders said. “They just told me my baby’s here. They just told me my baby’s here. My baby’s here. My baby’s here. My baby’s here. They just told me my baby’s here. Lord I thank you!” Six years ago, Shaq bought a similarly kitted out F-650 for $125,000.

Colorado’s season begins on September 2 by traveling to National Champion runners-up TCU. They will also face Nebraska and Colorado State in the non-conference slate before beginning Pac-12 play at Oregon. Pre-season media voting has not yet occurred but it’s safe to assume that Colorado will be near the top of the projected standings. How do you think Colorado will do this season? Let us know in the comments below.

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Antonio Brown’s Biggest Scandals

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Antonio Brown is one of the most successful and influential NFL players of the 2010s. Brown, frequently referred to by his initials, AB, started his professional career after an exemplary college football performance at Central Michigan University. Brown’s performance led him to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. Brown was born in Miami, Florida, in July 1988. AB is the son of retired Arena Football League star Eddie “Touchdown” Brown, named the best player in the league’s history in 2006.

Brown’s contributions to the NFL have earned him a place among the league’s elite. His exceptional athleticism, agility, and uncanny ability to make pivotal plays have made him a household name in American football. Brown has earned seven Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro recognitions, and multiple seasons leading the NFL in receiving yards and receptions. AB spent nine seasons with the Steelers. He has also played for the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wide receiver announced his short-lived retirement in March 2023 and reportedly unretired in April 2023.

Antonio Brown has also managed to achieve success off the field. According to several news outlets, Brown is the majority owner of the Albany Empire. He has also been the president of Kanye West’s Donda Sports since February 2022. However, like Kanye’s, AB’s career and personal life have been controversial. For several years now, Brown’s news coverage has mostly been negative. These scandals have significantly marred the pro player’s public image. Here is a list of Antonio Brown’s biggest scandals.

Snapchat Incident (2023)

Antonio Brown made news headlines on January 17, 2023. His Snapchat account was suspended following the posting of an explicit photo. This latest controversy was an image that depicted a woman performing oral sex on him. The explicit content violated Snapchat’s community guidelines, prohibiting adult content sharing. The incident provoked a wave of criticism from his social media followers, further stoking the debate about Brown’s personal conduct.

Domestic Violence Allegations (2022)

On December 1, 2022, Antonio Brown found himself in the news headlines once again when Tampa police attempted to serve him with an arrest warrant. The warrant was related to domestic violence charges from an incident with his ex-fiancée on November 28. According to reports, Brown allegedly threw a shoe at his former partner during an argument. Brown also allegedly threw her belongings in the street and threatened to shoot her if she returned to the house. News sources say that Brown’s children were in the house at the time of the incident. The charges brought further attention to the pattern of Brown’s off-field controversies, further overshadowing his accomplishments on the football field.

Sexual Assault Allegation (2022)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 14: Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Several sports news outlets reported on October 1, 2022, that Brown had allegedly exposed himself to a woman at the Armani Hotel in Dubai. The incident was said to have taken place on May 14, 2022. It also allegedly involved Brown becoming physical with a female guest in the hotel’s pool area. The claims added to the string of legal issues and questionable behavior Brown has faced off the field.

Battery & Burglary Charges (2020)

Antonio Brown and his trainer were arrested on charges of felony burglary and battery on January 2020. News sources reported that Brown allegedly had an altercation with a moving truck driver outside Brown’s residence in Hollywood, Florida. According to the police report, Brown and his trainer assaulted the driver following a dispute over payment for the delivery. TMZ reported that Brown owes the driver $407,000 for his medical expenses. AB also allegedly owes the driver under $800,000 for emotional damage.

Other Sexual Assault Allegations (2019)

Antonio Brown’s news was dominated by allegations that significantly impacted his career in September 2019. Brown’s former trainer, Britney Taylor, accused him of sexual assault and rape. This led to a civil lawsuit filed on September 10, 2019. Another woman also accused Brown of sexual misconduct around the same time.

This incident, extensively covered by news outlets, severely damaged Brown’s public image. The gravity of these accusations led to his release from the New England Patriots on September 20, 2019. Brown had only played one game with the team.

Unexpected Release From The Oakland Raiders (2019)

Brown was released from the Oakland Raiders in September 2019. The tipping point came when Brown had a heated exchange with general manager Mike Mayock during a practice session. This led to a fine for conduct detrimental to the team. Brown took to social media on September 7, 2019, to request his release from the Raiders following the confrontation. His request was granted later that day, ending his brief, controversial tenure with the team. The incident incentivized news outlets to further scrutinize Brown’s undeniable talent and increasingly disruptive off-field behavior.

Helmet Dispute (2019)

Antonio Brown was in the news headlines once again in August 2019. Brown insisted on wearing his old helmet. His helmet was, however, no longer approved for use by the NFL due to updated safety regulations. His refusal led to multiple missed practices during his brief tenure with the Oakland Raiders. The situation reportedly escalated to AB threatening to retire from the NFL if he could not use his preferred helmet. The helmet controversy would later be considered one of the contributing factors to his eventual release from the Raiders.

Training Camp No-Show (2018)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 02: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) on the field in a Balenciaga jacket and a diamond Bee necklace prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 2, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brown did not report to the Steelers facility for work on September 17, 2018. The incident resulted in disciplinary action from the team. His no-show, reportedly unconnected to any injury, sparked a flurry of speculation about his commitment to the Steelers. The occurrence marked a crucial juncture in Antonio Brown’s news coverage and narrative. It also added to the growing list of off-field distractions associated with the talented receiver.

Facebook Live Incident (2017)

Antonio Brown’s first documented controversy as a pro-NFL player came in January 2017. Brown shared a live video on Facebook from the Steelers’ locker room following a significant playoff victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. AB’s actions breached the NFL’s social media policy. This incident attracted widespread criticism for exposing private team moments and conversations to the public. News outlets extensively covered this event, casting a spotlight on the wide receiver’s judgment and respect for team privacy.