Antonio Brown and Bucs head coach Bruce Arians have a bit of a tumultuous history which could make things a bit awkward in Tampa Bay. Arians, who had coached Brown back when they were both with the Steelers, didn’t seem interested in signing the wide receiver this offseason because he thought Brown was a “diva”.
On Friday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the Bucs decided to sign Brown to a 1-year deal despite Arians’ comments after Tom Brady pushed for the team to pick AB up.
Tom Brady has been a driving force behind Tampa’s interest. Now both sides working to make it happen. https://t.co/rIyKcYN3Mu
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2020
Update: Antonio Brown and the Buccaneers have reached agreement on a one-year deal, per sources.
Language still has to be finalized, COVID protocols passed, but Brown is likely to make his Bucs’ debut in Week 9 against the Saints.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2020
Immediately after the signing fans dug up an old tweet from 2019 of Brown bashing Arians, who had been critical of him at the time.
He didn’t draft me he drafted @ESanders_10 same guy who missed rehab to go on networks to talk about me on situation he have zero clue! Arians now wears kangoo hats n glasses 😂 but ima diva! Done seen it all then they say we friends stop lien https://t.co/jALXyhQMAw
— AB (@AB84) January 16, 2019
Fans thought it was funny Brown was going to play for Arians after publicly bashing him on Twitter just last year.
@BruceArians should cut you before you even show up at team headquarters https://t.co/LMgYXsI0S3
— Tee *10 Days Until Change*😷 Mitch (@InsideASCIF) October 24, 2020
This is gonna go great lmaoo https://t.co/loCKok9Vxg
— 8/24 🐍 (@jaydaagoat) October 24, 2020
This should be a great relationship lol. https://t.co/T9MUhzplbq
— Vergil (@Vergil3434) October 23, 2020
https://t.co/JtnJdbGc26 pic.twitter.com/HNKLnClrww
— Eagles Monkey (@EaglesMonkey) October 24, 2020
Thats your coach now. Good luck @AB84 https://t.co/ARmcj3M27i
— LFG STEELERS! 5-0!! (@number7coming) October 23, 2020