Brown’s talent, work ethic might not be worth the headache
almost frightening to think what he will do to Landry Jones Sunday when the Steelers play the New England Patriots if Jones doesn’t find a way to get him enough catches. Brown also has taken indirect shots at offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Asked about his lack of production in the loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins — four catches for 39 yards — Brown said, dismissively, “I don’t call the plays. I just run the plays.”
Tomlin has allowed Brown to get away with all of it because Brown is incredibly gifted and the Steelers’ hardest worker. But, in the process, Tomlin has created a monster of sorts.
That was clear in the onesided loss to the Dolphins. Late in the game, with the clock running, Brown jogged back to the line of scrimmage long after the rest of his teammates were ready to run another play in their 2-minute offense. That was way over the line. It would have taken a miracle for the Steelers to tie or win the game at that point, but so what? Brown’s lack of hustle was disrespectful to Tomlin and the other coaches and players.
Don’t think that everyone on the field and in the organization didn’t see it.
Shame on Tomlin if he didn’t demand a meeting with Brown Monday morning to give him the business. Shame on him if he didn’t call Brown out in front of the other players during their Monday meeting.
Beckham — one of the few NFL receivers who can be mentioned in the same breath with Brown as a player — has been similarly disruptive with the Giants. In their win Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, he was penalized for an unsportsmanlike conduct after taking off his helmet on the field after scoring the winning touchdown late in the game. He then went to the sideline and, according to reports, “proposed” — whatever that means — to the kicking net. That must be some sort of New York thing. McAdoo was not happy. “Can’t have it. He knows we can’t have it.”
Beckham had eight catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Giants quarterback Eli Manning acknowledged Beckham’s greatness but told WFAN in New York this week that it’s easy to “get real sick” of his antics when he’s not producing.
Yes, even superstars can be annoying.
Brown has reached that point with the Steelers.
The Brown situation isn’t a good reflection of the team’s locker-room leadership. Back in the day, Joe Greene would have used physical force, if necessary, to control a wayward teammate. Jerome Bettis wouldn’t have tolerated it. Neither would James Farrior.
Brown’s antics are an even worse reflection of Tomlin. It’s hard to imagine the coach on the other sideline Sunday at Heinz Field — Bill Belichick — putting up with it. By allowing Brown to take foolish, unnecessary penalties, to sulk on the field and to show up his quarterbacks, Tomlin looks weak as a coach. Tomlin has to know that and can’t like it. I believe he has talked to Brown many times and Brown either ignores him or, after apologizing, goes out and does the same things again. I’m guessing that’s why Tomlin always bristles when asked about Brown’s behavior.
“It’s funny to me sometimes that people think I can stop a grown man from doing something like that,” Tomlin growled to me late last season. “What do you want me to do? Not play him?”
All of this is complicated by Brown’s production and work ethic. Tomlin has said as much.
“Everything he gets, he’s earned. His commitment to this thing is unique. When people have unique commitments, they get unique considerations. That’s the reality of life.” No argument here. But there comes a time when enough is enough, when it’s too much, actually. Brown passed that point Sunday by going through the motions late in the Miami game. He embarrassed himself and his team.
It’s long past time for Brown to grow up. He needs to do it before he starts hurting the Steelers as much as he helps them.