Mark Madden: Antonio Brown's latest implosion appears to be his final act in NFL

Nobody should have sympathy or even concern for Antonio Brown after his epic meltdown and early exit during the third quarter of Sunday’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers-New York Jets game.

We reap what we sow.

Knock off amateur diagnoses like suggesting Brown has CTE from a vicious head shot he suffered from Cincinnati’s Vontaze Burfict in 2016. CTE can’t be diagnosed until the person in question is dead.

Brown has been a self-sabotaging clown since he exited the womb.

It’s why he went to a MAC school instead of a Power Five college. It’s why he went in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, not the first. A predraft scouting report said Brown “has a prima donna attitude and does not like to work.”

Brown proved the latter wrong. But the former exploded like a mushroom cloud.

Brown went nuts on the sideline at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. He stripped off his gear, threw his jersey and gloves into the stands and exhorted the crowd as he departed.

It was entertaining. It combined Ned Braden stripping at the climax of “Slap Shot” with Coffee Black ditching the San Antonio Spurs to rejoin the Flint Tropics in “Semi-Pro.”

For anyone else, Brown’s actions Sunday would seem horribly unusual. But we’ve seen worse from Brown.

Brown got a three-game suspension this season for using a fake covid vaccination card. He’s been accused of sexual assault. He was caught on video being verbally abusive to the mother of three of his children. He repeatedly has refused to pay money owed.

Then there’s all the football-related problems that weren’t illegal but certainly added up. Brown is incredibly toxic.

The drama at MetLife looks like Brown’s final act as far as the NFL is concerned. Tom Brady was his protector at Tampa Bay. There’s nobody else with the cachet to successfully stump for Brown. If there were, he wouldn’t want to do it. (But never say never.)

No one knows for sure why Brown imploded.

Brown reportedly declined to enter the game, citing an ankle injury. He was then told to “get out” by Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians. Arians confirmed Brown’s refusal but said Brown didn’t say he was hurt. Brown’s ankle seemed OK when he jumped around during his exit.

Brown released a rap song Sunday. Of course he did.

No one should care what happens to Brown next. Brown never has been remotely concerned about anybody but himself. He deserves no better.

Perhaps Brown needs help. Or perhaps he just needs his backside kicked.

Sunday’s debacle likely cost Brown what’s left of his career. Ex-teammate Ramon Foster thinks it could cost him even more.

“This last stunt (will) make it hard for AB to get into the (Pro Football) Hall (of Fame),” Foster tweeted.

It will, and it should. Brown at the microphone for his induction at Canton is a scary proposition. He’s the best receiver of his generation, but what about the concept of class? What about being a decent teammate and not a total narcissist?

Brown’s problems are of his own making. But as Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt tweeted, “While you’re criticizing him and his awful behavior, don’t forget he’s had enablers at every point along the way. There have been a lot of souls sold.”

That’s correct. Those souls include Mike Tomlin, the Rooney family and the Steelers locker room.

So what happens to Brown now?

That question can best be answered by another question: Who cares?

No matter how bad it gets for Brown, it will be hard to argue he doesn’t deserve it.

Don’t waste your pity on Brown. He’d never give your well-being so much as a momentary thought.