There is a picture hanging next to Antonio Brown’s locker at the Steelers practice facility. It’s a print of Brown and Ben Roethlisberger smiling adoringly at each other in the locker room.
The picture is titled “The Dynamic Duo,” and it’s signed by Roethlisberger, who wrote the following note next to his signature: “— A.B. — We are unstoppable.”
Those were happier times between the All-Pro receiver and his future Hall of Fame quarterback. They’re patching up their relationship this week after Brown showed up his quarterback Sunday in Baltimore.
In the Steelers’ 26-9 victory at M&T Bank Stadium, after a play in which Roethlisberger missed him deep, Brown gestured wildly on the field, tossed a Gatorade cooler on the sideline and had words with offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Roethlisberger called it a “sideline temper tantrum” and criticized Brown Tuesday morning on his 93.7 The Fan radio show.
In his first interview since being called out by Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin, Brown apologized for his actions Friday after practice.
“You never want to be a distraction,” Brown said. “Not only to our quarterback — he’s a legend in himself — but to the team. You’re passionate, you want to do well. It’s a big rivalry game, but you have to do a better job of controlling the emotion.
“I apologize from taking away from the bigger picture. We beat the Ravens. I don’t want to wake up and turn on the TV and you guys are talking about me throwing a tantrum. We should be talking about Ben, a lot of guys who had a great game, and the Steelers winning a big game on the road.”
The story has lingered, at least in part, because Brown refused to address the issue before Friday. He declined requests Wednesday to talk about what happened in Baltimore.
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.”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: October 6, 2017, 5:19 p.m.
Updated: October 6, 2017, 6:39 p.m.
