Category: Athlete Apparel

Andrew McCutchen is a 34 year old MLB veteran and current Philadelphia Phillie. Cutch was a legendary Pittsburgh Pirate, winning an MVP in 2013 with the squad. When the Phillies first signed Andrew McCutchen, I felt that we overpaid for him, and didn’t see the need for an aging veteran a couple of years past his prime.

In some respects, I was totally right. The Phillies have not been able to break out of their playoff drought since his arrival, and he is taking valuable playing time away from young players of the future. Despite this, I have fallen in love with Cutch’s character and view him as a massive piece to the teams chemistry. Fashion-wise, Andrew does not stand out on the field at all. He will be the first to admit that he does not have the drip similar to some of the younger 20 year olds in the league.

What Cutch lacks in prototypical fashion he makes up for with his over the top characters. I would like to highlight two of them today.

1: Creating the Greatest Baseball Card of All Time

Towards the end of the 2019 season, all playoff hopes had been lost for the Phillies, and McCutchen was no longer active after tearing his ACL. When Philadelphia unveiled some “interesting” throwbacks towards the end of the season, Cutch decided to break his typical traditional approach towards fashion and flex his style. Cutch unbuttoned most of the buttons on the jersey, and strutted around the dugout with a distinctive cup that undoubtedly symbolized an alcoholic drink. The look garnered tons of laughs and national attention upon its reveal, but it wasn’t until months later when the image was chosen to represent McCutchens 2020 baseball card when it enshrined itself into the history books

The card was the fastest selling standard individual unit in Topps history. This is extremely impressive because Andrew McCutchen is not a rookie, and his baseball cards would typical hold no value if it wasn’t for the picture. Nearly a year later, individual cards can be bought for nearly 400 dollars on EBAY. Signed cards can go for upwards of two thousand dollars.

2: Uncle Larry

Quarantine caused many people to switch up their lifestyles and re-evaluate themselves. Andrew McCutchen took on an alter ego during that time by the name of Uncle Larry. Cutch decided to put a name to the face of his famous baseball card, donning himself Uncle Larry whenever he would dress stylishly. Uncle Larry made multiple skits on his Instagram during quarantine, fully decked out in his Phillies red with a fake mustasche. Cutch has created shirts for his alter ego that Phillies fans have eagerly purchased.

Maybe Andrew McCutchen is on the verge of a mid-life crisis. Maybe he is just trying to enjoy the down end of his career. Either way, I am totally here for it and I respect all the effort that he has put into attempting to make the Phillies clubhouse atmosphere more bright.

The Carson Wentz era of Philadelphia has come to a sudden and disappointing end, after five seasons of hope, stardom, and ultimate disappointment. Despite the immense promise that the quarterback showed during his 2017 Super Bowl Season, the up and down QB felt that a change of scenery may do him good, and the Eagles agreed. Enter, Jalen Hurts. Hurts was a surprise second round draft pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020. A star Quarterback out of Oklahoma, Jalen is poised to be the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback during week one of the 2021 season.

Hurts saw a bit of play time at the tail end of last season and has already cemented himself as a beloved figure across the city and in the mind of young football fans. Although his play was shaky to say the least, the Eagles won some games, and in Philly that is all that matters. Many people are excited about Jalen Hurts because of his capacity to carry on the legacy of great African American quarterbacks to play for the eagles. Historically, African Americans at the quarterback position were a relatively rare sight, unless they were on the Eagles. Star quarterbacks like Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, and Mike Vick are some of the most accomplished African Americans at the position, and all of them were Philadelphia Eagles. This narrative is certainly changing around the league however, as QBs like Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes are some of the best in the league.

Jalen Hurts is extremely proud of his heritage and carries into both his in-game-antics and fashion. If you watch the sidelines after an Eagles touchdown drive, you will likely see Jalen toss up his hand and stick out his tongue to the side. This symbol pays homage to the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, which is a historically black fraternity. The fraternity began at Howard, and Hurts is the first member to start in the NFL at quarterback since Steve McNair. The fraternity is probably the most well-known, historic, and respected historically black organizations in the United States. Famous alumni throughout the country have expressed their joy when seeing Hurts throw up the symbol.

Hurts has a great sense of off field fashion. In a recent interview with GQ, Hurts says that he spent his first million stocking up his wardrobe and then saving the rest. Most of his style choices are rooted in his heritage, but he always finds ways to make his fit work. In the image below, Hurts is rocking a vintage Kobe Bryant Lower Merion High School jacket. This Jacket pays homage to a Philadelphia area legend, and a beloved African American icon. He wore this while donating $30,000 to a Nottingham, PA area child battling cancer. Although Hurts definitely doesn’t mind wearing flashy suits postgame, I’ve also never seen a Philadelphia athlete wear as much Philadelphia themes clothing as he does. Hurts loves to wear Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles gear at various fundraisers and football workouts.

Although I predict the Eagles will be downright horrendous this season, I hope Hurts is our QB of the future. He is fun, a great teammate, and an advocate. I’m excited to watch him get a full 17 games under his belt in 2021.

Flashy styles and statement clothing is not really the first though that comes to mind when considering the sport of golf. That’s because flashy styles and statement clothing don’t really exist in the sport! After playing a couple of holes myself, I have began to watch golf much more and have developed a deep appreciation for some of the sport’s most famous athletes. Although you will never see a personality like Cam Newton rocking a leopard hat into the course, there is a sort of professional style that I think will soon again come to dominate the world of athlete fashion.

My favorite professional golfer, Brooks Koepka, has established himself as a formidable name in the world of golf. I first learned about Brooks because he is a reoccurring guest on my favorite podcast, “Pardon My Take”, which brings athletes on and asks them questions that typical interviewers would never have the confidence to ask.

Brooks is youthful compared to many of his competitors and brings that flare both into his game and his style. Brooks is seen above wearing his very own “Off White” brand golfing shoes. One of the most famous elements of the Off-White sneaker is the tie that remains attached as part of the shoe. Commentators were completely confused when viewing the shoe from a distance, and assumed that he had “forgotten to take the zip-tie off”. When asked about his shoes after his 18 hole round, Brooks described:

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s Off-White. It’s fashion. I guarantee the whole golf world has no clue what Off-White is, but it’s fresh. If you’re a sneaker head, you’ll get it — or into fashion. Sneaker heads know, yeah.” – HighSnobiety

I find this quote rather hilarious because Brooks basically alludes to the complete lack of style-awareness that the golf world has, and the commentators confirmed his accusations while he was golfing. I like how Brooks brings a new style to the game because in a sport that lacks action, flare, and stardom, a little modern style is much needed. I like how Brooks is able to maintain the classic elements of a golf look (polo, hat, khakis, etc), while sparking conversation with one specific piece.

Postgame, Brooks brings the style as well. In opposition to many golf players who don’t change after a round, brooks likes to show his style similar to athletes across others sports. He’s not doing too much, but I think it is significant that he is making an obvious effort to spice things up both on and off the course.

The 2021 Masters begins April 8^th and will last until the 11^th, and Koepka intends to play despite his recent knee surgery. Koepka had knee surgery only one month ago, but says he fully intends to go into the Masters and win. I want to see him succeed because I think he is a breath of fresh air in the sport of golf, and is a good role model to young golfers who have the capacity to change the game.

 

On Thursday April 1^st, Major league baseball will play its first slate of games for the 2021 season. After witnessing a short, unique, and intense 60 game season in wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, I can’t wait for baseball to return to its classic form this year. Some people however, criticize the MLB for it’s lengthy season, boring games, and poor marketing of star players. Although I personally love the 162 game season, I realize that the MLB has a major problem in terms of promoting their sport to younger audiences and making the game fun.

In recent years the MLB has made a couple of glaring attempts to market the sport in new and exciting ways, the most notable of which being “Players Weekend”. During players weekend, players are allowed to wear completely customized cleats, change the name on the back of their jersey to their nickname, and wear vibrant jersey colorways designed by players and teams. Two teams also get to play in Williamsport, PA during the height of the Little league World Series, in a stadium filled with children participating in the tournament. The entire weekend is a celebration of the sport and the players that make it so great, and I think it is the MLB’s strongest marketing ploy right behind their Home Run Derby and All Star game. Lets take a look at some of the Players Weekend style choice over the years.

Without a doubt, my favorite Players Weekend Jerseys came in 2018, where the theme was extremely vibrant and modern looking.

This image of Rhys Hoskins and Tommy Hunter of the Philadelphia Phillies showcase the capacity for player creativity over the weekend. Rhys Hoskins has earned the nickname “Big fella” early on in his career, presumably paying homage to the “Big Piece” Ryan Howard who was his predecessor at first base for the Phillies. Hoskins had an electric players weekend in 2018, turning a diving catch into a double play.

One of my favorite parts of players weekend is seeing the veterans get the respect and love that they deserve. Albert Pujols will go down as one of the greatest baseball players to ever grace the field, and his nickname “The Machine” is notorious and beloved. It is really cool seeing players like Albert who played the bulk of their careers without opportunities like Players Weekend, to put on a fun jersey and be praised by fans and teammates alike. Albert entered the league in 2001, and will likely retire in the coming years as a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer.

2019 was the league’s most recent players weekend as the MLB chose to skip the event last year because of the shortened season. I really disliked the route that the league went with their jerseys in 2019. Teams were given either white or black jerseys depending on their typical colorway. Although I found the jerseys to be boring and not on par with 2018, it allowed players a decent opportunity to pair their accessories with a plain background.

The MLB certainly fell short in 2019 in terms of their Players Weekend jerseys, and it falls in line with the general trend of the league: a failure to make the efforts necessary to promote their young stars. Mike Trout (pictured above), is on base to be the single greatest baseball player to ever play the sport in terms of holistic statistics. Despite this, the MLB struggles to market their “GOAT” in any meaningful way that grasps the interests of a younger fanbase. Trout plays for the Los Angeles Angels, a relatively small market team, and he is not as flashy as some of the other team’s young stars. If it were up to me, when players weekend rolls around I would make sure that Mike Trout is wearing a stunning jersey and playing in Williamsport in front of members of the little league world series. Players like him need to take center stage during special weekends like Players weekend, not be stuffed away in Anaheim, LA wearing a plain black jersey!

Vintage looks have long stood as a staple of NBA fashion and streetwear. Players love to rock the classics and show off their affinity for fashion trends throughout the decades. Recently, the resurgence of bold 90s graphic Tees has definitely caught my eye. Graphic tees are designed to be just that: Eye catching. Bold letters paired with bright colors often falling on a white or black shirt allow statements to be made while maintaining a stylish look. Lets take a look at some of the NBA’s most iconic players rocking some 90s Graphic Tees.

The NBA bubble during the coronavirus pandemic consisted of drama, competition, and various players trying out new styles. Chris Paul traveled to Orlando as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and was in the middle of an inspiring resurgence year before the pandemic put the league on pause, leading the young Thunder to a playoff berth at the age of 34 years. Although CP3 went to Wake Forest University, he got into the Orlando spirit by rocking a Florida A&M University vintage Tee that features Mickey Mouse on the front. Florida A&M is an HBCU that was supported by many NBA athletes in the bubble during the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Paul wasn’t the only athlete to use 90s graphic tees to support a cause, as Jaylen Brown was seen wearing a Malcolm X “No Justice No Peace” tee exiting his team bus in Orlando. Brown has been a recurring guest on the blog and is beloved for his activism and willingness to take charge. The Tee itself is your typical 90s style, consisting of multiple colors, minimal dead space, and a collage type layout.

Lately, NBA players have been wearing graphic tees in an attempt to pay homage to those that changed their game. Dwyane Wade, now retired, posted a picture of Instagram of him enjoying retirement life. The shirt that he is wearing is paying homage to Dennis Rodman, a transcendent rebounder, athlete, and character. Rodman earned the nickname “Worm” for his ability to squirm for rebounds. Dennis Rodman now a beloved athlete, but during his playing days he was extremely controversial. Rodman loved to party, and would sometimes leave the team without notifying them. He began the now popular trend of hair coloring in the NBA. Rodman continues to live a wild lifestyle, having once travelled to North Korea and befriending their dictator

When it comes to paying homage to the greats, Kobe Bryant is a popular name. Celtics young star Jayson Tatum rocked a spectacular Kobe Bryant Tee in a 90s style while in the bubble. This shirt is obviously not from the 90s because it is commemorating a recent event, but its slightly oversized look and vibrance definitely gives it that feel. Bryant began his playing career in 1996, and will be remembered as one of the most legendary players ever to grace the court in both the 90s and the 2000s

In the fall of 2010, Kobe Bryant released a pair of vibrant green sneakers titled the Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch”. Praised for their festive colorway and on-court comfortability, the sneakers became a hot commodity upon initial release. Bryant wore the sneakers on multiple occasions during the 2010 season, cementing the shoe’s position on the “must-have” list of every sneakerhead and basketball fanatic. In 2010, the shoes were given to courtside seat holders on the sideline of the Heat vz Lakers Christmas day game, allowing the shoes to cross over from basketball lure to everyday street attire.

10 years after the shoes initial release, the Grinches began to grace the court again, this time in the form of tribute rather than hype. NBA players from across the league wore and continue to wear these fluorescent green shoes as a way to pay their personal respects to Kobe’s legacy. Part of the reason why this league wide trend has become so noticeable is the fact that the bold-colored sneakers match with almost no NBA team’s jerseys, making their presence apparent on the court.

The 2020 lakers took a particular liking to the shoe, and viewed it as an honor to rep the 6s on the 10 year anniversary of its release. All Star Power Forward Anthony Davis called the kicks “The best Christmas Shoe Ever”

Although efforts by NBA players to wear the shoes as often as possible were rooted in a desire to pay homage to the NBA great, they have allowed the shoes to garner some considerable clout on multiple streetwear outlets such as GOAT, FlightClub, and Stadium Goods.

The shoes that are hitting the markets are a combination of the original 2010 releases, as well as a much-anticipated re-release which occurred in December 2020.

Athletes are always looking for ways to stand out, so some stars have decided to create their own takes on the legendary shoe. Kelly Oubre of the Golden State Warriors has secured a recent partnership with Converse, a legendary basketball shoe brand that has fallen out of favor with most of today’s recent stars. Oubre has plans to revive Converse’s influence on the basketball shoe game, and wanted to create a spinoff of Bryant’s legendary “Grinch” Sneakers.

In an interview with sportswriter Aaron Dodson, Oubre describes his affinity with the 6s since their initial release. “I Could never afford those shoes back in the day, and I am sure that if I would have been able to afford them, they would have been sold out before I could purchase them.” Oubre’s family home was devastated by hurricane Katrina, so Oubre understands all too well the trials and tribulations of poverty.

The shoes are titled the “All pro BB Nocturnals”, and were designed by the same legendary creator who crafted the Kobe 6 Grinches: Eric Avar. The shoes are much more affordable than the Grinches, topping out at about 100$ for a brand new pair.

Regardless of whether athletes choose to wear the classic Kobe “Grinch” sneakers, or create their own version of the classic, the resurgence of the Kobe brand allows for a respectful avenue of remembrance. Bryant passed away in a helicopter accident in January of 2020.

 

#HereTheyCome #ULTRADrip #THEENTRANCE #AllFly. All of these hashtags garner massive amounts of attention as a result of NBA social media. Above these short, catchy, and team specific hashtags are photos of your favorite players entering the arena, boarding planes, or exiting luxury cars. Arena entrances have become particularly important to both teams and individual athletes, as sponsors are willing to pay thousands of dollars for their brand to be associated with player fashion

Michelob Ultra has partnered with the Washington Wizards in exchange for exclusive advertising during Arena entries. The Wizards profit from the companies sponsorship, and Michelob Ultra gets exposure by the accounts use of the hashtag #ULTRADrip

Arena Entrances for star players are much more complicated than for your average NBA athlete. More eyes on you means more money, which leads to larger sponsorships. Players like Stephen Curry who have exclusive clothing deals with companies like Under Amour are strongly discouraged from wearing competing brands like Nike or Adidas. This is usually not a problem for the player, because they are able to promote their own clothing lines through their pregame fits, benefitting both themselves and the company that they are partnered with.

Outside of sponsorships, players have gone to great lengths to really show off their style prior to game time. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as major sports media powers such “The Athletic” have begun to write periodic “NBA Power Rankings” based off of player fashion. Let’s take a look at just a couple of my personal favorite Athlete influencers……

 

First off, we have Tobias Harris of the Philadelphia 76ers. I may be slightly bias as a 76ers fan, but Tobias is undoubtedly a proven veteran in the world of arena entrances, and has been interviewed exclusively on the topic by Sports Illustrated. Tobias Harris says that his main goal is to look like himself, while also looking completely different from everybody else. Tobi works closely with Eric White, a New York City visual artist, in order to carefully select the perfect fit for each gameday.

As an avid book enthusiast, Tobias often compliments his clothing with a classic in hand, and a couple other of his essentials. Flashy would not be the best word to describe Tobi’s vibe, as sophistication and professionalism is his goal. This professional style has seamlessly translated onto the court as Harris has proven to truly be a pro’s pro, both through his high level of play and his ability to lead. Tobias signed a five year, one hundred and eighty million dollar contract extension with the 76ers in 2019.

Sponsorships can’t keep some athletes from making their fashion presence known off of the court. Ja Morant is beginning his second year campaign as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, and has already committed to being a Nike Athlete. Ja competed in a contentious Rookie of the year race in 2020, barely etching by Zion Williamson and winning the award. Although I certainly don’t think Ja’s style choices are award winning, they are certainly worth noting.

 

Morant is already notorious for his Nike Sweatsuits. In an interview with Hypebeast.Com Ja explains, “I want to be comfortable in my clothes, but I also want people to see that I know how to dress”. Morant’s style choices emulate his style of play closely: Consistent, Vibrant, and Youthful. Considering the stardom that Morant will encounter in the future, it is hard for me to imagine that he will be rocking sweatsuits for much longer as luxury companies such as Tissot might try to get in on the Ja Morant madness.

It usually take a lot for a non-Philadelphia athlete to earn my support. But for some players, it really just takes a beard. James Harden is the NBAs most prominent free agent during the 2020 NBA offseason, and has engrained himself as one of the league’s most dominant superstars. James Harden was the league MVP in 2018, and averaged a whopping 35 points this past season.

In order to be the last athlete featured in my blog, you have to do more than win an MVP and average unreal per game stats. You have to have drip while you do it. James Harden certainly does. Donned “The Beard” by players across the league, Harden brings a great mix of style and subtleness when he steps onto the court. Lets take a look!

The most glaring part of James Hardens look is without a doubt his beard. Since his arrival into the league, harden has kept a pristine black beard that has become his trademark look. The nice part about this beard is although it is definitely a statement, it is extremely clean cut and well kept, which is unusual when compared to many other athletes, who go for length over structure. “The Beard” has become a great marketing piece for both Hardens brand and the branding of the Houston Rockets. Growing up, all my friends would dress up as James harden for Halloween simply by throwing on a jersey and wearing a big black beard.

Although the beard is near and dear to Harden’s heart, he says he would cut it!

 

“Oh yea, I would cut it. I mean because it’s going to grow right back. Yeah, $10 million minimum (to charity) is where I am like ‘alright, i’ll do it.’” – Sportscasting

 

Harden’s drip is so much more than the Beard, however. On The court Harden plays it subtle, but still shows signs of his fashion. Harden often flexes his own signature shoes, and brings a retro look to the court. He is known for wearing league issued headbands as well!

Although his style on the court is of a relatively soft-spoken nature, he loves to dress off of the court. Harden recently did a GQ photoshoot with his teammate Russell Westbrook, who himself is a famous NBA dresser. Check It Out:

Unfortunately, it seems that this duo will not be staying together much longer. Both Russell Westbrook and James Harden have requested trades from the Rockets. Harden has since become the first person in sports history to turn down a 50 MILLION (per year) contract. Wow, he could buy a lot more chains with that money. Of course I’m hoping that The Beard laces up in Philadelphia, but I have a feeling we will see James join Kyrie and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn next season. Either way, the beard won’t be left behind in Houston.

The 2020 NBA season has finally come to a close. After a 6 month hiatus due to the COVD-19 pandemic, the association returned to complete the playoffs at the “NBA Bubble” located in Orlando. Although the playoffs were exciting and fast paced, the vibes were certianly different. No fans and COVID uncertainties gave the league a different feel this year.

Another difference about the COVID season was that players were playing angry. Multiple stars across the league voiced their concerns about the present state of the United States, and were filled with passion because of the Black Lives Matter movement. Fashion is often used as a way to make a statement to a large audience, and it was utilized perfectly by both the league and the players throughout their time in the NBA bubble and beyond. Lets take a look at some of the ways athletes used both their platform and fashion to make their voices heard…

As a 76ers fan I am slightly (very) bias here, but I feel that Matisse Thybulle played one of the largest roles by a non-superstar player to promote equality this season. Tisse created his now famous “Bubble Vlogs”, which consisted of ten minute YouTube videos that documented life in the bubble. The Vlogs had a major focus on how players and teams would address the BLM movement, and provided great insight into how he personally felt about the situation. Matisse took advantage of the NBA’s jersey customization guidelines, and put the words “Vote” on the back of his jersey during games. Matisse also was present in Philadelphia at peaceful protests prior to entering the bubble.

 

 

 

Another player who was adamant about making his voice heard was Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown drove fifteen hours from Boston to Atlanta to lead a peaceful protest in his hometown. Brown wore a black Tee that said “Dream Team: America’s Best”, featuring prominent black figures such as Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr. Brown also chose to wear the words “Liberation” throughout his teams relatively surprising playoff run in 2020.

 

Without a doubt the most influential voice of the BLM movement in the NBA is generational talent Lebron James. When asked about issues of social justice, Lebron is not afraid to speak his mind, and has often become passionate on camera when talking about injustice. Lebron wore many statement pieces during his time in the bubble. Lets take a look at a couple of them…..

James sported his support for the family of Breonna Taylor after a team practice, wearing a hat that advocated for the officers’ arrest.

 

James’s decision to not wear a statement on the back of his jersey was an important decision it itself. James was angered that the NBA gave the players a list of alternative statements for the back of their jerseys, and believed players should get to choose for themselves what statement they would make. It is unknown what James wanted on the back of his jersey, but there is no doubt it would have been transformative.

Since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010, no NFL player has proven as controversial as Antonio Brown. However, it wasn’t always that way. For the bulk of AB’s early career Brown was a bonified superstar. Brown crushed multiple Steelers receiving records and cemented himself as the clear number one receiver in the NFL. To use AB’s own trademarks phrase “Business is Boomin” (or was).

Brown’s reputation went spiraling downhill in 2019 when he demanded a trade from the Steelers on social media (classy). It was then announced on the NFL’s official social media that Brown was to be a Buffalo Bill. AB commented “Fake News”. The Bills then revoked their trade offer for the receiver. After signing with the Raiders, Brown was ready to dominate the league once again. Although AB showed up to training camp in a hot air balloon, he never stepped foot on the field in a Raiders uniform, being dropped after multiple verbal altercations and a trade demand. Brown played one game with Tom Brady and the Patriots last season, before once again being dropped. This past week Brown inked a one year deal with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, a team that seems to love players that are just a bit past their prime. The Bucs are investing into a player who still needs to serve the tail end of his domestic abuse suspension, and poses a threat to the sanity of the team’s locker room.

What allowed Brown to make the cut for my “Athlete Apparel” blog is not so much his streetwear, or postgame outfits, but more so the brand he has built for himself. AB has trademarked the slogan “Business is Booming”, and tries to let the world know that his business is indeed booming, even when it so obviously is not. Although this feel good brand does not currently match Browns reputation, at his peak the “BIB” movement made AB an NFL icon. Brown’s brand inspired kids to scream “Business is Boomin!!” as they ran into the end-zone during a back yard football game, or scored a perfect 100 on a math test. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that AB tried to live his brand.

 

 

Am I rooting for AB as a football player? No. I think football should be the last thing AB is focusing on. Antonio Brown has made a spectacle of himself over this past year and a half, and I think it would be best for him to step aside from the game and focus on himself. With that being said, I am rooting for AB as a person. As more and more information about CTE and NFL head trauma begins to surface, Brown looks like a prototypical case of what years and years of football can do to a man. A large group of people, myself included, attribute much of ABs problems to the hit he took from Vontaze Burfict CLICK TO WATCH, a player who is suspended indefinitely from the NFL. The shift between Brown before and after that hit is night and day, and it is scary to think how one’s life can change so fast.