AB sets goals: Catch Jerry Rice, bring 'accountability' to Raiders
Antonio Brown has big plans with the Oakland Raiders.
During his introductory press conference on Wednesday, the star wide receiver expressed excitement for a fresh start and said his personal goal is to break the NFL's record for career catches.
"My goal really is to catch Jerry Rice," Brown said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "Playing with a guy like coach (Jon) Gruden, obviously, he knows what it takes to keep me upright and fresh. Keep me out there for a long time so it's a challenge every year to prove my love for the game. I'm just taking it one year at a time.
"Obviously, my goal in the back of my mind is to catch Jerry Rice. Every year, I have to prove my love. This year I'm out here to prove my love."
Brown, who was officially acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, currently sits 28th on the NFL's all-time receptions list with 837, but is still 712 shy of Rice's 1,549.
The 30-year-old Brown added that he's eager to be a vocal leader on his new squad.
"My plan is to get around here, get in the room, start holding guys accountable, let them know it's a certain type of standard here now that we got to uphold," he said. "Receivers, we need an accountability system - drops, (being) late, fines, missed routes, missed sights. We're going to hold each other accountable; and if you don't fall in that accountability, you get fined.
"And so when (quarterback) Derek Carr walks in the room, he sees all the receivers - this guy owes this, this guy owes this - so everyone has that accountability factor. Because if everyone's held accountable, we've got to be at a certain standard. So I'm just here to set certain standards, hold guys accountable, and just uplift the tradition of - it's unacceptable to accept not our best."
Brown, a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, averaged 114 catches and 1,524 yards over the last six seasons. No receiver in Raiders history has reached either of those marks in a single campaign.
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