Antonio Brown apologizes for sideline tantrum

PITTSBURGH — Antonio Brown apologized Friday in his first interview with the media since Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin called him out for his sideline temper tantrum in Baltimore.

“I apologize for taking away from the bigger picture,” Brown said. “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 All-Pro receiver spent the majority of his 10-minute interview praising Roethlisberger, calling him “the general of our team,” and in fact, he thanked Ben for calling him out publicly for his antics.

“I never want to make the quarterback feel like I’m a distraction or I have any  negativity toward him,” Brown said. “He’s the guy who gave me every opportunity. He’s the guy who’s been in my corner since I got here. I had to let him know how grateful I am for him.”

It is Roethlisberger who has been throwing him the ball in the four-straight seasons where Brown has amassed more than 100 receptions in each campaign. It is Roethlisberger who helped turn the former sixth-round draft pick into the best receiver in the NFL.

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“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.”

Brown has apologized for his “distractions” in the past, so Friday was no different in that regard. Time will tell, though, if this apology actually sticks.

Cox Media Group