Owner Antonio Brown To Play For Albany Empire: Ready To Make A Comeback

The Albany Empire of the National Arena League is owned by the former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. In a matchup with Fayetteville, he will participate for the team.

Griffin Haas of WTEN reports that Brown ran one route during practice on Thursday. Brown later informed reporters that he will play on Saturday but did not say for how long.

He also said, we believe in jest, that Cam Newton will join him in Albany “soon.”

Since Brown became the Empire’s sole owner, there has been a lot of turmoil. He has asserted that he is a foreign national and disputed that he is the team’s owner.

And now he is playing for it!

Brown has just one motive to play for the Albany Empire. He is the team’s largest shareholder.

In March 2023, Brown initially became a member of the Empire’s ownership group. Mike Kwarta, the team’s major owner, sold him 47.5 percent of the business; he then paid $1 for the remaining 47.5 percent, leaving Kwarta with a 95 percent ownership share in the organization.

Brown has a $20 million net worth. That is primarily due to the money he made through his NFL playing career as well as certain endorsement deals he had before the turbulent finish of his time with the Raiders and Patriots.

Brown earned a total of $80.74 million throughout his time playing in the NFL. For two reasons, that is modest compared to some of the other best receivers in the NFL.

Albany Empire roster

Jersey No. Player Position Height Weight College
— Antonio Brown WR 5-10 185 Central Michigan
2 Nikolas Brassell WR/DB 6-1 210 Ole Miss
3 Jonathan Bane QB 6-4 210 Dakota Weslyan
3 Joseph Putu DB 6-1 215 Florida
4 Kevin Hurley WR 6-2 180 McMurray University
5 Kerry Starks FB/LB 6-2 230 ULM
6 Fabian Guerra WR 6-0 190 Fairmont State
7 Farrean Toney WR 5-10 185 Mississippi Valley State
8 Daquan Patten WR/DB 5-7 175 West Carolina
9 Keyshawn Young WR 6-0 180 USC
12 Daniel Justino K 5-8 170 Northwestern State
19 Maurice Leggett DB 6-0 215 Valdosta State
21 Isaac James WR/DB 6-0 195 Indiana
24 Brian Foy Jr. WR/DB 6-1 185 Grand Rapids CC
34 Malcolm Mccoy FB/LB 6-0 230 Bowie State University
44 Ricky Wyatt FB/LB 6-0 230 Central Arkansas
50 Brandon Thorpe OL/DL 6-4 308 Texas Tech/Virginia Union
53 Dante Reynolds OL/DL 6-1 300 Delaware Valley State
54 Andre Revere Sr. OL/DL 6-0 285 Tuskegee University
54 Jadavien Williams OL/DL 6-2 265 Valdosta State
55 Sean Daniels DL/LB 6-3 255 Temple
65 Isaiah Hardy OL 6-6 335 West Virginia
76 Noland Bryant OL/DL 6-7 330 Edward Waters
91 Ron Johnson OL/DL 6-4 293 Michigan
— Kevin Felder WR 5-7 155 University of Pikeville
— Jeremiah Zene Jr. FB/DL 6-7 345 Concordia College

What is the Albany Empire?

The Albany Empire play arena football and are currently NAL (National Arena League) participants. They are one of the league’s seven teams, which was established in 2016.

The Albany franchise was established in 2020, and this is their third season competing in the Arena League. Despite this, an Arena Football League team that competed in 2018 and 2019 before the AFL’s demise has the same name, logo, and color scheme as the Empire. Consequently, the brand has existed for a lot longer.

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One of the NAL’s most lucrative franchises to date has been the contemporary Empire series. They are one of two teams with numerous titles under their belt and have won both of the most recent NAL championship games. The second is  the Jacksonville Sharks.

Overall, the Empire had a 15-5 regular-season record and a perfect 4-0 postseason record going into 2023. They haven’t done as well in 2023, having played five games and going 1-4.

 

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