“People always talk, and try to bring you down,” Brown said after the Raiders’ 33-26 preseason win over the Cardinals. “I just think it’s tough for the people who love me, that they have to hear it when they know the type of person I am and what I stand for.

“I hate it when my mom and my dad call me and say, ‘What the f–k? Retirement? Where’d he get that?’ I never said that. That’s the hardest part for me as an athlete.”

Brown tries to put the criticism in perspective, but admits it’s not always easy.

“You have to have tough skin and not pay attention to what people say,” Brown said. “Not everybody hates me. Maybe a small percentage do, but I like to focus on the big picture. If you guys could calm it down, man, that would really help my family. (laughter) Can you guys help me out with the stuff that goes out there? I don’t mind, but my family gets really stressed out.”

Brown considers himself misrepresented, but understands he can’t fight back without causing more issues.

“Absolutely I feel misunderstood, but I’m not trying to win people over or make people feel a certain way about me,” Brown said. “I’m an athlete. I’m a human being. I have tough skin, but treat me like a human. Treat me with respect. But, through it all, I have a strong heart. Ultimately [all the talk] doesn’t matter. Only the people in this locker room and the coaches and the guys who support me and know what’s real, they’re the ones that matter. I am committed to the cause for those guys.”

Antonio Brown is a drama queen. 

Any unwanted attention he receives is all his doing. 

He brings it on himself.  

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Pages: 1 2