Wexell's Q and A with AB
ANTONIO BROWN, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio, why weren't you around Monday?
Personal reasons. Obviously, the coach knew where I was at. We talked. Between me and him.
Can you tell us about your conversation?
It's personal. That's internal between the team and me and coach.
What were the results of that talk?
It doesn't matter. It's all about just playing football. The distractions we've got to stay away from. I'm here to play football. In that
At the point of the fourth touchdown, why were you so mad?
We were losing the game. We were getting beat by 40 and we haven't won a game yet. For me, as a Steeler, that's unacceptable. You know, I'm not on the sideline begging for the ball, making statements like you guys make. I'm pissed off. We're losing. We suck.
James Conner was just about to tie the game.
Nah, you guys make assumptions about my emotions. You guys don't know me at all. You guys just write what you think will get hits. Between me and you, everyone in this locker room knows what I stand for, knows what I'm about. I'm committed to this program, this organization. I'm fully here. I go to work every day. Go about my business. And I don't take it for granted. My business is winning here. I come here to win. When we ain't winning, you're damn right I'm pissed off.
We wanted to ask you about that but you weren't in the locker room.
Yeah, you guys write stories about everything. I'm pissed off we lost the games. If you guys want to talk to me, let's talk. I'm right here. I'm not hiding from none of you. I don't hide from no one. I'm from Liberty City.
Why did you leave the locker room early Sunday?
I was available. I left early. I'm pissed off we lost. We didn't win the game. You guys frustrated? I thought you guys around here were supposed to be writing about winning. The culture should be winning. That's all that matters. That's our business is winning, and if we're not winning I'm pissed off. I'm passionate about winning. I signed up to win. I work extremely hard 20 hours a day with my life and my body and I work for my family to win, and when we don't, yeah, I'm pissed off because I take it seriously. A lot of time going into this, a lot of hard work and effort. So, yeah, I am pissed off.
What's lacking from getting the wins?
Gotta find a way to win. I have no excuse. We could point the finger at anyone. We've got to look within ourself and see how could we be the difference to winning.
You were so pissed off, that's why you tweeted 'Trade me'?
No. It was a guy who used to work here, a PR guy who actually picked me up to even be here, take a personal shot at me. But obviously I don't want to be traded. I'm still grateful to put on my uniform. I'm grateful to be a part of this organization. I don't take that for granted. Obviously it was a stupid remark online. I just got to stay away from online distractions and letting people get me out of my character. It's just sad for a guy who worked here numerous years to say what he things. Obviously it's a team game. My success does depend on Roethlisberger, the offensive line, and all the other receivers doing their job. But as a competitor, I take this **** serious. This isn't just a game to me and cashing checks. The money don't matter. I look at my assignments and my performance, that means a lot to me. When I go in I weigh in on that, my family weighs in on that. So to me, guys who just think they can disrespect me, it's out of order.
When you said it was a stupid remark online, you're talking about yourself?
Yeah.
You think you shouldn't have tweeted it?
Of course.
AB, are you going to try to stay off Twitter?
If I can. I can't respond to people saying crazy stuff. Obviously, I have to do a more important job, to focus on what's important, and what's important now is for us to win.
Mike Tomlin said you were disciplined for missing the meeting Monday. Was that justified?
Nah, I never could go against the program or what these guys think is right for me. Obviously I'm a player and I've got to be focused.
Are you a leader on this team? And by example?
Absolutely. I think I lead by example. I come to work every day. You guys can make a statement that I'm a diva. But you ask these guys. I put my heart on the line every day. Because I feel I'm out there giving a hundred percent effort. That's what I'm about.
Based on that, do you have to watch what you do in light of losing?
Obviously I'm in the spotlight so you guys are always going to put me under the microscope. But I'm a compassionate individual. I can't fake the way I feel. I can't hide the way I feel. If it wasn't important to me, I would just say it don't matter. But I'm not that type of guy who's out there just cashing checks and don't care. That **** means something to me, and it not only means something to me, it means something to my family. And when football's not fun and I can't dedicate it and take it seriously, I shouldn't be here.
Do you expect to be on the field for the first snap Monday night?
Why wouldn't I be? You guys don't want to see me in my jersey?
If you're pissed off, how are you going to take it out on the Bucs?
We've got to find a way to win. Monday night is another opportunity to erase the doubt, and erase the misfortune, the thoughts about us as a team.
Were you so mad about things on Sunday, that's what kept you away Monday?
I just told you I have a personal issue. Want me to tell you that then that's another story for you to say well it's on me, right?
Did you let Mike know?
Yeah I let him know. You just can't not show up. What do you guys think? We have a job, and my job is to let everyone know what's going on with me, why I'm not here.
Were you fined by Mike?
I tell you guys it was a personal internal. You have to ask the coach.
Did you apologize to your teammates?
Apologize for what? I got a personal issue. You guys have a personal issue at home? Stuff happen? You guys apologize for it or what? That's life. I got to apologize for the way I react. I've got to apologize for everything. I'm a man. I don't make excuses. If I did something, I take solely responsibility for my actions. I'm accountable for my actions and I take full responsibility.
Do you feel you're misunderstood by the media?
It don't matter, man. My business is winning. I can't get caught up in the media side of things. Obviously I'm a good bait for you guys. You guys keep putting that bait out.
You've always played with so much joy. Are you still having fun on the field?
Absolutely it's fun. I don't take this game for granted. It's a blessing. Obviously I'm grateful to play for this organization. I don't take it for granted. But losing is not fun. When you lose, it's not fun. You've got people saying everything about you. You've got the hate. You've got the write-up. You've got the bad looks. I'm a guy who takes this serious, so when I go home I evaluate my performance, I evaluate what I'm doing. You've got to make this game fun.
People are saying you only care about your stats. How much do you care about your stats?
Well you know stats depend on the team. I can't throw it and catch it myself. It's a team game. I've got to depend on Ben. I've got to depend on the O-line. I've got to depend on the running back. I've got to depend on the other guys to do their job so I can make stats. Our business is winning. We don't win, nobody cares about your stats. I'm here trying to win. When you see me talking on the sideline to Randy Fichtner, you ask me what I'm saying. I'm ready to win. But to you guys, it's always spun as, 'Aw, yeah, he's selfish' because maybe he do got big stats. That's what it is. It's all about winning. If guys don't want to win here, then send me home.
What did you say to him?
Ask him. You ask him what I said. Let's win. We're not trying to win. Let's win.
You do have 33 targets, second most in football. Should you have more targets? Or are you more upset about the lack of connections?
I'm not upset about anything. I'm upset by we're not winning. We're getting our *** kicked. I can't throw the ball to myself. I don't count stats. You guys do that. That's not my job. My job is helping the team win. My stats will take care of themselves. We've got a long way to play. We only played two games.
Do miss Todd Haley and his offense?
Guys, you want me to give you another story so you can headline?
Well you hugged at him one week and yelled at Randy the next.
I never yelled at Randy. We just talked. I've got a great relationship with Randy. Randy's the reason I'm here. He recruited me. So if you see me in his face talking, that's just because we have that type of respect for each other where I can talk to him like that. We know each other on that type of level. It's not no disrespect. You ask Randy what I'm saying, I'm saying winning. But obviously I'm misunderstood. You guys wouldn't have a clue.
Have you been a distraction?
Obviously it's a distraction when you're writing guys on twitter and my teammates got to answer about it. You guys making headlines, I want to be traded. Man, I'm nothing but grateful for this organization which took a chance on me and gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. So anytime it's looked upon by my teammates as I'm a guy who don't appreciate them, or I'm a guy who's not trying to win, or I'm this guy in the media you guys make me out to be, it is a distraction. Our business is winning, and playing football. That's what I'm here to do.
Do you have any physical limitations at this point?
What do you want me to say? You don't care about my problems, man, you're probably glad I got them. What do you want me to tell you? No one cares about my problems. They just care about the winning.
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