Musket Fire
FanSided

Patriots legend Rodney Harrison has boldest take possible on Antonio Brown

By Mike Luciano

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 31: NBC studio analyst Rodney Harrison looks on during the Super Bowl XLVI Broadcasters Press Conference at the Super Bowl XLVI Media Canter in the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis on January 31, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 31: NBC studio analyst Rodney Harrison looks on during the Super Bowl XLVI Broadcasters Press Conference at the Super Bowl XLVI Media Canter in the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis on January 31, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

A former New England Patriots player is self-destructing right before our eyes as recently-released Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown attracted the attention of the entire football world when he ripped his equipment off in the middle of a game against the Jets and left the field last week.

The Buccaneers swiftly released Brown, as the troubled wide receiver has now left his fourth team since 2019, all of whom became fed up with his behavior. Brown’s actions have been so shocking and concerning that many around the football world are concerned about his mental health.

On an NBC Sports podcast, former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison thinks that Brown’s issues run much deeper than just an impulsive or combative demeanor. Harrison thinks that Brown’s football career has led to some serious mental issues that have sprouted up in recent years.

Harrison believes Brown is currently suffering from CTE, perhaps a result of constantly getting into high-impact collisions. While Harrison might not be qualified to properly or officially psychoanalyze Brown, he does draw some thought-provoking parallels.

“I think he suffers from CTE,” Harrison said. “He’s definitely got some symptoms, he’s snappy, he’s got mood swings.” Harrison vouched for the league coming in and trying to “really help this guy” and asserted that we witnessed during the Jets game was “mental illness.”

Patriots legend Rodney Harrison is concerned for Antonio Brown.

Harrison is qualified in some capacity to speak on these issues since he has seen first-hand what CTE can do to someone given his relationship with Junior Seau. Brown’s behavior is the furthest thing from an isolated incident, as there are several years of similar blow-ups across multiple organizations.

Stabbing Tom Brady in the back by posting a private conversation with his personal trainer is a sign that the release from Tampa did little to get Brown’s mind focused on football.

While some team might look to sign Brown due to his immense talent, they would be signing themselves up for tons of unnecessary drama, and Harrison believes he’s being held back as a result of his behavior.

At this point, football might have to be secondary to Brown and everyone in his camp. After Sunday’s game, Brady added that he empathized with everything Brown’s “been going through in his life” at the moment, which Harrison also alluded to as a factor that might be taking a toll on the wideout.

Props to Harrison for speaking up to this degree with what’s a difficult subject to elaborate upon.

Home/Patriots News