Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Kole Musgrove

Why Seahawks should stay away from wide receiver Antonio Brown

The rumor mill was in full production on Wednesday evening when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was seen working out with former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. The video was posted on Brown’s private Instagram account with the caption “Who would like to see this on Sundays?”

This of course set up a new wave of speculation on if the Seahawks are going to be Brown’s next landing spot. Seattle has been linked to Brown in the past, and recently the team has admitted they’ve had internal discussions about the topic again. It’s no secret  Wilson would love another target like Brown to throw to, as he has stated he thinks the Seahawks need more superstars.

The idea of a receiving corps headlined by Brown, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf is quite tantalizing. However, sometimes the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

There is a reason why Brown hasn’t played a snap of football since Week 2 of last season – he’s got so much baggage he makes Coach look like a gas station. He has been a major headache for the Steelers, Raiders and even the Patriots all within the span of less than a year.

Brown became a toxic member of the Steelers and essentially forced his way out. The relationship between him and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as well as coach Mike Tomlin, had deteriorated past the point of no return.

Once Brown forced his way to the Raiders, his tenure in the silver and black was nothing short of a train wreck. During the short few months, he managed to get frostbite on his feet during cryotherapy, held out of training camp because he protested the NFL’s helmet policy and cursed out his general manager. Because of his antics, he lost out of over $29 million when Oakland voided his contract.

Brown’s time in New England didn’t last long either as he was released after one game due to allegations of sexual misconduct. He later found himself back in legal jeopardy with burglary and battery charges.

While Brown cut a deal to avoid jail time due to those charges recently, he still faces a lawsuit for sexual misconduct and a potential suspension from the NFL.

There is no doubt a Wilson to Brown connection could be electric, but the Seahawks don’t need to add such a volatile player into the mix. Especially since they released notable malcontents in Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett a little over three years ago.

If Brown was unhappy in Pittsburgh where he was getting 160-plus targets a year, it is hard to imagine he will be content in a run-first style offense and splitting targets three ways.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.