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Proving the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, the Pittsburgh Steelers might have unearthed some talented players for the future last weekend when the sons of two of their star players took to the field on Sunday.
Although Ben Roethlisberger Jr. is only 5-years-old and Autonomy Brown is just 4-years-old, they are already showing they could be a couple of names to watch for the future should they ever decide to follow in their father’s footsteps. In a short video posted to Instagram by proud dad Antonio Brown, both young boys displayed impressive skills for children their age.
The tight eight-yard spiral from Roethlisberger Jr., from a flat footed position no less, it an obvious sign some athletic talents are genetic and the over-the-shoulder catch from Brown’s son is equally spectacular.
Both could be eligible for the NFL around 2035 if everything works out. However, when speaking to the Steelers star receiver this offseason, he told me he was less than keen to see his sons follow him into the NFL.
“Nah, don’t follow me playing football — that’s not what they need to do. I wouldn’t discourage them from playing, but I would tell them the facts. There’s a lot of things in the game that is not healthy. Obviously, I know how to work around those things, but the game is crazy right now. I wouldn’t advise my kids to play. Hopefully, I’ll work hard enough and make a lot of money so they don’t have to play and I could see them be successful in other things and support them through.”
That being said, given the skills young Auto is already showing, it might be harder to keep him off the field than his father imagines.