Are the Atlanta Falcons a fit for star receiver Antonio Brown?

The Atlanta Falcons are headed into the pre-season with a rookie in Drake London set to be their number one receiver and their second option to be Bryan Edwards. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the team add at least one veteran option to help veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota and bring some stability to the receiver room.

There are plenty of options left for Atlanta in free agency including one of the best receivers over the last decade in Antonio Brown. Brown’s exit from Tampa has been well covered as have the concerns as to bringing him into your locker room.

While only playing 7-games for Tampa last season Brown 545-receiving yards and 4-touchdowns. This is a year after playing a pivotal role in Tampa’s run to the Super Bowl and their victory over the Chiefs.

Brown has recently hinted at retirement and given fans reason to think he is done playing football.  It seems more likely Brown hasn’t been given an opportunity because of the way he left Tampa and the shots he has taken since at Tampa’s head coach and quarterback. Brown hinting at retirement instead of owning his mistake in Tampa and asking for another shot his talent would probably give him shows why Atlanta cannot run the risk of bringing Antonio Brown in despite his talent.

It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a team give Brown a shot for the same reasons it makes sense for Atlanta. His talent is still evident and capable of making him a number one option on a team.  For better or worse interest and eyeballs on any team he joins is going to go up based on the story that is Antonio Brown at this point in his career.

Brown is going to have to deal with the mess he has created by quitting on his teams. Even if he earns another chance and reminds the league just how great he is capable of being that won’t be the lasting impression left on many fans.

The fact Brown has racked up 12,291 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns while consistently being in the discussion for best receiver in the league for much of the last decade could be reduced to a footnote when talking about Brown.  Fair or not, that is the reality of the situation Brown has put himself in by quitting on the Raiders, Steelers, and Bucs.  Three teams who wanted to build their offense with Brown as an integral member.

As tempting as it might be to bring in Brown to Atlanta the production he would bring isn’t worth the risk. Brown might get another chance in this league due to just how great he can be, a chance the Atlanta Falcons cannot be the ones to give.