“Not Listening to Naysayers” – Antonio Brown Out To Prove a Point With Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What a whirlwind 2020 it’s turning out to be for Antonio Brown. After ending his contract with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, Brown has been without a team since September 2019. However, Bruce Arians’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to sign the veteran free agent last month before the trade deadline.

Former Patriots teammate, Tom Brady, allegedly had a major role to play in bringing ‘AB’ to Florida. Brady himself signed a two-year deal with the Buccaneers in January. He also helped in convincing ‘good friend’ Rob Gronkowski to join him in Tampa Bay on a one-year deal.

With Brown on their roster, the Buccaneers now boast one of the best wide receiving corps in the NFL. Can Tom Brady and Antonio Brown guide the Bucs to a Super Bowl title in 2020?

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for Antonio Brown debut

Speaking to reporters before his Tampa Bay debut, here’s what the seven-time Pro Bowler said on Wednesday.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time, working on myself, being resilient. Even when times got hard, staying in shape, not listening to the naysayers, good people around me to stay encouraged. I tried to check every box to make sure I was ready to go,” Brown said via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle.

Brown grateful for ‘second chance’ given by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brown further spoke about how ‘lucky’ he thinks he is to make it back to the NFL. The former Pittsburgh Steelers man has been through hell over the last 12 months. He hopes the worst is behind him as he gears up to make his Tampa Bay bow.

“Being away from the game for a year and a half, just to be able to be part of the process, to be out there with the guys today, was surreal, something I don’t take for granted, something I have a great appreciation for, a better perspective about.”

“I took a lot of time off from the game to reevaluate myself, to look within, to get a better perspective of myself, of working on myself within and without,” Brown told ESPN.

‘AB’ could make his first appearance for the Red and White in Week 9. The Buccaneers have activated the veteran wideout after the completion of his eight-game ban. With Chris Godwin still out, Mike Evans could be playing with Antonio Brown by his side at the Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

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