Antonio Brown is returning to action as a player.
The controversial seven-time Pro Bowl receiver, who hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2021 season, will reportedly suit up for the Albany Empire, the National Arena League he has claimed to own (except when there is a controversy about players not being paid; then he claims the team is owned by a “trust”).
Albany’s News Channel 13 reported Wednesday that Brown said he will suit up for the Empire either May 27 or June 17, both home games.
Albany Empire Owner Antonio Brown told me he is going to suit up and play for the Empire as soon as their next home game May 27th at MVP Arena. Brown is a 7 time NFL Pro-Bowler WR who played 10 years with the Steelers. @WNYT @albanyempire
— Rodger Wyland (@RodgerWyland) May 17, 2023
The 34-year-old Brown hasn’t played football since walking off the field in the middle of a game in January 2022. He’s continued to make headlines, however, as he faced an arrest warrant for an unpaid child support issue, made a sexually explicit social media post and threw former teammates under the bus.
In early May, a report stated that players and staff with the Empire had not been paid in two weeks, prompting Brown’s representatives to clarify that Brown doesn’t actually own the team, because it’s in a trust.
Now comes this report he is returning to action. With Brown you never can tell if this is serious or not; last month, he tweeted an image showing him wearing a Las Vegas Raiders jersey with the message, “Excited to return to the NFL this year.”
If nothing else, Brown’s announcement might help drive ticket sales for his team, sorry, the trust’s team. The Empire are only averaging about 2,500 fans per game this season.
The report also notes sources say Brown has been in contact with former NFL MVP Cam Newton about playing for the Empire.
Football fans had fun with Brown’s news, with John Maher noting, “Because players aren’t getting paid so somebody gotta play.”
https://twitter.com/JNolan93_/status/1658965353739722752
Because players aren’t getting paid so somebody gotta play 😭
— John Maher (@johnmaher22) May 18, 2023
Oh good Lord. It’s like NASCAR. You don’t want to watch but feel you have to so you don’t miss the catastrophic wreck
— Gordon Woodworth (@GWTWgolfer) May 17, 2023
@AB84 get @terrellowens to play with you as well.. That would be legendary
— Philip (@Phillyboy2245) May 17, 2023
hes making a perfectly legit francise the laughing stock of the league
— thomas fennell (@alydar31) May 17, 2023
This league and team can’t fold fast enough
— John Furgele (@Furgele228) May 18, 2023
