FOXBORO — When it comes to the NFL Draft, Tom Brady is overwhelming viewed as the greatest value pick of all-time.
Brady was famously taken by the Patriots in the sixth round with the 199th overall selection out of Michigan in 2000. He’s since gone on to lead the franchise to seven Super Bowls (and counting) and five Lombardi Trophies (ditto).
While you can debate the position, that subjective list of draft steals also includes Antonio Brown. The elusive and productive receiver has crafted a Hall of Fame-caliber career since being taken in the sixth round with the 195th overall selection out of Central Michigan by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010.
“Everything,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of what makes Brown special. “Just make a list. He’s on all of it.”
Brown, the 22nd of 27 receivers drafted in 2010, has more receptions (731) for more yards (9,886) than any player since entering the league. He reached 700 receptions faster than any player in league history, needing 111 games to get there.
The four-time All-Pro from southern Florida enters Sunday’s game against the Patriots at Heinz Field leading the league in receptions (99) and receiving yards (1,509) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (9).
He needs one catch to become the first player in league history with at least 100 receptions in five consecutive seasons. He’s topped 1,500 yards three times, one off the league record held by Jerry Rice.
“Antonio Brown is a great player,” Pats defensive coordinator Matt Patricia succinctly said.
Brown is listed at 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds, so he isn’t particularly big by pro football standards. He’s fast, having been clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds, but not a blistering burner.
What Brown does have going for him — like Brady — is an unbeatable work ethic and an unquenchable desire to pursue perfection.
“I think the thing that impresses me is hard work, and he’s had to work for everything,” Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward said. “You see some of these gifted wide receivers that are just God-given blessed to be as big as they are and how — you look at a guy like Julio Jones and he’s a freak of nature — but then you look at a guy like AB.
“He might not have that physical stature in that way, but AB has the timing, the precision and I think he’s the best route runner because his subtleness is never shown in his routes. You just appreciate all the work he does during practice and then you see it on Sundays and you’re not surprised by it.”
This will be the fifth time Brown has faced the Patriots. He’s turned in a couple of impressive individual showings, but has lost three times while catching 30 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns.
Still, the Patriots are wary of Brown’s capacity to make plays by finding open space against multiple defenders or beating single coverage, as was the case when he made a 34-yard catch on third down with about a minute to play to sustain the game-winning drive that delivered the Steelers a 39-38 victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.
“He has the ability in tough situations and probably the biggest moments of the game late in the fourth quarter, he comes up with a big catch,” safety Devin McCourty said. “He beats double teams. He beats single coverage.”
Brown also had receptions of 57, 43, 28, and 22 yards as he totaled 213 yards and averaged 19.4 yards on 11 catches against the Ravens. It was his sixth game this season with 10-plus catches and his eighth with 100-plus yards.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is sure to seek Brown out Sunday as he’s already targeted his BFF/WR a league-high 160 times. The Patriots, who have often matched cornerback Malcolm Butler on Brown, know it’s going to take a maximum effort to minimize the damage.
“It’s trying to, for 60 minutes, make it tough,” McCourty said. “You’re not going to probably come out of this game and he has two catches for 10 [yards] — it’s just not going to happen. He’s too good of a player, but you’ve got to try to contain him somewhat and not let him just ruin the game for you.”