Antonio Brown apologizes for messy breakup with Steelers
The Antonio Brown apology tour continues.
Since he posted bond following his arrest for felony burglary with battery, Brown has been trying to make amends, and the unemployed receiver appeared on a Pittsburgh-area radio station Thursday morning to discuss his messy divorce with the Steelers after the 2018 season.
"I apologize to those guys for the distractions, the unwanted attention I probably caused those guys, to the fans and organization," Brown said on 93.7 The Fan's "Fan Morning Show," according to Adam Bittner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"You know, these guys gave me an opportunity when I was 21 years old, and I'm forever grateful for those guys. To not only have the opportunity to play with those guys but be in so many amazing moments, and we've been through so much. So I'm forever grateful and indebted to the organization. Mr. Rooney. Mike Tomlin. Kevin Colbert. Ben Roethlisberger. You know I started my career with those guys. A lot of beautiful moments. A lot of amazing things. So it's not all bad."
In recalling the events that led to his benching for the 2018 season finale, Brown said he'd bottled his emotions for years and it was "just time to move on. ... People don't know the truth of what the emotions and what players really go through."
Brown also addressed the January incident at his home during which he livestreamed himself cursing at Florida police and the mother of his children.
"There are a lot of things people judge me on off reacting a certain way. But people don't know why I react, the certain way that what I've been through," Brown said.
"You never know what a person's been through to react the way they react. ... I'm not saying no one's out to get me," he continued. "The police were at my house to help me with someone trying to take something from me. It took one hour. I'm not making an excuse. I could have reacted in a positive way. But you understand when people try to be negative and take stuff from you."
The four-time All-Pro has said he hopes to return to the NFL in the 2020 season.