Antonio Brown seems crazy. But is that really just the mark of a genius?
Brown has managed to use drama to get himself into a winning position. Now playing for the reigning NFL champion, him and Tom Brady seem poised to win another title.
His journey here was not easy, and as most sports commentators will point out, disgraceful.
Getting out of Pittsburgh he found himself with the Raiders, but it was one controversy after another. He refused to wear a new regulation helmet at practice, violating NFL guidelines. He refused to walk out with the team, violating his organization guidelines. He at some point wasn't going to mandatory team activities, violating really any employer guidelines.
Sports fans across the nation were seriously asking the question "did the CTE get to him early?"
Fast forward and now Antonio can once again prove to the world that he is one of the best receivers to ever play the game, all while winning a title.
Beyond just playing the system he showed the NFL something other organizations have been experiencing for a minute now: the power of the player.
Stars demanding trades to get into better positions or making sure they get the money they deserve seems to be becoming a trend in the NFL, from star running back Ezekiel Elliot to Antonio Brown. But their ability to step above the organization is important. The NFL is an injury ridden sport and it's time the players have more power. The organization treats players like numbers, but Antonio Brown showed us that if he was gonna play he was going to play on his terms. Regardless of if you think his actions were right or wrong it is a fact that for a good while now the players wearing the jerseys have had limited rights. This radical step that players across different organizations are taking to make sure they are in a position of power is becoming a precedent.
Antonio Brown may have played the system in a 'disgraceful' way but the crazy genius has made a statement with his actions: the players are not to be taken for granted.
Panic! At the Disco is always right, Crazy=Genius.