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via Getty
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 02: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) on the field in a Balenciaga jacket and a diamond Bee necklace prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 2, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1237511603.jpg)
via Getty
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 02: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) on the field in a Balenciaga jacket and a diamond Bee necklace prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 2, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Albany Empire is not in the safest of hands. With former Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown, taking over the reins, challenges have been continuously presenting themselves to the Albany franchise. While fans remain skeptical of Antonio Brown and his antics, the Super Bowl champion intends to bring in another renowned NFL veteran, someone with similar reservations to Brown.
The last time Antonio Brown laced up his cleats was to storm off the field in the third quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showdown against the New York Jets. Since then, AB seems to be on a mission to “make Albany great again“, but bringing this to fruition might be a tall task for Brown to accomplish alone. Hence, enters Cam Newton.
Antonio Brown wants Cam Newton
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Brown’s stint as the owner of the Albany Empire has had its fair share of ups and downs. Right after getting into the ownership group, Brown proclaimed himself as the sole owner. The comments were however not taken lightly by the co-owner Mike Kwarta but Brown chose to add more fire.
“I’m the owner, 100 percent owner. I don’t take that lightly, I just think Mike couldn’t afford the things in regards of (moving) the business forward.” expressed Brown.
Since these comments, Brown did secure himself a majority role in the ownership group but couldn’t please the players and the coaches. Soon reports of AB refusing to pay the coaching staff and players took over with many even willing to walk away from Albany Empire. But Brown quickly got back to signing cheques. Keeping up with the same narrative, Antonio Brown is willing to put up $150,000 in an attempt to lure in the 2015 NFL MVP, Cam Newton.
Update: Antonio Brown is offering former NFL MVP Cam Newton $150,000 to play "one game" for his Arena Football team, the Albany Empire.
He says he wants Cam to threw him a touchdown and this is their chance. pic.twitter.com/uHptZ2NgPx
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 28, 2023
As per speculation, Brown wants Newton to play just one game for the Empire and hopes that he will get to score a touchdown on one of Newton’s iconic throws. Brown earlier was contemplating a return to the NFL, even teasing fans with a picture in a Ravens’ uniform. However, since then Brown is willing to transition as the player-owner for the Albany Empire, and fans aren’t exactly celebrating the call. Much like AB, Newton was also looking for a way back into the NFL, but as things are right now, this might just be Newton’s safest bet.
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The Cam Newton experience
While many in the NFL consider being injury prone to be the contributing factor for Cam Newton’s absence from the NFL, the 2015 MVP vehemently disagrees. According to Newton, his appearance has everything to do with him being snubbed and not his skill set. Back in 2020, the New England Patriots chose Mac Jones as their starting QB over Newton and since then his career has never been the same. During those periods, Newton was proudly rocking the dreadlocks, and turns out many around him kept insinuating that he should go back to the clean-cut Cam.
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1016124859h.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
USA Today via Reuters
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins, Nov 28, 2021 Miami Gardens, Florida, USA Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton 1 kneels at the goal post prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports, 28.11.2021 10:56:41, 17248634, NPStrans, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, NFL, Cam Newton, TopPic, Hard Rock Stadium PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJasenxVinlovex 17248634
“People have hinted towards to say like, ‘Cam, we want you to go back to the 2015 clean-cut Cam. But that was a different me. Right now, where I’m at, it’s about embracing who I am.” shared Newton. However, Newton is still hopeful for a return to the big stage, even willing to take a backup role, but so far Antonio Brown seems to be the only one interested.
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