Pittsburgh Steelers

Antonio Brown remembers the list of the 21 wideouts drafted before him in 2010

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:26 p.m. ET

Brett Smiley

All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown threw it back on Thursday to 2010 when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him 195th overall out of Central Michigan after 21 other wide receivers had been drafted. Needless to say, Antonio Brown has given the Steelers a pretty magnificent return on their sixth-round investment. And for Brown, it appears to remain a great source of motivation.

Motivation !! I remember list pic.twitter.com/yl5GQbDmmY
— Antonio Brown (@AntonioBrown84) August 25, 2016

Even Brown's jersey number was inspired by the draft. "My number is 84. Eight times four is 32," Brown said in 2015. "Thirty-two teams looked past me, even the Steelers. So every time I go out there it’s a little added motivation."

As for the 21 wide receivers taken before Brown in 2010, here are the big names: Demaryius Thomas (22nd overall, the first wideout drafted) and his Broncos teammate Emmanuel Sanders (82nd overall) -- the Steelers' third-round draft pick.

The Cowboys also nabbed Dez Bryant (24th overall) and the Seahawks took Golden Tate (60th overall). Both Bryant and Tate have earned Pro Bowl nods and enjoyed solid careers so far.

But like Arya Stark, Brown remembers the full list, which also includes about a dozen players who are out of the league (or free agents), such as Damian Williams (77th overall to the Titans) and Taylor Price (90th by the Patriots).

It's all good motivation and now the 27-year-old has still got a few more years in his prime to terrorize opposing cornerbacks. Look out.