Watch: Antonio Brown Arrive In New England, Greeted By Patriots Fans

Antonio Brown is in town. The New England Patriots signed the receiver hours after he was released by the Oakland Raiders. The team likes to sign troubled players. Remember their efforts to sign Josh Gordon? The Cleveland Browns didn’t want him, but the Patriots are happy to have him around. The same will happen with Brown.

Brown arrived at T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, and Patriots fans greeted him. His arrival has attracted everyone’s attention.

The Steelers didn’t want Antonio Brown in New England

Well, not everyone is happy to see Brown put on a Patriots jersey. According to Charles Robinson from Yahoo Sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t Brown to become a Patriot. They will definitely confront the Patriots in the playoffs, and playing against Brown is the last thing they need.

“According to a source familiar with New England’s interest in Brown last spring – including the talks between the Steelers and Patriots – it came down to this: Pittsburgh didn’t want Brown in New England. The Steelers knew they’d likely have to grapple with the Patriots in the 2019 playoff picture. Beyond that, there was already bitter feelings born out of competition between the two teams (not to mention the whole LeGarrette Blount fiasco in 2014). Sending Brown into the arms of the Patriots and Bill Belichick would not only be costly to Pittsburgh’s own playoff chances, it would border on humiliating. Especially if the deal wasn’t for a significant package in return. It would mean waving the white flag to all the parties the Steelers simply didn’t want to surrender to. From Brown to Bill Belichick to Tom Brady.

“’Pittsburgh just wasn’t going to do it,’ said a source familiar with the Patriots’ pursuit of Brown. ‘It was never going to happen. No matter what [agent Drew Rosenhaus] thought or whoever else, there was no way the Steelers were sending him to New England.’”

Pittsburgh didn’t want Brown to become a Patriot, but it happened. The Steelers have a third-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and the dream that rookie receiver Diontae Johnson will make fans forget about Brown. The Raiders didn’t get anything, and the Patriots got one of the best receivers in the NFL.