Steelers WR Brown is on a historic run

PITTSBURGH – Darrius Heyward-Bey wants to get something out of the way about the latest addition to Antonio Brown’s rapidly expanding highlight reel. It wasn’t a toe tap. It was a toe drag.

The difference isn’t semantic. It’s vital. And one of the many reasons HeywardBey believes his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate is separating himself from every other wide receiver in the NFL.

If Brown tried to tap his feet while coming down with a 23-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger that set up teammate Chris Boswell’s winning field goal on the final play last Sunday against Green Bay, Brown would have been out of bounds. Brown knows this because he preaches it every day in practice.

So Brown lifted his right foot off the ground and had it scrape the grass as he planted his left foot on the very edge of the playing field.

One play later, a more conventional 14yard reception — Brown’s league-leading 80th — against absolutely baffled Green Bay cornerback Kevin King helped the AFC North-leading Steelers (9-2) extend their winning streak to six. It also sent social media aflame with goat emojis that sparked discussion on whether the 5foot-10, 180-pound former sixth-round pick is the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.).

“It’s tremendous when guys talk about me in that light,” said Brown, who missed Friday’s practice with a toe injury. “But I’ve got a long way to go.”

Maybe, but the journey appears to be getting shorter. At 29, he tops the league in yards receiving and is on pace for his fifth straight season of 100-plus receptions, something that’s never been done before. Not by Jerry Rice. Not by Randy Moss. Not by Marvin Harrison. Not by anybody.

— Wire services