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Tom Brady’s Comments on Antonio Brown Leave NFL Fans Concerned

As reactions from NFL fans and analysts continue to pour in about today’s mid-game incident involving Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown, some including teammate Tom Brady think there might be cause for concern for the former Pro Bowler.

Almost everyone’s immediate reaction to Brown’s meltdown was some form of, “Well, here he goes again.” The receiver has made headlines for creating drama more often than his on-field play in the last few years.

During Sunday afternoon’s matchup between Tampa and the New York Jets, Brown created further headlines. In the third quarter, as his team trailed 24-10, Antonio Brown stripped off his uniform and marched off the field. He threw his jersey and shoulder pads onto the sideline and then proceeded to throw his undershirt and gloves into the crowd.

The Bucs ended up coming back to win in a thrilling last-minute drive led by their legendary QB. Yet Antonio Brown’s continued antics stole the show after the game. While many condemned his actions, and rightfully so, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady addressed the situation with sympathy.

Brown suited up alongside Brady for a short time in New England in 2019. Additionally, Brady vouched for him when convincing management to sign Brown in Tampa last season. The quarterback even opened his home to the receiver to help him acclimate to his new surroundings and new teams in each city. So he obviously has a soft spot for him and may know more than most about what’s going on in Antonio Brown’s troubled world.

Tom Brady Shares Sympathetic Thoughts About Teammate Antonio Brown

Following Sunday’s victory, Brady spoke to the media. As NBC Sports‘ Warren Sharp pointed out, Antonio Brown “literally quit” on his quarterback and his team in the middle of the game today. The reporter also shared Brady’s reaction to the controversial incident, and it may surprise you.

“I think everyone should find… hopefully do what they can to help him in ways that he really needs it,” Tom Brady said about teammate Antonio Brown. “You know, we all love him. We care about him deeply. We want to see him be at his best.”

“Again, I think the most important thing about football are the relationships with your friends and your teammates. And they go beyond the field,” Brady added. “I think everyone should be very compassionate and empathetic towards some very difficult things that are happening.”

While many fans and analysts may balk at Brady’s comments, we should at least consider what the QB is saying. We don’t know what’s going on in Antonio Brown’s personal life to make him take such drastic actions mid-game. As head coach Bruce Arians stated after, he’s never seen anything like it in his decades-long career.

Others have suggested that Brown may suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Numerous football players suffer from brain degeneration caused by repeated head trauma when tackled. Therefore some think that the Bucs receiver may need serious professional help instead of further ridicule.

Fans React To Tom Brady’s Compassionate Comments

Although there are plenty of negative comments directed at Antonio Brown, many fans shared similar comments to Tom Brady on Twitter.

“A reminder that we could all stand to be part of each others’ support system. Or at least extend an extra measure of compassion to every person. Because we don’t know what anyone else is going thru,” one Twitter user wrote.

“There are legitimate concerns with his mental health and with the NFL’s history with players acting erratically due for CTE. I sincerely hope there are people looking out for him,” a fan named Aaron Thomas said.

“First of all the dude was benched, he didn’t quit on Brady. Second of all CTE and other mental health issues are real things. Brady is just being a good human and respecting that by showing sympathy,” another fan tweeted.

Antonio Brown’s NFL career may very well be over because of his latest antics. But at a minimum, let’s at least hope the man gets whatever help he may need.