Antonio Brown has expressed his remorse for the series of missteps he has committed on and off the pitch in the past year.
In a lengthy interview with ESPN network reporter Josina Anderson, the star receiver has admitted his wrongs in several incidents that have kept him out of the NFL since last September.
“I think I owe the whole NFL an apology for my behavior. I think I could have done a lot better.” Brown said.
Brown was commenting on his situation two days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the top priority in the league was Brown’s well-being, not his potential return to play.
In January, Brown was arrested and charged with theft, bodily injury and criminal mischief following an altercation with the driver of a moving truck at his Hollywood Florida residence. He also verbally assaulted Hollywood police officers who answered a call for a domestic quarrel at his home.
“I was happy after 140 days to hear positive things about me because recently I was cancer for the NFL. The problem child, the guy who gets into trouble, the kind of guy we talk about only badly. I will believe it when I see it.” Brown said.
Brown was one of the NFL’s best receivers in his nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders last year, but after several controversial incidents, he was released by the team before the regular schedule began.
He then signed a contract with the New England Patriots, but was released again just two days later after being accused of sexual assault by his former coach.
Brown proclaimed his innocence in an interview, but said he couldn’t talk about it any more. However, he added that he believes he was wrongly targeted by some women.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a real conflict with a woman. I feel like I am being targeted, so anyone can attack me and say what they want so that I will suffer the consequences. There is no support, no egos, no rules, anyone can attack me for anything and this without proof.” Brown said.
“The media take it, whether I am guilty or not, I am already guilty because they have already written it and talked about it on television. It gets into people’s heads. To sit here and hear all these allegations about me is only unfair every time.” he added.
