Antonio Brown says he wanted to ‘give back to the community’ with Albany Empire
Antonio Brown says he wanted to ‘give back to the community that helped shape me’ by taking control of Albany Empire in bizarre tirade – 24 hours before his team is removed from NAL
- Ex-NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is in the headlines again
- He spoke to reporters about Albany Empire ownership before the team was removed
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown is back in the spotlight after his Albany Empire was kicked out of the National Arena competition.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Brown touched on a number of topics related to his tenure as the Empire’s owner, including saying he bought the team to “give back to the community,” which helped shape him while he also stated that the Empire already existed to leave the NAL before the league ended the franchise.
“I want to share with those in the media who write negatively about Antonio Brown and who are losing sight of the truth here in Albany,” Brown said. WTEN.
“I didn’t come here to make money.”
“I came here to represent something I grew up in as a little kid, and to give back to the community that helped shape me into who I am today.”
Antonio Brown had a long-winded conversation with reporters about his plans for the empire
The National Arena League ended the Albany Empire just months into Brown’s tenure
Brown would go on to speak about the pre-planned change of leagues as he went on a bizarre diatribe.
“Don’t let the people or the details distract us,” Brown added. “This is the last year in the NAL. Next year we will go to the AFL. Not many owners here have this kind of money to even play in this league, so let’s get that straight.
“There are a lot of naysayers here. I’ve seen a lot of players talking about me. Do you think I care what a NAL player says about me? I give these guys jobs. I give people careers. I give people the chance to make their dreams come true.
“I’m not going back and forth for a NAL player trying to be who I used to be. I want to be a leader. I want to be detailed about my action, what I stand for. What I represent here. I want to be clear on the details of what we do and how we do things.
“Let’s not lose sight of why I’m here. I came back here in a community I grew up in to give the people here who grew up like me and the players here who grew up like my father a better chance to make their dreams come true.”
Brown preferred the more popular AFL to the NAL.
Ex-NFL All-Pro WR recently purchased the Empire, but his tenure got off to a rocky start
“I’m a lobbyist,” Brown said toward the end of his press.
‘I look for the players who really go to the next level in their lives. That’s what I try to help players achieve their dreams.
“So when people talk about me, let’s be clear. What is my goal, what am I and what do I stand for.’
Despite his hopes of making the franchise a pillar of the community, the beginning of Brown’s tenure was chaotic.