Teammates Believe Brown Can Crack 2,000 Yards

The NFL’s best wide receiver has his sights set on an unprecedented milestone in 2016. Having recorded monster – and ascending – numbers in both receptions and receiving yardage each of his last three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown is now being pegged as the league’s first 2,000-yard receiver by teammates in the lead up to a much-anticipated 2016 campaign.

“Just think: Calvin Johnson had [1,964 yards in 2012], so you know you can get close to it,” enthused fellow receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey. “Everybody knows what he is capable of. I don’t want to put that pressure on him, but it is definitely possible.” Backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski called the lofty goal “realistic”, while O-lineman Ramon Foster said he’d “bet on” Brown breaking the record this season.

A huge part of Brown’s production will rely on the health of his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben spent a quarter of last season on the sideline, as well as two more games in which he started at quarterback but failed to finish.

With Ben, Brown averaged 133 yards per game – more than enough to break the record when extrapolated to one full season. Without him, Brown’s numbers dropped considerably. He was virtually invisible with Mike Vick as the starter, and although he enjoyed slightly better chemistry with Landry Jones, he hardly looked like the game’s top offensive weapon.

But with a healthy offense comes a willingness to spread the ball around. Even with the loss of Martavis Bryant, it’s ironic that Pittsburgh’s revamped unit could limit Brown’s numbers more than any opposing defensive back could hope to.

The offensive line will welcome back All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, role players at WR like Heyward-Bey, Markus Wheaton and Sammie Coates will be expected to step up, new signee Lardarius Green gifts the team a matchup nightmare at tight end, and Le’Veon Bell will return to lead arguably the most talented backfield in football.

Much like Bell the year before, the Steelers began demanding more and more superhuman performances out of AB down the stretch. Also like Bell, a reckless hit by Vontaze Burfict ended his season too soon.

After multiple late-season games accounting for over 150 yards of offense on his own, Pittsburgh solely missed Brown’s durability against Denver, ultimately going down to the eventual Super Bowl champs in a valiant effort. Record or no record, Brown’s first priority will be helping his team make a deeper run into the playoffs this year.