Former Kentucky Wildcat and current Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. is in the early stages of a long recovery. After suffering a fractured fibula in a collision during practice, he wanted to show support for his team, posting a photo of himself watching the game in his full uniform, helmet and all, with a walking boot on his injured leg.
The heartfelt post drew the attention of Antonio Brown, the disgraced former NFL star known for his bizarre online behavior. Brown reposted the photo with the caption, "CTE of the day," prompting a fiery exchange.
What is a fractured fibula and CTE?
A fractured fibula is a break in the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg. For the general population, recovery can take 4-6 months to fully heal. For a high-performance athlete like Johnson, returning to elite NFL form can be a grueling process, often taking the better part of a year, making any suggestion that he is not taking his health seriously a low blow.
Brown's comment referenced Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. It's a serious condition that has affected the lives of many former players, and using it as a casual insult is a deeply controversial move.
Johnson fires back, citing Brown's legal woes
Johnson didn't take the insult lying down, firing back on X (formerly Twitter) with a blistering reply. "Next time tag me (expletive) BOY," Johnson wrote. "AINT YOU RUNNING FROM THE FEDS."
Johnson's retort is a direct reference to Antonio Brown's numerous and well-documented legal troubles. In recent months, Brown has been the subject of multiple arrest warrants, has been accused of everything from domestic violence to failing to pay child support, and has even filed for bankruptcy amid his chaotic post-NFL career. Johnson's clapback was a brutal reminder that when it comes to questionable behavior, few can match Antonio Brown, allegedly.
It is important to remember the information in this article is just aggregated from news sources, this is just reporting, no determinition of guilt is presumed. All persons are innoncent until proven otherwise.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. Psalm 121:7-8. #UpTheAlbion