Antonio Brown: “I Challenge The Guys to be Better”

The Oakland Raiders are starting to heat up. Jon Gruden is tightening up all the lines, and his team is processing various demands coach placed in front of them. As we all know, there is a lot of work ahead of Raiders, who are anxiously waiting for the season to start.

Three first-round picks, several additions from free agency, and picks from lower rounds on this year’s draft are guaranteeing that the Raiders are going to have a completely new look next season.

“Just a lot of work, and a lot of preparations on details,” said Antonio Brown during the media availability.

AB is the cornerstone of the new Raiders, and he was brought to Oakland to be the leader of the team which should be ready to fight for the Super Bowl in the near future. Brown accepted the burden, stating that his role here is to challenge all the other players and help them develop in the best possible way by showing a good example.

“I bring a knack for finishing, a knack for competing, challenging guys, I’m just here to put on display.”

In order to show his full potential, and to help the Raiders record the best possible result, Brown will need to have his quarterback right next to him. Derek Carr is already under a lot of pressure, and after a year in which he didn’t have the brightest stats, the upcoming one might be defining in his career.

After 2016 when he threw 29 TD passes and had just 6 interceptions, leading the Raiders to the playoffs, Carr was seen as the savior of the franchise. However, injuries and multiple other factors were something which prevented him from making better results here.

Only 19 TDs he posted during the last season are career-low for him. Despite 4,049 yards he threw and the process of reconstruction the Raiders underwent, doubts in his abilities only grew bigger.

Brown, meanwhile, expressed his satisfaction with the way he and Carr fit in, and he believes that it will only get better.

“I think it’s really growing,” Brown said. “Making a lot of deposits, so we have a lot in the bank.”

The wide receiver also mentioned that he felt a bond with Carr during the Pro Bowl in 2018 when these two guys played together for the first time. Brown said that he immediately noticed Carr’s “passion” and that one play these two made was awesome.

You know, seeing his passion as a quarterback, seeing his detail and I think we had a moment like, ‘Dang that was pretty cool.'” Brown recalled that memory. “Me running a route, him being [able] to throw and being in this position to look back from that day is God’s planning.”

Coach Gruden is still adding pieces to their roster puzzle. Yesterday the Raiders signed Richie Incognito, a 36-year old offensive lineman who didn’t play since 2017. Back then, the four-time Pro-Bowl player decided to retire , but his desire to play at least one more year was just too big. As soon as they heard that, the franchise from California took him immediately.

From @NFLTotalAccess #Raiders WR Antonio Brown talks about building camaraderie with his new team, plus GM Mike Mayock goes through the expectations for newly signed G Richie Incognito. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Xvd12cJgM5

— MJ Acosta-Ruiz (@MJAcostaTV) May 29, 2019

Incognito signed a veteran-minimum contract for the upcoming season, and despite his controversial personality, the Raiders’ management thinks that he will contribute to this team a lot.

Brown, too, believes adding Incognito will make his team only better.

“Aggressive guy who loves the game of football. And I think he’s extremely hungry and excited to be back out here.”

The Raiders are going to play their first pre-season match with the Los Angeles Rams on August 11. Five days after that they have a clash with the Cardinals, and two weeks later vs. Seahawks.

The season starts for them against the Denver Broncos at home, on September 10, and five days later await Chiefs.