Antonio Brown Responds to ESPN Analyst's Criticism By Calling Him an "Uncle Tom"

Following a messy few days that saw him benched for an important game and possibly request a trade out of Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown has been subjected to his fair share of criticism.

A good chunk of that has come from Brown’s former teammate Ryan Clark who is now an ESPN analyst and appears on NFL segments on SportsCenter.

While speaking with show host Scott Van Pelt, Clark said Brown it was time for him to go from the Steel City. “This is where (Steelers coach) Mike Tomlin has to put his foot down and shop Antonio Brown,” Clark said.

ESPN then posted the segment on its NFL Instagram account and Brown responded via his official handle. All he said: “Uncle Tom.”

Afterward, Clark took to Twitter and downplayed the comment.

I have a ton of nieces and nephews that I love so much. They all call me Ryan. The rest is just the rest……. I’ll let that be. No one wins here publicity. Let’s all keep the same energy all the time. Happy New Year.

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 2, 2019

Others offered words of support and encouragement for Clark which he also responded to.

Thanks @KDPomp , you took care of me on the Huddle… My media start. Things aren’t turning out just fine https://t.co/k29JRRkPkZ

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 2, 2019

All good my guy!! @weddlesbeard love you my brother. I can take the heat, comes with the territory https://t.co/FWf5rYWjV5

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 2, 2019

I have much worse stories than that to depict the person. Only he can stop his bag. I’m 100% against owners in the fight for social justice, police brutality and anything that helps our people. I have held stories for him and still am. I’m an analyst. My stories are my job. https://t.co/iT4bITZ5U7

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 2, 2019

Brown hasn’t said anything about the comment, but he did post a positive post-NYE message on Twitter.

Happy New Year. Be great. pic.twitter.com/QLna1LRncL

— AB (@AB84) January 2, 2019

He has time to turn it around, but what is defining Brown in 2019 thus far isn’t good.

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Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”