Antonio Brown missed another Raiders practice on Sunday. While Brown is still dealing with feet issues, Mike Mayock confirmed this latest absence was related to his helmet. The Raiders’ supportive tone has shifted.
“He’s upset about the helmet issue. We have supported that; we appreciate that,” Mayock said, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic (video link). “At this point, we’ve pretty much exhausted all avenues of relief. From our perspective, it’s time for him to be all-in or all-out.”
The first-year GM reiterated hope Brown will be a major part of this new Raider regime’s attempt at a bounce-back season, but the team is clearly frustrated with its trade acquisition’s recent antics. An arbitrator ruled in favor of the NFL regarding Brown’s helmet grievance, and despite the four-time All-Pro finding a slightly newer model of his since-discontinued helmet, he’s been informed it failed an NOCSAE test.
Mayock’s comments run counter to Jon Gruden‘s last weekend. Oakland’s HC expressed support for Brown on both the helmet and foot fronts. A week later, it appears the 31-year-old superstar is testing the limits of another franchise.
The ball will be in Brown’s court. Mayock’s comment comes after the 10th-year wideout said the report of him again threatening to retire was false. We’re back in a holding pattern with Brown, whose holding pattern in Pittsburgh earlier this year led to his Bay Area relocation.
“I don’t know where they got that from, or who made that up, either,” Brown said, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Scott Bair. “Why would I retire, man? I have a beautiful career. I’m healthy. I love to play the game.”
Brown reported back to the Raiders after his helmet grievance failed. But he has not given up in his interesting quest at headgear continuity. Brown’s camp said this week the Raiders informed Brown if he found a newer model (made since 2010) of the helmet he’s worn throughout his career it could be certified by the NOCSAE, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. It was not. The camp also believes the NFL moved to keep the receiver from wearing a newer model of the helmet, with a 2011 Schutt AiR Advantage model only failing to pass the league’s new safety-based guidelines once Brown caused this stir. Nevertheless, the Schutt AiR Advantage helmet is banned, Bair tweets.
However, the NFL and NFLPA worked together in the process that led to Brown’s latest helmet solution being tested (and failing), Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The sides jointly said earlier this week the helmet would be tested in the same lab as the other league-approved helmets. Both the league and the union concurred Brown will not be allowed to wear that helmet in games.
While Brown is losing this battle, and is the only player waging it, he is clearly not going down without a fight.
Great ‘Face of the Franchise’ guy there!
So who had preseason game #2 in the “how long does it take AB to wear out his welcome” pool?
Not me, I gave the honeymoon to at least week 4. I guess I misjudged how actual cray cray AB is right now.
Just want to thank AB and LeVeon I have not been this much of a Steelers fan since Troy retired.
I was hoping he would retire and save gruden from his stupid mistake
This guy has to be the biggest douche bag currently in the NFL. And that is quite an accomplishment.
The XFL will let you wear your old helmet starting this February. #justsayin #NoFunLeague
The nfl is in a no win spot with this helmet stuff. If they let him wear it, lawsuits galore for concussions. If they don’t let them wear these unapproved helmets… it’s the no fun league. Pretty messed up.
ok Vince
*Insert clown emoji
Raider Nation enjoy your new WR
DRAMA QUEEN,DIVA.
A regular Team ME putz
Not sure how Mayock saying this all in or all out thing helps the situation. Honestly if they just shut up and said we’re focusing on, whoever’s they play 1st, and be dome with it.
What’s the deal with the helmets?
Why don’t you hear this mess from Julio, AJ , M Thomas, D Adams , Fitz … all class talents. This guy is such a woman… always different hair , worried about what he wears and never shuts up. He just needs to shut his mouth out on his bonnet and earn his paycheck.
So the Raiders traded for Brown, gave him a massive pay raise , hired a guy on TV to run their franchise, hired a retired coach for 10 years/$100 Million, brought in Richie Incognito, let brown act like a spoiled brat 24/7 and it’s not even Sept 1 ???
This team definitely belongs in Vegas because it is a fantastic show!
Just classic Raider stuff! Al Davis would be proud!
Every DB and safety in the league should be head hunting this clown.
Based on how he’s been behaving the last 12 months, I’d say it’s probably too later for any helmet to be of much help to Brown now anyway…
Raiders need to change their slogan to “Commitment to Excrement”.
There should be a complete re-branding and name change. Thank goodness Al Davis isn’t alive to see what a travesty his son has made of the Raider legacy.
Too long…just use the initials…
C. T. E.
He said he was going to accept the decision on his helmet and move on, now he’s acting like a baby again. I wonder if he thought he’d have the helmet companies throwing themselves and $$$ at him to wear their lids and it never happened.
You may be on to something! Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Is this Ben’s fault, too? Maybe Colbert’s?
Just like a baby missing his binky….whaaaaa…whaaaaa…