NFL star Antonio Brown, who until yesterday played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been one of professional football’s top players. Unfortunately, his alleged criminal behavior and troubled life as a youth finally caught up with him. In the middle of the game, he ripped off much of his uniform and walked off the field. In doing so he left behind his multi-million-dollar salary and an extra potential $1 million in bonuses. In fact, at the peak of his career he was making $17 million a year!
After his antics yesterday he subsequently posted bizarre messages on social media. Why the meltdown? His Tampa Bay coach said that Brown was through with the team. Case closed. Tony Dungy, the great NFL coach and commentator, himself an outspoken Christian, said that no team should ever hire him until he gets help. But what kind of help? Is this just a case of emotional instability, possibly a bi-polar episode, or does Antonio Brown have demons? I suggest the latter, and I know what demons they are because I’ve dealt with them before: Sabotage and Destruction.
First, let’s look at Brown’s past. He was born to teenaged parents, likely illegitimate, which brings a curse as I’ve pointed out in my book “Curse Breaking.” In his youth he suffered homelessness and neglect. His dad was a star at football, but not at parenting. He kicked the young Antonio out of the house, leaving the youth to sleep on friends’ sofas. These friends belonged to a gang that controlled the area crack trade. Shootouts were common. His grades failed.
When his wayward father finally showed up in his during Antonio’s college football days, the young gridiron star walked away. But in the NFL, he bought a new Rolls Royce every year. He was stopped for speeding 55 mph over the limit. He played for the Pittsburg Steelers where he excelled. Then the Raiders who gave him a guaranteed $30 million bonus. He constantly ran afoul of league rules. Then he went to the Patriots for $24 million, until a former female trainer accused him of assault. He had met her at a Bible-study class while in college. On a personal level, Brown has fathered five children from different women. In 2002 her had a felony arrest warrant for battery and burglary.
Sabotage and Destruction. Those are the two demons I deal with in situations like this. Forget about the money and the exploits on the field. Brown, like many who hear me now, has a self-destruct switch that keeps flipping in the devil’s direction. The doors to these demons were opened by the abandonment and rejection he suffered at a young age. But Antonio Brown was exposed to the gospel. He had a chance to follow Christ. Sadly, he made a choice to give in to his impulses of personal annihilation. Don’t you make that mistake. You may not make the money that Brown did, but if you see things around you constantly imploding, you may have his same demons. Antonio Brown badly needs an exorcism. And if you, like him, find Sabotage and Destruction stalking you, we’re here to help. Schedule a personal encounter today before, like Antonio Brown, it’s too late.
