NFL: Steelers receiver Antonio Brown to fight civil lawsuits

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is planning to fight a pair of lawsuits filed against him stemming from an incident at a Florida apartment complex last spring.

Ophir Sternberg is seeking damages against Brown, claiming that objects thrown by Brown from the 14th floor of an apartment building came close to striking Sternberg’s father and Sternberg’s 22-month-old son in April. The lawsuit claims Sternberg’s son was “extremely traumatized” by the event.

A second lawsuit filed by the owner of the apartment building is seeking more than $15,000 in damages from Brown.

Brown told police that the incidents occurred after a gun and $80,000 were stolen from the apartment. Brown said in a statement on Thursday the lawsuits contained “false claims” against him.

“The facts will soon come out that prove my innocence,” Brown said. “My focus will remain on football and I will not let the cases serve as a distraction.”

Jaguars’ Ramsey calls Gilmore’s criticism ‘lame, corny’

Jalen Ramsey says New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s criticism is “lame, corny,” adding “but it’s him, though.”

In a radio interview Wednesday, Gilmore took a shot at the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back by saying “a lot of people can talk, but you’ve got to back it up, which he does. Sometimes.”

Speaking to “The Sports Hub” radio show in Boston, Gilmore added: “That’s not my style, but I find a lot of guys that talk are mostly zone guys so they have a lot of energy to do that.”

Ramsey fired back Thursday, saying “we know that’s furthest from the truth.”

“I’m going to continue to do what this team asks me to do,” Ramsey said. “Man or zone. Maybe he should try it. I was All-Pro.”

Ramsey usually plays press coverage and regularly follows the opponent’s best receiver all over the field.

He shadowed New York Giants star Odell Beckham in the season opener and did the same last week against Kansas City speedster Tyreek Hill. Beckham caught 11 passes for 111 yards against Jacksonville, with 63 of those coming in the fourth quarter. Hill had four receptions for 61 yards, including a 36-yarder over Ramsey.

“I’ve never understood why somebody on the same side of the ball would hate on another guy,” said Ramsey, who made headlines in the preseason for ripping many NFL quarterbacks . “Usually we’re going against the opponent. Maybe I’m a threat or something. I really don’t know. It was weird to me. It’s lame, corny, but it’s him, though.”

Ramsey has 17 tackles and one pass breakup this season.

“If the team is happy with my production out there, whether I’m playing man or zone, I’m good with it,” he said. “I’m a zone guy. I’m a man guy. I’m going to do what the team asks me and I’m going to do it at a high level. It’s cool. We know that’s furthest from the truth, though. I play a good mix of both, but I think everybody knows I’m playing man majority of the time.”