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VIDEO and STORY: Raiders’ Brown shares with Sabers

All-Pro wide receiver works out with Maui High football players

Antonio Brown hauls in a pass from Sabers quarterback Brex Delray during his workout Thursday. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

KAHULUI — Toa Afemui admitted he was nervous. Then again, it’s not often that a rising high school sophomore backup quarterback is asked to throw workout passes to an NFL All-Pro wide receiver.

That was the scene Thursday night under the lights at Patsy Mink Field on the Maui High School campus as Afemui threw passes to Antonio Brown of the Oakland Raiders during a 2 1/2-hour workout.

“It’s scary, honestly,” Afemui said. “You’re trying to make it perfect for him, but at the same time it’s also cool throwing to a legend. Throwing to him in Madden and watching him on TV to doing it in real life, it’s amazing.”

Brown also took passes from Maui High starter Brew Delray.

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown warms up before the start of his workout at Patsy Mink Field on Maui High School campus on Thursday as Cam Thomas, his creative director and photographer, films him. Brown stopped by the high school three times this week to work out with players while on vacation. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

“Man, they were throwing hard, my hand was hurting,” Brown said with a wide smile following the workout. “I swear, I swear my hand was hurting. Those guy were throwing and I was, like, ‘You, ease up.’ They got some great guys.”

Brown noted that the Sabers had worked out for two hours before going through drills with him for 2 1/2 hours more.

“They got my dang hand hurting, those guys, they got some good arms,” Brown said. “Some professional kids, they love working out. Man, there’s a lot of family out here, there’s a lot of support. So, it’s a great community, great organization. It’s a great high school — there’s a lot of love out here.

“I’m just here to spread a lot of encouragement and grateful to be here with these guys. They treated me like family.”

Delray said completing passes to Brown — from short distance warmup tosses to hitting him on long patterns — was something he will never forget.

Brown hauls in a pass from a Sabers quarterback. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

“It was kind of unreal because just the difference between high school and the NFL and the speed and the accuracy,” said Delray, a rising senior who will begin his third season as the Sabers starter in August. “It’s kind of cool to see what people can grow to. You see he’s working hard every day. Obviously, he didn’t just get there overnight.”

Like Afemui, Delray said of throwing to Brown, “There’s pressure just because he’s in the NFL and you don’t want to mess up. I try to push that side, so I don’t try to get rid of that stress.”

Having Brown in the Sabers’ family put a smile on Delray’s face.

“It’s cool, it’s cool,” Delray said. “We kind of have bragging rights now all over the island.”

Brown was on the island with his wife for a brief vacation.

Jose Tienda (right), Brown’s injury-prevention specialist, helps the receiver go through stretches during a break. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

During a workout at a local gym, Brown and trainer Jose Tienda told the owner they were looking for a place to work with a Jugs football-throwing machine. The owner happened to be a friend of Maui High head coach Rodney Figueroa, who sent an email of inquiry to Sabers Athletic Director Mike Ban.

Thursday night was the last of three workouts he held on the Kahului campus and only a select group of Sabers were invited to the party after Brown was somewhat overrun by well-wishers on Monday and Tuesday.

Brown, who was traded to the Raiders this offseason after a 2018 season full of turmoil in Pittsburgh, was nothing but gracious with the Sabers on Thursday night.

“Obviously, anytime you come out here and be a good example, not only be a good example, but set a good example as far as showing my work ethic, and show our guys what it takes,” Brown said. “Not only as a professional football player, but any profession. Just being a pro and making sure you’re ready to go.

“Anytime I come out here with some high school kids, out here on Maui, it’s always a fun and good time.”

Brown and Tienda review footage of a route that Brown had just run. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

Brown added that staying in shape is a year-round job requirement, even when he is on an island like Maui. He took Wednesday off as a “family day” according to Ban, and then got his final, methodical regimen in on Thursday before leaving on Friday.

Brown was flanked Thursday night by a pair of friends filming for various social media and film-study needs and by Tienda, who would use his phone to film workout drills and then quickly discuss them with Brown.

“You always have to have a what’s-important mentality,” Brown said. “What’s important now is that I’m in the best physical condition and I’m ready to go. That’s being a professional and doing my part as far as getting ready — what better point to get ready and better location like this. Have a little fun and be able to still get my work in.”

Tienda has worked for the Raiders for seven seasons and Brown added to that responsibility when he hired Tienda as his “injury-prevention specialist. So, that’s what I do basically, just make sure that everything he does is safe and effective.”

That includes more than an hour of warmup stretching and catching drills mixed in with leg massages from the bottom of his feet to his hamstrings.

Brown leaps for the pass while running routes. -- The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

“This guy’s next level,” Tienda said. “I’ve worked with a lot of NFL players and, I mean, you can tell a difference. Work ethic. As you can see now — what time is it? 8 o’clock at night and we’re going to be working for a few hours. That’s what kind of drew me to him and vice versa. We both like to work hard and think outside the box.”

Tienda said that @AB84–Brown has more than 1.38 million followers on Twitter — and that Brown is genuine in his concern for the next generation and community involvement.

“That’s the thing that kind of drives him, being able to pass his knowledge over to the kids, the next generation of football players,” Tienda said. “We’re just glad to do that.”

Brown smiled when asked about his new opportunities in Oakland — the Raiders are scheduled to move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.

“There’s always added motivation, you know, fresh start, new opportunity, so it’s a fresh start and exciting to see,” Brown said.

He has a new favorite set of workout partners in the Sabers.

“Some amazing, cool kids here,” he said. “They all got their workout, been working extra hard all week with me, so I’m just excited to be out here and feel the love.”

During his last few rounds of catching passes from the Jugs machine, he asked former Saber linebacker Antonio Savou to hold his one hand to simulate being hampered by NFL defenders.

Brown finished his 200-catch workout with Savou doing his best Ray Lewis impression.

“He said, ‘Put resistance,’ because they’re going to be holding him a lot,” said Savou, who will return for his redshirt freshman season as a fullback and defensive lineman at Merced (Calif.) Junior College next week. “You got to get into that mentality of being held. It was a good experience going through that.”

Savou realized how fortunate the Sabers were to be visited and shown the way by a player like Brown.

“It’s once-in-a-lifetime, you know?” Savou said. “That’s the goal right now for every athlete. We’re trying to get to that level, but to have that influence and that atmosphere, it’s a real good example.”

Brown said that the young players motivated him.

“Absolutely, because I can’t be out here falling down, laying down like I’m not in shape,” Brown said. “You’ve got to set a good example, you know, they’re watching. Watching all the moves I make. If I’m fatigued, I’m running. You can’t just put stuff on Instagram. You’ve got to be out here and back it up.”

There is no question who Brown’s favorite team in the Maui Interscholastic League is.

“Maui High School is now a family to me,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get back before we start camp. Anytime those guys got a bye week, feel free to come support me in Oakland and support the team. Hopefully, I can come over here during a bye week and catch a game or something.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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