Following a chaotic day in Oakland, head coach Jon Gruden finally had a chance to address the Antonio Brown fiasco.
“Like I said, I’m not going to get into all of this,” Gruden said (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez). “Obviously, he wasn’t here today and when we have some information for you, we’ll give it to you. …I’ve been talking about the same guy every day.
“…I’m emotional about it, I hope you understand why. I think a lot of this guy. I think Antonio is a great receiver, and deep down I think he’s a really good guy. So, I’m frustrated, I’m not going to say anything more about it, hope it all works out. But I don’t have anything official to say about anything else, until I get all the facts and that’s what I’m going to do.”
At the very least, Gruden will have to prepare for Monday night’s season opener without the star receiver. We learned earlier this evening that the team was proceeding as if Brown won’t be available for Week 1.
Let’s check out some more notes out of Oakland…
- We learned earlier that the Raiders could suspend Brown with the intention of voiding his more than $30MM in guarantees. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reviewed the receiver’s contract, and he notes that Brown’s behavior (and subsequent fines) already put him in default. Since he left training camp and later missed a walkthrough, the organization would already have the right to void the guarantees. In other words, if the team is done with Brown, a suspension wouldn’t have to precede his inevitable release.
- If it’s true that Brown threatened to hit general manager Mike Mayock, then the receiver could also face discipline under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy (per Florio). It sounds like Brown couldn’t be suspended for the same violation by both the organization and the NFL, although Florio notes that the Raiders could justify some other reason for banning the wideout.
- Agent Drew Rosenhaus talked to Stacey Dales on NFL Network, and colleague James Palmer snagged a couple of the soundbites (via Twitter). “I believe he wants to be an Oakland Raider,” Rosenhaus said. “I believe he wants to play. I believe he’s going to have a great season.” The agent also said he’s having ongoing negotiations with the team, but there’s no real timeline for a resolution.
- Florio also got quotes from Rosenhaus (via PFT’s Michael David Smith): “I think there’s been a lot of speculation. The reality is that we’re still talking through many scenarios. There has yet to be a suspension. Nothing is final yet. I’ve been in touch with Coach Gruden, Mike Mayock. We’re doing our best to work this out. Trying to keep this relationship moving in a good direction again.”
The Steelers just chillin on the couch with a bag of popcorn. Void this guys contract.
Brown needs anger management help quickly to salvage his career from going down the drain.
Brown is unworldly talented, but these shenanigans have to stop. I would not blame the Raiders if they end up cutting Brown.
This is now a very complex issue with many layers to it. Although AB is totally at fault for his shouting match w Mayock the team and MM could have waived the fines and ignored his post on social media. Teams across the league have to deal w some form of drama every day. Look at how the Seahawks have dealt w players like Sherman and Earl Thomas during their time in SEA. Pete and John paid fines for the players. OAK has a very difficult question to answer- how much do we tolerate to put AB on the field? There’s no denying that a healthy AB on the field gives the Raiders a much bigger chance of winning games.
With a supreme talent like Antonio Brown. You just have to justify his behavior. Whether it be The GM, coach, etc. that has to go to pacify Antonio Brown. You have to do it. Mayock and Gruden are replaceable and easily so. Antonio Brown’s talent can’t be matched by 99.9999999999999999% of the population.
Mayock and Gruden have run the raiders into the ground and are going to continue to until the owner steps in, this is getting out of hand. First you trade Mack and cooper for draft picks that you spent on players who weren’t even valued at the picks you used on them, then you alienate one of the only good players on your football team. This is hue Jackson and Sashi brown all over again
You hit the nail right on the head, Phattey. The Raiders lost name recognizable talent with Mack who is one of the best in the business at what he does. Then you get Brown where the same thing can be said about him. Yet, The Raiders trade away one, and can’t properly manage the other. Get rid of Mayock or Gruden, or both if need be. They are replaceable. There are a lot of people who could do their job just as good. The people who can do what Antonio Brown can on a football field is extremely rare. Get rid of the source of his angst, and let him go out there and be productive.
So ridiculous. This is the type of person that has angst anywhere he will go, can’t always point the fingers and blame others for your actions…one time maybe there could’ve been an issue with someone other than the person involved, but when it happens immediately at the next destination it becomes a pattern
You guys must be the same type who beg your six-year-old to stop throwing a temper tantrum and award her antics with a bowl of ice cream just to get her to stop whining. Cut Brown and move along. He’s not as good as it used to be anyways, but I wouldn’t deal with his bullshit no matter how talented he is.
The mistake isn’t alienating him, they messed up by trading for him in the first place. There’s a reason it didn’t take much to get him, and their learning why that is right now. most people knew a circus would soon follow wherever he went.
Everyone and their brother knows Antonio Brown has a let’s say big personality. He is known to need to be coddled at times. Talent wise few are going to come close especially at a 3rd and 5th round pick to get him. The thing is you have to be 100% certain you have the kind of brain trust in your front office and management that can handle his big personality. If not you are better off not trading for him. Very few teams probably can, but if he is released tomorrow. Knowing his talent. Plenty of teams would be lined up around the block for his services, because The NFL isn’t really known for having a lot of choir boys. It’s more so who has the talent to win games and eventually championships. Brown marks that box even if he is a headache, but we have seen many teams get headaches and distractions and deal with them even a prima donna receiver like Randy Moss like The Patriots did and handled that situation. If you are going to trade for someone who is known to have a big personality or whatever you want to call it. You better make sure you have the resources to compliment that decision, because the risk is definitely worth the reward if it pays off.
52 other players on the roster, kind of ridiculous to have to spend “resources” to coddle one player no matter how good he is…not every super star is a high maintenance head case and in fact are quite opposite, an actual asset to the locker room and team chemistry
How has Mayock run them into the ground when he was just hired this year? He had nothing to do with trading Mack. This team was junk when Gruden took over so I don’t think one season is much to go on.
Not sure how the picks are bad when they haven’t even played a game.
Trading Mack was a tough decision but he wasn’t going to singlehandedly bring a ring to the Raiders…stockpiling draft picks and not allocating a huge amount of money to one player long term was absolutely the right call at that point in time…not an easy one or popular as far as name recognition goes, but the right decision…on top of it I think the Raiders had a great first round this year and still have something going next year as well
I can’t even really figure out what kind of clown you have to be to blame ABs mental problems on someone else.
You lost me at “the Raiders alienated Brown.”
Exactly
Who cares. Cut the slug and move on. The team is bigger than AB. There’s great receivers without all this drama. It’s always something brewing to keep the spotlight on him.
The world is anxiously awaiting your graduation and abject failure as a businessmen.
AB also unfollowed the Raiders and Carr on Instagram, Steelers must be laughing at the chaos this teenage girl is causing in Oakland.
All will be settled and damaged controlled. AB will be playing in week #1. Lets make peace and say it was just two men being men.
Uh, one man being a psycho…..
Brown acts like a spoiled 13 year old girl, not a man.
Release the diva already!
Makes me so happy the G Men traded Odell, would have been same drama.
He seems like he’s actually thriving so far in Cleveland…that could change at any moment but I’d say they are in better shape than we are at this point lol
the raiders were once a proud franchise. now thier the laughing stock of the NFL.
The Raiders are on the upswing despite AB and his childish antics…I see an 8-8 season in store for us this year
Steelers made two trades with the raiders, sending two disgruntled receivers for two third round picks. The Steelers used those picks to help acquire Mason Rudolph and Devin Bush. The Raiders may very well only have seen their two guys play a total of 8 games for them.
Hey John, Bill Belichick here. I’ll give you a 7th and a year free of Netflix for Antonio.
All set. Patriots don’t need him. Hes got issues with Steelers, he’s got issues with feet, he has issues with helmet, he has problems with raiders. He’s the Issue. He’s making millions!!! You want me to wear the new helmet? Give it to, you want me to wear a clown outfit. Give it to me. You want me to show up? I’ll be there . Damn. If it’s BROWN. FLUSH IT DOWN!!!!!!!!
Evil you are correct. Way too much of a diva for the Pats. We good.
@bostobob. We are 8 deep in WR. No need to have this Cancer. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went to colts to beef them up a bit
The CTE is strong in this one…
I wish people would quit using CTE to explain away idiotic and childish behavior. There’s 52 other players on that and every other roster that get their bell ring and don’t act that way.
CTE is being used to explain why he is acting so impulsively and selfishly. It is not excusing it. To counter your point, there are 52 other guys on a team that ARE NOT ANTONIO BROWN. If you’re a 3rd string guard and you pull 1% of the bs that AB has you’re gone before you can blink and it gets 0 media coverage. He hasn’t played a snap and is easily the most talked about player every week. He wants this!
No, you are using CTE, nobody else. His behavior is inappropriate and the rest of the league, stars and scrubs, have had enough of it. His 2nd failed after the NFLPA submitted a memo not in support of him. There are so many players in the league with damage that don’t act the fool, no need to instantly claim it’s ok for him to act like an @$$ because in your medical expertise you’ve diagnosed him with CTE.
Get rid of the glorified scout Mayock. Why the hell would you provoke your best player?? Absolutely nothing to gain but a pink slip.
Side question – How many wideouts looked great in Pittsburgh and kept up that success elsewhere? Brown’s selfishness takes away his availability which trumps any other ‘ability’ he might have. I can’t say he would be anybody’s best player until he can stay on the field.
Provoke? I would call it holding him accountable after handing him big money but that’s just me
Making excuses for this numbskull, you guys are pathetic.
Both sides will issue face saving apologies to Raider fans stating they were just trying to decide who would lead the Super Bowl victory parade.
Maybe Mike Tomlin is a better coach than I thought he was.
Having to deal with two selfish divas like Brown and Bell is a tough row to hoe.
What I what to know is why was a GM even arguing with a player? Isn’t that the coaches job?
I think Gruden and Mayock have at some point agreed to play good cop/bad cop in managing their players and staff
The Raiders have no choice but to keep Brown, as their receiver corps is a black hole.
If it was Ryan Grant who left training camp and skipped a walkthrough,and then proceeded to stomp his feet for facing discipline for it,he would’ve already been cut.
Star player or not,he’s putting himself ahead of the team.Jon Gruden handled a young Keyshawn Johnson,so he’s handled a big star personality at receiver before,but Brown is beyond that.He wants everything catered to him,and considering the Raiders only paid a 3rd and 5th to get him,theres plenty of teams out there that would rather just avoid the headache that comes along with him.