This year was the second year for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, and it was the absolute definition of a breakout year. After only 16 receptions for 167 yards in his rookie campaign, where he saw action in 9 games, this year he caught 69 balls for 1108 yards, with 2 TDs. In addition, he added 41 rushing yards and 325 return yards and 1 TD on specials teams.
Brown was impressive enough to earn the #2 receiver position on a very talented Steelers wide receiving corps. Third year pro Mike Wallace 72 balls for 1193 yards. Perennial Pro Bowler Hines Ward caught 63 for 381 yards, as he became the #3 / slot receiver. Tight end Heath Miller added 51 catches for 631 yards as Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 4,000 yards for the second time in his career.
We caught up Brown at the NFLPA PULSE awards, where he had the chance to get together with his fellow NFL Players and the NFLPA staff. Asked about his attendance at the PULSE awards, Brown responded, “It’s my first time here. I’m looking forward to presenting some awards and finding out what the NFLPA is all about.”
The Steelers had an excellent season, finishing 12-4, but were knocked it in the Wild Card round in overtime by the Denver Broncos, on Tim Tebow’s amazing OT pass to Demaryius Thomas. The wound is still a little raw – when asked about who he would be rooting for now that the Steelers were out of the playoffs, Brown replied:
“I’m not rooting for anyone, really, being that my team is not in it. A couple of my boys, they know who they are, I wish them good luck.”
As he looks forward to the offseason, he has his first offseason camp coming up in Miami to begin getting training and getting ready for next year. The offseason is shorter-and-shorter these days as professional football is truly a year-round activity. Browns plans? “Working out, getting ready for a better season for next year.”
Given how good this season was for Brown, improvement will be tough, but he has a strong cast around him in Pittsburgh and they will all be working towards the only acceptable goal – another Super Bowl appearance.
