Once Antonio Brown finally got to his introductory press conference on Wednesday, it was all love between he and the Oakland Raiders. After Brown, who arrived a bit late to the event, extolled the virtues of one of the league's most historic franchises and committed himself to personally changing the locker room culture in Oakland, new general manager Mike Mayock returned the favor, endorsing the six-time Pro Bowler as one of the hardest working football players he's ever seen – in both practice and on Sundays.
“I am so excited to sit down next to Antonio Brown,” Mayock said, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal. “He’s as good a practice football player and works as hard as any football player I’ve seen in my life.”
Brown's intense on-field demeanor wore thin during his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He routinely clashed with coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013. None of his foes within the organization nor those who supported him, though, ever questioned Brown's desire to improve or put a winning product on the field.
Pittsburgh honored his trade request over the weekend, sending Brown to Oakland in exchange third and fifth-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft. The Raiders subsequently singed him to a three-year contract worth over $54 million overall, including $30 million in guarantees.
Brown, a five-time All-Pro honoree, put together another banner season in 2018 despite the Steelers' struggles, finishing with 104 catches, 1,297 receiving yards, and a league-leading 15 touchdowns.
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