Jan 18, 2017 5 min read

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Antonio Brown faced the music today, the music first being Mike Tomlin and his teammates and then the gathered throng of media come to rake him over the coals – more than half of which were guys and gals I didn’t even recognize.

Welcome to AFC Championship week.

Brown handled the questions regarding his ill-fated Facebook Live video well for the most part, expressing his sorrow for being a potential distraction – although at this point, because of way the networks have latched onto this, it’s been a distraction for both teams – and any ill will it has caused him among his coaches and teammates.

“I absolutely regret doing Facebook Live and this situation,” said Brown. “It was a total distraction to the organization. A total distraction to my teammates. Obviously, it was disrespectful to Coach Tomlin. I have the utmost respect for Coach. I solely regret that.”

Brown was obviously uneasy talking at the podium in the team’s media room. His apology was heartfelt.

When asked if he heard Tomlin’s message that there are stars who move from team to team because their antics get to be too much – including one of Brown’s idols, Chad Johnson – he said he doesn’t want to be one of those guys.

I believe him. I believe him when he says he got caught up in the moment after winning an AFC Divisional Playoff game – a round he did not get a chance to play in last season. And I believe he won’t do it again – until he does.

I like Brown. I’ve gotten to know him as well as a member of the media can know a player in these days of million-dollar contracts and internet stars. I’ve been a host of his radio show the past three years.

We’ve had talks about things other than football. About his family. About my family.

I don’t think he’s a bad guy.

But with Antonio Brown, you also have to understand that he’s a narcissist. It’s a product of his upbringing, in my opinion.

When you’re homeless at 15, thrown out onto the street by your family, you have to think about yourself first. You have to think solely about doing the things you need to do to get out of a bad situation, how you have to focus strictly on bettering yourself – in Brown’s case, through football – to make sure you have a roof over your head.

You have to worry about where you’re getting your next meal.

That Brown is 28 and a multi-millionaire is a testament to his desire and hard work to get out of that situation. A lesser human being couldn’t have done that.

Does he make mistakes? Absolutely. But a lot of that is because he didn’t have the same upbringing as you or me. As he said today, he looks up to Tomlin as a father figure.

And we saw a Brown today who had been scolded harshly by his dad.

@ That’s the final thing I’m going to write about this silly topic.

But don’t expect the national media to let it go. There were a number of Boston-based TV stations in Pittsburgh Wednesday driving the questioning.

Think any of them are Patriots plants?

@ Magic 8 ball says yes.

@ I did do a radio segment on Patriots.com radio – I don’t just limit myself to Steelers Nation Radio – and even the host of that show didn’t want to spend a lot of time on the Brown stuff. He admitted it will have no bearing on Sunday’s game.

I agree wholeheartedly.

@ As for the actual football, Ladarius Green was back at practice today in a limited basis.

That could be huge for the Steelers if he’s able to play.

We saw the Kansas City Chiefs, with perhaps the best safety in football, Eric Berry, unable to contain the middle of the field last week because they had to be so concerned not only with Antonio Brown, but the running of Le’Veon Bell, as well.

Tight end Jesse James had a field day in the middle of the field. But James offers little threat of running after the catch. Green most certainly does.

The Steelers aren’t home free with Green just yet. We saw him practice fully two days in a row leading up to the playoff game with the Miami Dolphins.

Then, on Friday, he was unable to pass the independent neurologist’s test.

But the fact the Steelers might have Green available has to concern the Patriots.

@ There was a bit of a flu bug going through the Steelers roster today as four players were told to stay home, including placekicker Chris Boswell.

Better today than Friday.

@ Ricardo Mathews was back today, as well. That’s another good sign for the Steelers, who can use all hands on deck.