Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown stirred the pot yet again, this time taking aim at Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers. After Baltimore released a heartfelt video of Flowers learning he’d been named to his first Pro Bowl, Brown took to Twitter with his unsolicited take:
“Should have been Brian Thomas Jr. #CTESPN,” Brown wrote, referencing the Jaguars’ standout rookie wideout who has had an impressive season.
Should have been Brian Thomas Jr #CTESPN https://t.co/lSgGC5YjrY
— AB (@AB84) January 2, 2025
On paper, Brown’s case has some merit. Brian Thomas Jr. ranks fifth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,179 and has 10 touchdowns—statistically outpacing Flowers’ 1,047 yards and four scores. Thomas also had to overcome the absence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence for six games, making his production all the more impressive.
However, the Jaguars’ struggles this season, sitting at 4-12 and largely out of the national spotlight, likely worked against Thomas in the Pro Bowl voting.
That said, Brown’s comments feel more like a poorly timed critique than genuine advocacy. The video he quote-tweeted showed a joyous moment between Flowers and Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, with the young wide receiver celebrating a career milestone. While Brown’s point about Thomas Jr. being snubbed might be valid, choosing that specific moment to voice it felt unnecessarily dismissive of Flowers’ achievement.
Zay Flowers' spotlight can't be dimmed by Antonio Brown's shade
Flowers, the Ravens’ 2023 first-round pick, has been nothing short of exceptional in his second NFL season. Not only did he become the first wide receiver in Ravens history to earn Pro Bowl honors, but he also did so as a key piece of Baltimore’s top-ranked offense.
His ability to stretch the field and deliver in crucial moments has been instrumental to the team’s success, including five 100-yard receiving games this season.
Adding another layer to the drama is Flowers’ connection to Brown. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Flowers studied Brown’s game religiously, calling him the only receiver he modeled himself after. During his college years, Flowers even worked out with Brown, learning the intricacies of route running and catching deep balls from the former All-Pro. That shared history makes Brown’s comment sting a bit more, though it’s likely Flowers will focus on the honor rather than the critique.
As for Thomas Jr., his Pro Bowl snub has sparked plenty of conversation among fans and analysts. Despite his stellar numbers, his team’s lack of success and national attention may have hurt his chances. Even Jerry Jeudy, named a Pro Bowl starter, finished with fewer touchdowns (four to Thomas’ 10), and more than one-fifth of his production came from a single game.
Thomas is undeniably deserving, but the Pro Bowl voting process often leans as much on narrative and visibility as it does raw stats.
While perhaps sincere in intent, Brown's tweet feels misaligned with the moment. The Pro Bowl nod was a historic accomplishment for Flowers and the Ravens, marking a significant milestone for a franchise that has long struggled to develop homegrown wide receivers.
For Ravens fans and likely Flowers himself, the focus remains on what this moment represents: a young player’s hard work being recognized. As Flowers said when learning the news, “From since I was a little kid, that was a dream.”
While Brian Thomas Jr. will undoubtedly have his moment in the spotlight, for now, Zay Flowers deserves to enjoy his. Antonio Brown’s critique? Just another distraction from an otherwise celebratory moment.