It was the media’s fault, remember?
That was Antonio Brown’s story in October, when people again wondered if he and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were at odds.
“Me and Ben are laughing about you guys creating drama, writing about us, trying to create adversity and distractions,” Brown said. “We were actually texting about it laughing. We communicate all the time on text message about you guys.”
Such fun. Such friends! Brown couldn’t imagine “what you guys are watching.” He wondered “what you guys are looking for.”
I’m pretty sure we were looking for the truth, and it wasn’t hard to find. The truth then was that the Ben-A.B. relationship had frayed. The truth now is that it’s broken. No more bro texts. Brown wants out of Pittsburgh and blames Roethlisberger for everything.
If that wasn’t clear already, it crystallized in listening to former Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings on ESPN the other day.
Jennings, by the way, changes stories faster than Antonio Brown.
Just a month ago, this was Jennings’ take, as told to Colin Cowherd: “[Brown] doesn’t want what everybody wants. Mike Tomlin wants Super Bowls. Ben Roethlisberger wants Super Bowls. Antonio Brown wants everything for him. ‘Business is boomin’ as long as it’s booming for me.”
A recent lunch with Brown radically altered Jennings’ thinking. He rolled out his new take on the same show this week when Cowherd asked him to identify Brown’s major issue with the Steelers.
“Quarterback-receiver relationship,” Jennings said. “And you know what, I’m not going to just say quarterback-receiver relationship. Quarterback-team relationship. Leadership skills. What Ben did not do that's not talked about.”
What was it Ben didn’t do? Cowherd wondered.
“It’s just … a lot of it is being accountable … being accountable for when you’re wrong,” Jennings said. “And it doesn’t have to be in the public eye. … When we’re in the meeting room, when we’re in the locker room and it matters what our teammates think and how we are as a team, a bond, a family, I need you to own it in front of the most important people.”
When we’re in the meeting room? When was Brown ever in a meeting room?
Listen, I’m as fascinated as anyone by the Roethlisberger-Brown relationship — and I’m fully aware that Ben isn’t exactly revered as a Tom Brady-like figure in parts of that locker room. He is not universally beloved. Check the team MVP votes from the past decade for proof of that. Go ask Hines Ward what he thinks of Ben (and vice-versa).
Here’s the thing, though: None of that — none of anything written above — relates in even the remotest way to Brown’s personal meltdown over the past several months.
Brown’s personal meltdown is the story here. The rest is just noise.
Honestly, what does Roethlisberger have to do with Brown’s involvement in a domestic dispute in January, Brown’s threat to break a reporter’s jaw in September, Brown’s decision to drive over 100 mph on McKnight Road in November (you’ll be shocked to learn he didn’t show up for his summary trial Tuesday) or Brown allegedly flying into a rage and throwing furniture off the 14th floor of his Florida condo in April?
In that last incident, Brown was accused of heaving large objects that barely missed hitting a toddler. Part of the police report reads, “Mr. Brown was with his trainer and another gentleman who were trying to calm him down. … Apparently when Mr. Brown got upset he started throwing things in the apartment and the coffee table glass was broken along with a few other minor objects. He also threw some objects from the balcony into the pool area causing minor damage as well."
Ben’s fault?
Even in regard to team-related matters, what does Roethlisberger really have to do with Brown routinely showing up late (if at all) for meetings, skipping work altogether the Monday after the Kansas City game, and ultimately tapping out the week leading to the critical season finale?
A man is responsible for his own actions, right? Is Brown so emotionally fragile that he couldn’t have put off his grievances for a few more days, or weeks, until the season ended? He had to torpedo his teammates in trying to make a point?
One more thing: What does Roethlisberger have to do with Brown spitting in the face of Steelers fans everywhere by posting doctored photos of himself in other teams’ jerseys?
It’s not the media. It’s not Ben. It’s the guy Mr. Brown sees every time he switches his phone to selfie mode.
Which is often.
Joe Starkey: jstarkey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @joestarkey1. Joe Starkey can be heard on the “Cook and Joe” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: February 15, 2019, 4:30 p.m.
