Brown can be an ‘all-time’ great Raider

PHOENIX — Sure, Jon Gruden is aware of the purported baggage that Antonio Brown is bringing with him in the wake of his unceremonious exit from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But the Oakland Raiders coach insists it is a moot point after trading a third- and a fifth-round draft pick for the four-time All-Pro receiver on March 13.

“I have no problem with him,” Gruden said Tuesday during the coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings. “You’ve got to be kidding me. To get Antonio Brown? I’d walk to Pittsburgh to get him. I don’t have any problem with one aspect of Antonio Brown. I don’t know who does or why they would.”

Well…

Up until the last two months or so of Brown’s nine-year tenure in Pittsburgh, he had been seen as a model teammate. But then locker room infighting and an apparent feud with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger preceded Brown not showing up for work in the season’s final week.

Brown demanded a trade and seemed to be headed to the Buffalo Bills before that deal fell apart and the Raiders stepped in, making Brown the highest-paid receiver in league history as Brown got $30.125 million guaranteed over three years of a re-worked contract.

At his introductory media conference, Brown referred to Gruden as a father figure-type.

“Some coaches, they don’t have to know your family, it could just be all business,” Brown told ESPN that day. “With Mr. Gruden, him knowing my family, embracing my family, just made the transition way more easy for me and comfortable for my family. That’s the type of people you want to work and play for — people who embrace your family. Treat you like family. And make their family your family.

“If I know your family and you know my family there’s more and more of a responsibility to give your best. And more of an accountability. I’m just excited to be here. Grateful for Mr. Gruden giving me the opportunity. I’m excited about the process of being here as an Oakland Raider their last year in Oakland. To know that I have a part in that being on that team. I’m trying to put a stamp here. And get fans excited.”

Many Raiders fans worry that Brown, who has had an NFL-record six straight seasons with at least 100 catches, is more Randy Moss than Jerry Rice when it comes to joining Oakland.

Gruden sees Rice and wants to get the two together.

“He plays his best football in big games,” Gruden said of Brown. “Last time I was in Oakland, we had Jerry Rice and Tim Brown on the same team. It was a lot of fun. I’m really excited, personally, to join forces and coach Antonio Brown. It’s a great responsibility, one that I don’t take lightly.

“The guy’s enthusiasm to play is unlike most guys I’ve met. When I sat down with him, I didn’t want him to leave… I like guys that will play a double-header. Brown would like two-a-days (practice), like they used to be. He would like to run on that hill with Jerry Rice, I promise you. And he’d finish that hill with him. Might beat him up the hill. That’s what I’m going to try to get done — I’m going to try to get Rice and Antonio Brown to run that hill.”

Brown has long been seen as one of the hardest workers in the NFL. And not just in games.

His practice regimen is often mentioned, next to his career line of 837 catches for 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns. Which is why Gruden, who has a conservative offense, anticipates Brown expanding his playbook.

“Really, when you watch Antonio play, a lot of his production was on scramble plays,” Gruden said. “And hopefully, we can get Derek (Carr) to create more on his own. Maybe a little better protection. Maybe he can buy more time and let Antonio go over there, and go over there, and go over there, and make a play or two.

“I just love the guys that bring it every day… he’s going to challenge everybody. Me included.”

The Raiders have a long and storied history of giving so-called problem players second chances. Gruden said Brown can be “one of the great Raiders of all time” if things work out.