After leading the league in both receptions and receiving yardage last season, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is still trying to become an even better player as he enters his sixth year in the league.
In order to do that, Brown is attempting to make sure that he’s durable for the 2015 season and thus he’s reportedly added five pounds of “good muscle” this offseason, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
“Taking care of myself as far as training, getting proper rest, knowing what it takes to perform at a high level,” Brown said Thursday, according to Fowler. “Nutrition paid dividends for me last year, and just understanding even more now with the time last year is accommodating way better.”
While Brown wouldn’t tell what he did to add those five pounds, he did admit to watching what he puts into his body. After reportedly weighing in at 186 pounds at the 2010 NFL Combine, he now apparently weighs 195 pounds.
Brown has become a consummate professional since being drafted by the Steelers in the sixth-round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan. Even though there were reports several weeks ago that he might miss time this offseason due to him being unhappy with his current contract, he’s yet to miss an OTA practice, and as Fowler reported Thursday, is usually the last one off the practice field.
It will be interesting to see if Brown is relieved of his punt return duties this upcoming season as that would go a long way in eliminating some of the hits that he takes during the year. As of right now, however, there are no signs that will be the case. If anything, that extra muscle will Brown’s karate kicks during returns hurt even more.
