Steelers’ Brown having an historic season

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Darrius Heyward-Bey wants to get something out of the way about the latest addition to Antonio Brown’s rapidly expanding highlight reel.

It wasn’t a toe tap.

It was a toe drag.

The difference isn’t semantic. It’s vital. And one of the many reasons Heyward-Bey believes his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate is separating himself from every other wide receiver in the NFL.

If Brown tried to tap his feet while coming down with a 23-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger that set up teammate Chris Boswell’s winning field goal on the final play last Sunday against Green Bay, Brown would have been out of bounds. Brown knows this because he preaches it every day in practice. So Brown lifted his right foot off the ground and had it scrape the grass as he planted his left foot on the very edge of the playing field.

“When he went for the ball there was no ‘let me see if my feet got in, let me see,”’ Heyward-Bey said. “It was ‘Hey, if I drag it, I’m in. I’ve got to focus on this rock.”

Still, even Heyward-Bey figured Brown’s left foot was out. Then he watched Brown and knew he was in without having to wait for the officials to figure it out or check the replay on the massive scoreboard.

One play later, a more conventional 14-yard reception — Brown’s league-leading 80th — against absolutely baffled Green Bay cornerback Kevin King helped the AFC North-leading Steelers (9-2) extend their winning streak to six. It also sent social media aflame with goat emojis that sparked discussion on whether the 5-foot-10, 180-pound former sixth-round pick is the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.).

It’s a conversation Brown has no interest in joining.

“It’s tremendous when guys talk about me in that light,” said Brown, who missed Friday’s practice with a toe injury.

“But I’ve got a long way to go.”

Maybe, but the journey appears to be getting shorter.

At 29, he tops the league in yards receiving and is on pace for his fifth straight season of 100-plus receptions, something that’s never been done before.

Not by Jerry Rice. Not by Randy Moss. Not by Marvin Harrison. Not by anybody.