The Raiders made a massive commitment to Brown in the form of a three-year contract extension with more than $30 million guaranteed.
They weren’t ready to commit to a deal with the Steelers when initial talks included premium draft picks. Once Brown’s proposed deal with Buffalo fell through, and the Raiders learned they could get the NFL’s most productive receiver over the past six years for third- and fifth-round draft picks, it changed everything.
Brown’s work ethic is so revered it’s almost become cliche. He employs his own chef, his own trainer and is convinced he has the ability to impose his will on any opponent.
Whatever personality quirks Brown displayed in Pittsburgh are in coach Jon Gruden’s eyes dwarfed by someone who has a passion about football that matches his own. After one play last week in practice, a play which didn’t go in Brown’s direction, Gruden called his wide receiver over for a chat. He placed his arms on Brown’s shoulder pads, looked into his eyes, and the two discussed the play. Brown nodded enthusiastically and went on to the next snap.
It’s the same way Gruden pushed Tim Brown when he arrived in 1998, and the way he consistently bent the ear of Jerry Rice, who came to Oakland in 2000 after a bitter breakup with the 49ers. Each man had an established resume that would lead to the Hall of Fame, similar to what Brown is assembling through nine seasons.
Yet rather than pushing the other receivers and leaving Rice and Tim Brown alone, Gruden challenged them to be even better. Antonio Brown is getting the same treatment.
“He challenged me from the meeting room to the field, lining me up at all kinds of positions,” Brown said. “Hurrying up the offensive tempo to see if I’m able to mentally pick up what I’m doing, lining up really fast. Never a dull day with Coach. Always challenging, always high-energy, and always detailed fundamentals.”
Even to the untrained eye, Brown gets after it at practice on a different level than just about everyone else, and more than just the receivers will have to keep up.
Quarterback Derek Carr will hear about it when Brown is open and doesn’t get the ball, particularly if the ball goes somewhere else for minimal yardage or falls incomplete. And that’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing.
The two have already seemed to bond, working out together at various East Bay sites to get on the same page. Keep in mind Brown’s problems with quarterback Ben Roethislberger didn’t bubble to the surface until his ninth year.
“Playing football, you get mentally tired, you get frustrated,” Brown said. “You always want to have respect for the guy to know what he’s coming from, know what he stands for, know what’s important to him so you can be on the same page and do what you desire to do. And we desire to win.”
Bay area news group
They weren’t ready to commit to a deal with the Steelers when initial talks included premium draft picks. Once Brown’s proposed deal with Buffalo fell through, and the Raiders learned they could get the NFL’s most productive receiver over the past six years for third- and fifth-round draft picks, it changed everything.
Brown’s work ethic is so revered it’s almost become cliche. He employs his own chef, his own trainer and is convinced he has the ability to impose his will on any opponent.
Whatever personality quirks Brown displayed in Pittsburgh are in coach Jon Gruden’s eyes dwarfed by someone who has a passion about football that matches his own. After one play last week in practice, a play which didn’t go in Brown’s direction, Gruden called his wide receiver over for a chat. He placed his arms on Brown’s shoulder pads, looked into his eyes, and the two discussed the play. Brown nodded enthusiastically and went on to the next snap.
It’s the same way Gruden pushed Tim Brown when he arrived in 1998, and the way he consistently bent the ear of Jerry Rice, who came to Oakland in 2000 after a bitter breakup with the 49ers. Each man had an established resume that would lead to the Hall of Fame, similar to what Brown is assembling through nine seasons.
Yet rather than pushing the other receivers and leaving Rice and Tim Brown alone, Gruden challenged them to be even better. Antonio Brown is getting the same treatment.
“He challenged me from the meeting room to the field, lining me up at all kinds of positions,” Brown said. “Hurrying up the offensive tempo to see if I’m able to mentally pick up what I’m doing, lining up really fast. Never a dull day with Coach. Always challenging, always high-energy, and always detailed fundamentals.”
Even to the untrained eye, Brown gets after it at practice on a different level than just about everyone else, and more than just the receivers will have to keep up.
Quarterback Derek Carr will hear about it when Brown is open and doesn’t get the ball, particularly if the ball goes somewhere else for minimal yardage or falls incomplete. And that’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing.
The two have already seemed to bond, working out together at various East Bay sites to get on the same page. Keep in mind Brown’s problems with quarterback Ben Roethislberger didn’t bubble to the surface until his ninth year.
“Playing football, you get mentally tired, you get frustrated,” Brown said. “You always want to have respect for the guy to know what he’s coming from, know what he stands for, know what’s important to him so you can be on the same page and do what you desire to do. And we desire to win.”
Bay area news group
