Antonio Brown: Former Steelers teammate 'gave me CTE'

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By , Audacy Sports

Former NFL superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown says he is suffering from CTE -- at the hands of a former teammate.

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Brown took to social media on Friday to reveal that he has experienced "super aggressive" behavior after he got hit "one time" by former longtime Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

Brown claims Harrison wore an "illegal helmet for over 20 years."

"I wanted to tell you guys that I think James Harrison gave me CTE," Brown said. "James Harrison had an illegal helmet for over 20 years in the NFL. And he hit me one time. And ever since he hit me I've been super aggressive. So blame James Harrison for my CTE."

Brown and Harrison played together on the Steelers for six-plus seasons from 2010-17. They were opponents for one season, 2013, when Harrison was with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brown didn't say whether the supposed hit happened as teammates, perhaps in practice, or as opposing players.

The dubious claim comes amid a rash of erratic behavior for Brown in recent years.

He last played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him after he was sent off the team's sidelines by then head coach Bruce Arians during a game against the New York Jets. Brown promptly removed his helmet and jersey, and gestured toward the crowd at MetLife Stadium en route to the locker room.

Many fans and journalists have wondered whether the 34-year-old, four-time All-Pro's seeming downward spiral could be attributed to an apparent traumatic brain injury suffered on an brutal helmet-to-helmet hit by former Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

However, Brown has denied any long-lasting effects from the Burfict hit and maintained "there's nothing wrong with my mental health" on numerous occasions.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: USA Today