Steelers’ Brown addresses media
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Antonio Brown answered questions from a mob of Pittsburgh reporters Thursday, and it was an anxious mob that literally raced into the locker room at the start of the noon session because of the following incidents by Brown:
1. Threw two televised sideline tantrums during the loss to Kansas City, one a few seconds before James Conner鈥檚 third-quarter touchdown tied the game at 28-28 and the other a few seconds before the fourth-quarter safety pulled the Steelers to within 42-30.
2. Normally a slow dresser, Brown left the locker room in a huff without answering questions from the media.
3. Responded Monday to a former Steelers employee鈥檚 tweet 鈥� that Brown should be happy he has Ben Roethlisberger 鈥� with his own tweet of 鈥淭rade me let鈥檚 find out.鈥�
4. Skipped Monday鈥檚 mandatory team film review, and Mike Tomlin told reporters Wednesday that Brown had been disciplined.
The last incident was worthy of in-house discipline, but the first incident could be construed as selfishness that opposed team goals.
But Brown insisted that wasn鈥檛 the case.
鈥淲e were losing the game,鈥� he said of his first blow-up, also called 鈥渁 passionate conversation鈥� by the CBS sideline reporter.
鈥淲e were getting beat by 40 and we haven鈥檛 won a game yet,鈥� Brown continued. 鈥淔or me, as a Steeler, that鈥檚 unacceptable. I鈥檓 not on the sideline begging for the ball, making statements like you guys make. I鈥檓 pissed off. We鈥檙e losing. We suck.鈥�
Brown was criticized by media after the game for assuming the receiver was upset about his statistics as Conner was on the verge of tying the game. The play-by-play announcer then reported that Brown 鈥渏ust tossed his helmet,鈥� right before Conner went in for the score.
鈥淵ou guys make assumptions about my emotions,鈥� Brown continued. 鈥淵ou guys don鈥檛 know me at all. You guys just write what you think will get hits. Between me and you, everyone in this locker room knows what I stand for, knows what I鈥檓 about. I鈥檓 committed to this program, this organization. I鈥檓 fully here. I go to work every day. Go about my business. And I don鈥檛 take it for granted. My business is winning here. I come here to win. When we ain鈥檛 winning, you鈥檙e damn right I鈥檓 pissed off.鈥�
Later, Brown was picked up by the CBS camera having a heated conversation with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. A week before, Brown had hugged Browns offensive coordinator 鈥� and former Steelers coordinator 鈥� Todd Haley during the game in Cleveland. So Brown was asked if he鈥檚 upset with the change of coordinators and perhaps the new offense.
鈥淚 never yelled at Randy. We just talked,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚鈥檝e got a great relationship with Randy. Randy鈥檚 the reason I鈥檓 here. He recruited me (in college). So if you see me in his face talking, that鈥檚 just because we have that type of respect for each other where I can talk to him like that. We know each other on that type of level. It鈥檚 no disrespect. You ask Randy what I鈥檓 saying, I鈥檓 saying winning. But obviously I鈥檓 misunderstood. You guys wouldn鈥檛 have a clue.鈥�
Fichtner was asked.
鈥淭he truth is I don鈥檛 know exactly what all was said, and that鈥檚 how I never really thought much about it,鈥� Fichtner said. 鈥淚t never hit me like 鈥極h, man, that might鈥檝e been something that might鈥檝e been an issue that someone would notice.鈥�
鈥淎B will say a lot of things in games,鈥� Fichtner added. 鈥淚 know I say a lot of things in games. I would assume it had everything to do with him just being competitive.鈥�
At the time of Brown鈥檚 first blow-up, the Steelers were in the process of scoring their fourth touchdown on four consecutive series. After the tantrum, the Steelers were blanked on two series as the Chiefs put the game away.
Fichtner was asked if Brown鈥檚 tantrum hurt the team.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know,鈥� Fichtner said after pausing for thought. 鈥淭o be honest, I don鈥檛 know the answer to that question. Like I said, if it was actually just he and I, then how did it affect the rest of the group? I don鈥檛 know. I don鈥檛 feel like it did.鈥�
Brown has been thrown 33 passes this season (18 catches), the most in the NFL. But he insists his in-game eruptions have nothing to do with statistics.
鈥淪tats depend on the team,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 throw it and catch it myself. It鈥檚 a team game. I鈥檝e got to depend on Ben (Roethlisberger). I鈥檝e got to depend on the O-line. I鈥檝e got to depend on the running back. I鈥檝e got to depend on the other guys to do their job so I can make stats. Our business is winning. We don鈥檛 win, nobody cares about your stats. I鈥檓 here trying to win. When you see me talking on the sideline to Randy Fichtner, you ask me what I鈥檓 saying. I鈥檓 ready to win. But to you guys, it鈥檚 always spun as, 鈥楢w, yeah, he鈥檚 selfish,鈥� because maybe he do got big stats.鈥� That鈥檚 what it is. It鈥檚 all about winning. If guys don鈥檛 want to win here, then send me home.鈥�
Which brings us to Incident 3. Why did Brown tweet 鈥淭rade me鈥�?
鈥淚t was a guy who used to work here, a PR guy who actually picked me up to even be here, took a personal shot at me,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淥bviously I don鈥檛 want to be traded. I鈥檓 still grateful to put on my uniform. I鈥檓 grateful to be a part of this organization. I don鈥檛 take that for granted. Obviously it was a stupid remark online. I just have to stay away from online distractions and letting people get me out of my character. It鈥檚 just sad for a guy who worked here numerous years to say what he thinks. Obviously it鈥檚 a team game. My success does depend on Roethlisberger, the offensive line, and all the other receivers doing their job. But as a competitor, I take this (stuff) serious. This isn鈥檛 just a game to me and cashing checks. The money doesn鈥檛 matter. I look at my assignments and my performance. That means a lot to me. When I go in, I weigh in on that, my family weighs in on that. So to me, guys who just think they can disrespect me, it鈥檚 out of order.鈥�
Was that the reason Brown blew off work Monday?
鈥淧ersonal reasons,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淥bviously, the coach knew where I was at. We talked.鈥�
It鈥檚 unclear why Tomlin would鈥檝e disciplined Brown (reportedly a fine) if Brown informed him of his personal reason. No one asked Brown that question. Nor did anyone ask him why, if he鈥檚 so crazed about winning, he wasn鈥檛 screaming at the defensive coordinator instead.
Perhaps Brown would鈥檝e flashed the old smile that has been his trademark.
Perhaps he would鈥檝e been amused at that question.
And no one doubts he鈥檒l be at his competitive peak on Monday night.
NOTES: David DeCastro (hand) missed Thursday鈥檚 practice after leaving Wednesday鈥檚 practice in pain after the second snap. He remains hopeful of playing Monday night. 鈥� Ramon Foster (back) returned to practice, but Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) remained out and Maurkice Pouncey was given the day off. 鈥� CB Joe Haden (hamstring) returned to practice and said he feels much better this week and expects to play Monday.