Antonio Brown-Steelers saga takes odd singing-contest turn
The burgeoning soap opera between Antonio Brown and the Steelers added a shocking plot twist Wednesday night, with the disgruntled receiver making an unexpected appearance on a competitive singing show.
During the premiere of Fox’s new series, “The Masked Singer,” the seven-time Pro Bowler concealed his identity under a hippo mask while performing in front of an audience and a panel of celebrity judges, including Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger.
“This was an awesome experience, an amazing opportunity. It was a challenge, being able to learn the songs really fast and also being able to perform it,” Brown said on the show. “The hippo fit my personality. It’s super cool, athletic, his head was a little bigger than mine. It’s pretty amazing, being the hippo and being under the radar.”
It’s unclear when the performance was filmed, but the timing of its airing adds to the awkwardness of the fragile marriage. The 30-year-old Brown kept the “Masked Singer” cameo hush-hush, but the receiver has been anything but quiet over his rift with the Steelers.
Earlier Wednesday, Brown posted a statement online as coach Mike Tomlin spoke at a press conference, addressing the receiver’s behavior, which reportedly included an altercation with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ahead of Pittsburgh’s season finale Sunday against the Bengals.
“My opinions may seem limited by people or circumstances. It is then that I remind myself I am in command of my attitude. I am divinely blessed with free will. I utilize that gift, choosing to take charge of my life; express the creativity, vitality and wholeness that truly define me,” Brown shared.
He also called ESPN analyst and former teammate Ryan Clark an “Uncle Tom” after the ex-Pittsburgh safety called for Brown to be traded.
Though Brown has yet to tweak his Twitter bio, which currently reads, “Pittsburgh @Steelers All-Pro WR,” he has started following a new team: the 49ers.
On Tuesday, Brown quote-tweeted a message from San Francisco tight end George Kittle, posting a starry-eyed emoji on social media.
Brown inked a five-year extension with the Steelers in 2017 worth up to $68 million guaranteed. If traded before June 1, it would be a $21 million cap hit, compared to $7 million after the specified date.
