Tim Benz: Antonio Brown's last grievance is his latest indictment

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55 minutes ago

Do you remember all those great stories of Oakland in the weeks that followed the trade with Antonio Brown?

You know those.

About coach Jon Gruden trying to get a cell phone in the Red Rock Mountains to talk to Brown. He and his general manager, Mike Mayock, are moving away from a chic reception with their wives to conclude the deal with the Steelers.

Brown and Vontaze Burfict, former rival of the Cincinnati Bengals, play "Family Feud" together during a team work session.

All this optimism with doe eyes. All these good vibrations.

How was it? Three? Four years ago?

No, it was in March.

I bet it's happening like that in Oakland now. The eight years of slow combustion we experienced in Pittsburgh have turned into a five-month explosion in northern California.

First, it was frozen feet. Then it was his boycott of a helmet. Then Brown returned before the Arizona team's home game on Thursday. Then he was still away on Sunday.

So Mayock called for him to come back.

Brown did. But he then filed another grievance regarding his helmet debate on Monday.

And the drama continues.

You can take Brown from the soap opera. But the soap opera follows him wherever he goes.

Because, let's admit it, he wants attention. He likes the blanket. He likes headlines even if he's complaining about Google Alerts with his name.

As the great Tom Skerritt learned in "Top Gun", if you let Maverick fly the plane, you find yourself trapped.

And now, the "most assiduous receiver of football" finds another reason not to work.

Just like he did at the training camp last year. Just like he did when he skipped meetings after losing to Kansas City last September in the second week. As he had done before the final of the regular season in December.

I'm tired of people trying to calm Brown's behavior in CTE or mental illness. If so, so be it. Move away from football and follow a treatment. At this point, I will feel sorry for him.

Until then, I have no choice but to assume that he is the reactive narcissistic personality he continually proves. For the moment, Brown tells his new organization that he cares more about beating the NFL for this helmet situation than defeating Denver at the season opener.

Brown turns this helmet problem into his personal Deflategate.

Here is the problem. Tom Brady had accumulated four Super Bowls of cache with his base of Patriots fans before wanting to die on this hill. All that Brown did was sell some silver and black jerseys.

You must love Mayock, is not it? Speak hard with this "all or nothing" routine.

He saw how Brown was unleashed in Pittsburgh. Now, he is trying to reduce this behavior by putting the hammer down.

Ha!

Antonio Brown will do what Antono wants, because the collective agreement gives him this latitude.

On the basis of NFL signing bonuses, the guaranteed money system and grievance procedures, he can do what he does. He has the legal recourse to drag him away.

Or at least his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, seems to think so. Therefore, he will try to do it.

After all, during this time, what will Mayock do? Cut it? Exchange it? Dock his pay?

I do not think so. If Mayock thinks he has a headache, good luck with Brown if Mayock becomes so aggressive.

Brown will be in uniform for the first game against Denver because he will not want to miss the match.

But by then, do not expect him to show up just because Mayock wanted to give in to the Hard Knocks cameras.

As for what to expect next? Hell if I know.

But have a good trip, Pittsburgh. Because you do not have to sit in front anymore.

Tim Benz is an editor of Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be republished. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.

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