WR Brown apologizes for distraction
Brown was contrite in a 10-minute interview and said he sought out Roethlisberger to have a talk with him earlier this week.
“We all make mistakes as players,” Brown said. “Sometimes I might miss a read. I don’t see Ben throwing me under the bus. If I drop a ball or run the wrong route, I don’t see him kicking the cooler. There’s no excuse for my behavior. I’m glad he did what he did and called me out. As the leader of this team he had every right to call anything out. I’m just grateful we have a great leader who is forgiving and accommodating and willing to talk to me about things that aren’t even important.”
Brown indicated whatever damage was done to his relationship with his quarterback in Baltimore has been repaired.
“We have a great relationship,” Brown said. “The communication is there. He’s always putting me into place if he feels like I’m out of [line]. He always lets me know. We always take care of things in-house and I’m grateful for it.
“Obviously he doesn’t want me throwing temper tantrums when we’re trying to win the game. It takes away from the morale of the group, and it takes away from the morale of myself. I don’t want him thinking I’m spazzing out because he does a great job of getting me the ball and giving me the best chance to make plays. I just have to control my emotions and understand I have an effect on everyone here.”
Roethlisberger might have spoken to Brown in private, but he also criticized him in public. Brown said he was fine with Roethlisberger using his radio show to make a point about his behavior.
“I love him,” Brown said. “I have a great relationship with him, nevermind him going public. Obviously, we have a great relationship. Anytime he calls me out it just shows how much I mean to him. I was grateful for him getting me back into place.”
Brown’s antics might have blown over if it was a one-time thing, but he has disappointed teammates in the past with selfish acts. In 2015, when Landry Jones was filling in for an injured Roethlisberger, Brown gestured on the field and complained about not getting the ball thrown to him.
Then, after the Steelers playoff win in Kansas City earlier this year, Brown broadcast Tomlin’s postgame talk to the team and the following celebration on Facebook Live. He was fined $100,000 by the team for that episode, but the Steelers signed him to the richest contract ever for a receiver a few weeks later.
The question now is whether Brown finally has learned his lesson. He has issued contrite apologies on previous occasions only to revert to bad behavior.
“There’s no excuse for me acting that way, to be a distraction,” Brown said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the Steelers and us doing well. To turn on the TV and see that’s the only thing being played after a rivalry game is unacceptable.”