Steelers Now
Antonio Brown had a six-season stretch that only Julio Jones has been able to eclipse. If not for Vontaze Burfict’s shoulder, AB likely would’ve finished his Pittsburgh Steelers tenure as the team’s most prolific receiver ever.
The brutal hit, which occurred late in the Steelers’ 2015 AFC Wild Card playoff win over the Cincinnati Bengals, sidelined Brown for the following week’s divisional-round loss against the eventual Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos. Many attribute the play for any antics Brown gets up to, as well.
Pacman Jones believes Brown’s collapse after absorbing Burfict’s blow to his head was purely theatrical.
“AB winked, bro,” Jones said Wednesday on the “Raw Room” podcast. “He winked. That (guy) wasn’t knocked out, man. I’m telling y’all he was not knocked out.”
Brown crumpled to the ground with his arms flailing, laying motionless for a few moments before reaching a hand up to ask teammates for help.
“How’d he reach his hands up then?” Jones said.
Jones is willing to acknowledge that Brown, a four-time Associated Press first-team All-Pro, was one of the most talented pass-catchers he lined up against.
“AB was one of the best I ever played against. I’m gonna admit that,” Jones said. “In his prime era, yeah, I would say he’s definitely in my top five. If I had to go any order, I would go: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, AB, Odell Beckham in his prime — which was kinda later in my career, he was a dog, too.”
Jones later clarified, putting Calvin Johnson atop his rankings. From 2013-18, Brown logged more receptions (686) and receiving yards (9,145) than any receiver over a six-season span in NFL lore. That specific yardage record was surpassed by the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones the next campaign.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Antagonist Accuses Antonio Brown of Selling Vontaze Burfict Hit
