The return of Antonio Brown was everything the Bucs hoped it would be on the field and everything they hoped it wouldn’t be off the field. After a 10-catch, 101-yard game, Brown was the savior to the Bucs passing game on Sunday. He connected with Tom Brady immediately, making several key grabs to set up Bucs scores. All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore didn’t stand a chance, as Brown consistently dusted him on several routes.

But after the game, Brown failed to represent himself well. Fresh off a three-game suspension for misrepresenting his vaccination status to the NFL by using a fake card, Brown didn’t want to talk about the mistake. It’s the latest in a long line of mistakes by Brown, but contrition still seems to be missing. After putting the team and head coach Bruce Arians in a hard spot with another poor decision, Brown was simply asked about what it means to have the organization stand by him.

“Next question! Next question!” Brown yelled over the reporter. “I just wanna talk about this game. We don’t wanna waste no time with you guys writing bogus stuff.”

When it was pointed out to Brown that the media hadn’t talked to him since the suspension, his response didn’t improve.

Bucs WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: USA Today

“But I don’t want to talk about that,” Brown said. “You guys are all drama. It’s all about football. We’re here to talk about Carolina or I don’t wanna talk to you guys.”

“I just wanna do my job. I can’t control what people write about me or try to frame me. People try to bring me down. Life is about obstacles and persevering. Doing what’s right so you get the right outcome. So I’m standing here before you guys, grateful, humble, thankful. Excited to be a part of a big win with my teammates. It’s not about what I did. It’s about what all the guys in there did. Collectively, together. And that’s it.”

Brown was then asked about his foot and heel injury. What was he specifically dealing with while injured? He chose to take the answer a different route.

“It’s a lot of drama,” Brown said. “A lot of drama you guys create. A lot of drama people create that want stuff from me. But that’s just a part of life. That’s part of being in the position I’m in. I can’t control what people want from me. I can’t control what people write about me. And I can’t control what people say about me. All I can do is get up every day and be the best person I can be.”

Incredible player on the field. One of the best of all time. But as a person, Brown just doesn’t get it.