If it was Borges, it likely wasn't an original thought.Which spawned the best lede ever (Borges (I think)): "First there was the knife in the hand. Then there was the fork in the road."
If it was Borges, it likely wasn't an original thought.Which spawned the best lede ever (Borges (I think)): "First there was the knife in the hand. Then there was the fork in the road."
He's not coming back to the Bucs after that. 0% chance.Am I the only one who won't be SHOCKED if this ends up being a "miscommunication" and AB is back with the team at some point?
Yes, you will be the only one. He burned that bridge mightily.Am I the only one who won't be SHOCKED if this ends up being a "miscommunication" and AB is back with the team at some point?
You might be, w/r/t TB. But I think its not inconceivable someone else gives him a shot.Am I the only one who won't be SHOCKED if this ends up being a "miscommunication" and AB is back with the team at some point?
He would be subject to waivers because the release in question would occur after the trade deadline. So-called vested veterans (more than four years service time, I believe) aren’t subject to waivers if released before the trade deadline.If they cut / waive him, can any team claim him or sign him if unclaimed, effective immediately? I could see the Cowboys having an interest with Gallup getting hurt.
This is kind of like when Blount left Pittsburgh in 2014, right?
Clearly not--have you seen him wear the newsboy hat?I doubt Arians cares much about looking like a fool.
I thought Blount kind of did that at the end of a Pittsburgh game, no? Didn't he bolt for the locker room before a game was over?It's hard to perform a more toxic act in the NFL than walking off the field in the fashion that Brown did; not at all comparable to the Blount situation. I doubt he will be getting any more chances at this point in the season. Certainly not with Tampa Bay.
The only reason he got his last TWO shots was bc of Tom Brady. He had nobody else in his corner prior to the Pats signing him so I’d find it hard to believe anyone shows up now after the Patriots AND Bucs episodes. He’s untouchable imo.You might be, w/r/t TB. But I think its not inconceivable someone else gives him a shot.
Maybe not, though I'd argue that telling a player to go to the lockerroom and that you were cutting him because he said he was too hurt to play is about as toxic and even more unprofessional.It's hard to perform a more toxic act in the NFL than walking off the field in the fashion that Brown did; not at all comparable to the Blount situation. I doubt he will be getting any more chances at this point in the season. Certainly not with Tampa Bay.
Unless Brady ends up on another team, of course.The only reason he got his last TWO shots was bc of Tom Brady. He had nobody else in his corner prior to the Pats signing him so I’d find it hard to believe anyone shows up now after the Patriots AND Bucs episodes. He’s untouchable imo.
Throwing crucial passes to C Grayson, T Johnson, and B Perriman.By the way, I just watched Brady's game-winning drive from yesterday. Unreal. 2 minutes left, no timeouts, down 4, ball at his own 7.
Battaboombattabing. Touchdown Tampa. Unbelievable (yet...so believable).
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWYrxyjCT4c
Myles Bryant?Good lord, who was that playing safety for the Jets?
Are you thinking about when he cold-cocked the cornfed lineman in Boise?I thought Blount kind of did that at the end of a Pittsburgh game, no? Didn't he bolt for the locker room before a game was over?
The Jets safety group is decimated. I think it was Elijah Riley on that play. Tom Brady has more career starts than the combined Jets D had yesterday.Good lord, who was that playing safety for the Jets?
Maybe even 7D!!!This was just a viral marketing gambit?
AB is 5 steps ahead, playing 6D chess.
Or the reporting is wrong, and there were additional words between Brown saying he couldn't play, and Arians saying bye-bye to Brown.Gotta be honest - its real easy to pin the blame of this onto AB. And the way he left the field was 100% on him.
But if the events that transpired were as follows, I'm not sure how Arians isn't at fault here.
Arians asked Brown to play.
Brown said he couldn't go.
Arians told him that he was done with the team.
Brown pulls a Brown.
Again - had Brown simply sat down and shut up, he's probably still with the team. Arians is a hot head, and it isn't out of the realm of possibility that theres a conversation after the game where Arians and Brown discuss the situation and move forward. And, again, Brown reacting the way he did was childish and is a great example of why hes a locker room cancer.
But on what planet does a coach tell a player he's done with the team because the player says he cant play? Even if the coaching staff doesn't believe Brown, you address that behind closed doors, not in the middle of a fucking game.
We know theres something wrong with AB, but what the fuck is Arians thinking?
In the Madden thread, so many folks posted the SB 36 video with Madden saying "What Tom Brady just did gives me goosebumps"By the way, I just watched Brady's game-winning drive from yesterday. Unreal. 2 minutes left, no timeouts, down 4, ball at his own 7.
Battaboombattabing. Touchdown Tampa. Unbelievable (yet...so believable).
Arians just said that there was no discussion between him and AB about AB being injured (he sure didn't look injured as he was dancing and running off the field)Gotta be honest - its real easy to pin the blame of this onto AB. And the way he left the field was 100% on him.
But if the events that transpired were as follows, I'm not sure how Arians isn't at fault here.
Arians asked Brown to play.
Brown said he couldn't go.
Arians told him that he was done with the team.
Brown pulls a Brown.
Again - had Brown simply sat down and shut up, he's probably still with the team. Arians is a hot head, and it isn't out of the realm of possibility that theres a conversation after the game where Arians and Brown discuss the situation and move forward. And, again, Brown reacting the way he did was childish and is a great example of why hes a locker room cancer.
But on what planet does a coach tell a player he's done with the team because the player says he cant play? Even if the coaching staff doesn't believe Brown, you address that behind closed doors, not in the middle of a fucking game.
We know theres something wrong with AB, but what the fuck is Arians thinking?
Oh what a difference a week and an INT make.If there is one player left in the NFL that has lost the ability to receive the benefit of the doubt, it's Antonio Brown.
Maybe I’m a dummy, but up by 2 there, why did they go for two vs Xp?By the way, I just watched Brady's game-winning drive from yesterday. Unreal. 2 minutes left, no timeouts, down 4, ball at his own 7.
Battaboombattabing. Touchdown Tampa. Unbelievable (yet...so believable).
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWYrxyjCT4c
Obviously has never seen office spaceWe know theres something wrong with AB, but what the fuck is Arians thinking?
Because they had little confidence in Jets driving for a FG to win and zero confidence in them driving for a TD.Maybe I’m a dummy, but up by 2 there, why did they go for two vs Xp?
I think it's more because if they block the XP and return it, it's a tie game. Less chance of that if they just run it up the middle. Smart move as it would be tough to get into field goal range with only 15 seconds to work with.Because they had little confidence in Jets driving for a FG to win and zero confidence in them driving for a TD.
Nice, thought that was surprisingly ballsy call in the moment but hadn’t considered the block/return for a tie.I think it's more because if they block the XP and return it, it's a tie game. Less chance of that if they just run it up the middle. Smart move as it would be tough to get into field goal range with only 15 seconds to work with.
Good thoughtI think it's more because if they block the XP and return it, it's a tie game. Less chance of that if they just run it up the middle. Smart move as it would be tough to get into field goal range with only 15 seconds to work with.
On top of all this……if there was an injury it is protocol for Brown to alert the medical staff who would then make the determination on his status and alert Arians of Brown’s availability.Arians just said that there was no discussion between him and AB about AB being injured (he sure didn't look injured as he was dancing and running off the field)
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/01/03/bruce-arians-denies-that-antonio-brown-said-he-was-too-injured-to-keep-playing/
Even if the conversation went down exactly as above, are we really going to believe that there weren't other issues that led to this (not even getting into the fake vaccine card and shit)?
If there is one player left in the NFL that has lost the ability to receive the benefit of the doubt, it's Antonio Brown.
You could fill in the blanks of "Why would AB want to ________?" in a dozen different ways but the answer is the same each time. Who the hell knows. He's been pulling stupid shit for a few years now. As for painting Arians in a bad light, he didn't hesitate to do it to Kraft. He seems to be a talented football player, but also a garden variety POS. I dont think its any more complicated than that.Clearly there is no way that AB doesn't take all of the blame on this, as he should. But given he was so close to performance incentives it does give me a little pause that his story may have a little validity. Why would he want to sit if he wasn't hurt? He's buddies with Brady, why would he piss him off too? That part just doesn't make much sense to me. He's 100% accountable for how he acted but taking Arians possibly trying to get a player who says he is hurt to play as a completely separate issue paints him in a bad light too.
I mean, you really think anyone gives a shit about $1mm in potential performance incentives? In a story about AB, this is a take that makes the absolute least sense of anything.Clearly there is no way that AB doesn't take all of the blame on this, as he should. But given he was so close to performance incentives it does give me a little pause that his story may have a little validity. Why would he want to sit if he wasn't hurt? He's buddies with Brady, why would he piss him off too? That part just doesn't make much sense to me. He's 100% accountable for how he acted but taking Arians possibly trying to get a player who says he is hurt to play as a completely separate issue paints him in a bad light too.
What are you suspending him for? Uniform violation? At most that's a fine.As far as any chance of returning to the Bucs or any other team, I strongly suspect that the NFL will have a well deserved suspension in store for AB. His dancing and prancing on the way off the field probably speaks to how badly injured he was. Besides, even if injured, he's a hell of a decoy, probably drawing 2 defenders.
I mean... maybe? On the other hand you could say..... he's cheap and put up basically the same per-game numbers as Chris Godwin on lower snap%, and he tried to gut it out in an important game and couldn't go after a while, then his noted hothead coach said he was cut for not playing injured and he had an outburst.He is 33 years old, his last season where he put up elite numbers was 2018, he comes with both off the field and now on the field baggage, and was last seen leaving his teammates to try to win an important game without him, while he couldnt resist the urge to go out in a blaze of glory like a jackass. The NFL should be done with him, but who the fuck knows in this league.
As long as Tampa pays out any contract guarantees, a union grievance will go nowhere.What are you suspending him for? Uniform violation? At most that's a fine.
The real interesting thing will be if the union files a grievance against TB
depends, he might have a case for the incentives as wellAs long as Tampa pays out any contract guarantees, a union grievance will go nowhere.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Tampa giving him another chance was crazy to begin with and I was happy when the Pats cut him. It is an amazing indictment of the league that it would take this.I mean... maybe? On the other hand you could say..... he's cheap and put up basically the same per-game numbers as Chris Godwin on lower snap%, and he tried to gut it out in an important game and couldn't go after a while, then his noted hothead coach said he was cut for not playing injured and he had an outburst.
It's all about how you frame it.
The idea that a productive Antonio Brown out there committing felonies has offers, but one who didn't play a half doesn't seems either unlikely or a pretty amazing indictment of the league.
I think a fake vaccination card and three game suspension is on AB. So fuck him and any case for incentives. Can't do the time, don't do the crime. Buh bye.depends, he might have a case for the incentives as well
Edit- I bet TB quietly pays him part of the incentive to go away and not drag Arians through the mud all playoffs
And if they had cut him then.... sure.I think a fake vaccination card and three game suspension is on AB. So fuck him and any case for incentives. Can't do the time, don't do the crime. Buh bye.