If the Ravens are thinking about signing former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown then they need to remember Sept. 24, 2017.
That was one of the darkest days in the team’s history when the players took a knee for the playing of the national anthem in London. The fallout from angry Ravens fans was significant and only last year did the team start to see a recovery.
So now, as the 2020 seasons approaches, the Ravens need to say thanks, but no thanks to Brown about playing in Baltimore. Yes, he would make them better, but he could also destroy team chemistry and set the Ravens back in their quest to capture the hearts of a new generation of fans.
There is all kind of innuendo and speculation about Brown, 31, a free agent, signing with the Ravens. There were reports about him working out with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, his younger cousin, several weeks ago in Florida.
And then Brown reportedly shared a photo of himself in a Ravens jersey on Snapchat during the first week of May. If Brown is throwing the Ravens a hint then they should ignore it.
Granted, he would make them better. He is the proven speed guy and deep threat the Ravens desperately need to complement the running game and short to mid-range passing attack.
Brown has caught 841 passes for 11,263 yards and 80 touchdowns during his 11-year NFL career but carries around more baggage than a cargo jet. The accusations of him mistreating or assaulting women or being a malcontent seem to follow him.
Any team needs more “sudden change” or impact players and everybody deserves second and, in some cases, third chances. But after playing in Pittsburgh and stopping in Oakland, the last team on Brown’s resume was New England, and if you can’t play for Patriots owner Robert Kraft or get straightened out by head coach Bill Belichick, then you’re the cat that has used up its nine lives.
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