Antonio Brown’s downfall has been well-publicized, and some may have forgotten just how good the receiver was on the ground.
Former NFL linebacker Bobby Carpenter, however, is not. OutKick’s “Hot Mic” On Monday he made an interesting argument.
“Hall of Fame, yes or no?” Carpenter asked co-hosts Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow.
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Detroit Lions player Bobby Carpenter (No. 59) reacts after a fourth-down stop during a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on October 10, 2011. The Lions went on to beat the Bears, 24-13. (Leon Harip/Getty Images)
Why does Carpenter ask this question? The reason lies in Brown’s work.
“I can’t deny it. I know nobody wants to see him in it because he’s such a hateful character,” Carpenter said.
Brown’s antics on and off the field toward the end of his career and after his retirement don’t check the stand-up character box that’s typically included on a Hall of Fame application.
Former NFL player Antonio Brown supports Donald Trump, cites pardons for hip-hop celebrities
But Brown’s producing resume couldn’t be any more impressive.
Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time All-Pro selection, won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was a member of the Hall of Fame All-2010s team.
There was a time from 2013-2018 when you could make the case that Brown was the best wide receiver in the NFL, as he never had fewer than 1,280 receiving yards or fewer than 100 receptions in any season.
In 2014, Brown led the NFL in receiving yards (1,698) and receptions (129), led the league with 136 catches in 2015 and recorded a league-high 15 receiving touchdowns in 2018 along with 1,297 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Antonio Brown warms up before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Through nine seasons with the Steelers, Brown amassed 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns while averaging 86.2 yards per game.
Brown ranks 25th in NFL history with 12,291 career yards receiving, ahead of Hall of Famers Michael Irvin, Don Maynard, Calvin Johnson and Shannon Sharpe.
“His numbers are undeniable,” Carpenter said. “When you look at what he’s done, my [the Hall of Fame] The question is, ‘Were you one of the best players in the conversation for the better part of a decade?’ I mean, six, seven years of being first or second team All-Pro. That’s what he is. He has it all.”
Carpenter added the “sad thing” was, “If I had stayed in good form the last four or five years, I think I would have been even better, but it just got blown up.”
The last time Brown stepped on an NFL field was during the Buccaneers’ game against the New York Jets when he infamously removed his pads, ran off the field before halftime at MetLife Stadium and held up a peace sign as he ran to the locker room.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) plays against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. (Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports)
Say what you want about Brown’s character, but his numbers speak for themselves.
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But while Carpenter’s point is valid, it’s unlikely the Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct Brown anytime soon.
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