The Patriots’ decision to end Antonio Brown‘s stay after 11 days may not have been as unanimous as originally reported. Robert Kraft led the charge for the Patriots to jettison the embattled wide receiver, and while Bill Belichick went along with it, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston notes the 20th-year Pats HC probably would have retained Brown had Kraft not insisted he be released.
Kraft has not been known to intervene in personnel matters, with Curran adding this is believed to be the first time (though, Kraft was reported to have played a role in the Jimmy Garoppolo trade process — something the owner denied). Tom Brady was not on board with Kraft’s decision to cut Brown, Curran adds, noting the future Hall of Fame quarterback’s practice work with the four-time All-Pro was nearly flawless and that Brown’s talent was “beyond anything Brady ever worked with.”
Kraft was reportedly “enraged” upon learning of Brown’s text messages to his second accuser, and it led to the team cutting ties with the perennial Pro Bowler. This led to a mostly deleted Brown Sunday-morning tweetstorm, with the disgruntled receiver referencing Kraft’s involvement in the reported prostitution sting. The Brown saga will still include the Patriots going forward, considering an NFLPA-backed grievance centered around his $9MM signing bonus is likely forthcoming.
While the Patriots will face an obstacle in keeping that $9MM off their books because they deployed Brown in Week 2 after learning of the civil suit filed against him (per Albert Breer of SI.com, on Twitter), the organization will be in line to lean on the contract’s morals clause as well as language indicating Brown’s failure to disclose “any situations that may prevent continued availability” in this upcoming battle. The NFLPA will likely argue that CBA language requires a higher standard to void signing bonus money and would supersede these team-implemented clauses, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry writes.
The Pats are set to carry $5.75MM on their 2019 cap because of this process, with Corry adding a grievance likely will not be settled until 2020. A $4.5MM cap credit would come the Pats’ way, in addition to Brown’s $4.75MM 2020 charge being removed from New England’s books, should the team prevail in the grievance.
Good for Kraft. He signs the checks. The Patriots didn’t need AB. No reason to deal with that headache, especially after that round of text messages. Good for Kraft
Good for Kraft. Brady comes off as a poor leader.
Yea good thought, poor leader and 6 Super Bowls go hand and hand.
Not a Pats fan but the proof is in the pudding
Would Kraft have made the move prior to his rubdown incident?
Yes.
A rub down is not that bad since it was consensual. Rape is not….
Consensual? You have zero clue how prostitution works. Especially in a case where the investigation is based around the idea of illegally trafficked sex workers.
“beyond anything Brady ever worked with”? Did he forget about those years he played with Randy Moss?
To think it tells us the stories source.
Or better yet…I think it…..
Yes. Brady is saying that Brown is better than Moss.
Well ok. He’s Tom Brady he should know. I think Moss is better but I’m not a HOF QB,so….
Why am I not surprised that the standards are so low in that building?
Also, no need for the mouth breathing east coast POS to comment “pats haters”.
I proudly hate the pats as does anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together.
Yes because the Patriots are the only team with low standards for what their players do off the field…
A tool is a closet Pats fan because he only trolls them & not his own team links. Must be a disgruntled dolphins fan. Lmao
Dolphins have fans!?
58 , so happy to see daddy gave you your phone privileges back. You must of been a good boy.
@58. My, you clearly are foaming at mouth over Pats success. To which I say: get over it.
Why am I not surprised that Tommy and Belicheat wanted to keep an (alleged) rapist and wife beater. I give Kraft props for stepping in.
@lee. You poor thing. Browns fan? I’m sure your team will one day break .500
No surprise there.
If it (somehow) improved any of his 53 roster spots, BB would dig up Jeffrey Dahmer or break Charles Manson out of prison.
Charles Manson is dead too
But what’s his time
in the 40?
6.66
Lmao
Evidently, he is. Long dead. I missed that.
Good.
I love reading pathetic comments from grown men who hate the patriots
I think it’s more how much they hate the obnoxious fan base than the actual team.
I love reading comments from people who thinking rooting for cheaters who are rewarded for their cheating somehow makes them better people.
When clearly…
I don’t blame you for being so bitter. Pittsburgh. Name says it all.
I find it hilarious that Pat fans think everyone hate their team because they are great.
No they hate them because they have no humbleness. You were beat three times by the NFC East. Caught cheating a few times(yes others do it but aren’t caught) But al that was nothing. You make excuses when you lose it get caught , just to avoid giving other teams respect. It’s ok though, because Brady will retire and you won’t have anything left. You’ll be mediocre like the rest of the league
A few times ?
Other than spygate what else ?
What’s that noise? Do we have a flat tire?
No that’s wind blowing through your head cause there’s nothing there to stop it
Deflategate was never proven
Next plz
But Brady got suspended 4 games… He severed those 4 games in 2016, because of deflategate… what wasn’t proven? He was punished and served the punishment…
Yes, because the NFL does not possess unilateral power. Everything has to be “proven” before they punish . And TBH, they could nullify the rule regarding psi and footballs and no one would have an advantage. No one! Does anyone actually believe that how much a football is inflated has any effect on anything? I mean it was their own footballs they weren’t touching the other teams footballs.
He was not punished for deflating footballs
10 votes up
I’m gonna troll all of you forever so keep it coming
Well since you come from a family of trolls that is to be expected.
For now go sing corny songs with Justin Timberlake
JT a legend. Now you just being salty for no reason
Kraft is as big as a dirt bag as brown yet he is lauded for his decision to cut brown? lol The nfl is as rigged as it getd that has been that case for years theres a reason the pats get away with murder and win chips yearly. Kraft buys chips with how much he “donates” to the nfls growth….gross
The Pats went out and signed a HOF talent player. There is not question when he is on the field AB is as good as they come, but he is also a HOF talent ego maniac. Brady and BB had winning and rings on their minds. Kraft saw the business side of things and made a move to protect his brand. I see both sides.
I say all this being a Dolphins fan.
I guess that Mr Kraft’s request to release Antonio Brown is a happy ending!
Granted, it would make sense to have AB (aka: “Skeeter”) on a short leash … but c’mon Kraft, you were more than just accused of criminal activity
“Big” Dog –
Charles Manson runs a mean 40.
Helter Skelter
Ran.
So the Patriots are trying to cheat Brown out of his signing bonus. Is “Cheat to win” the team motto?
In fairness, I will say Tom Brady hasn’t publicly come out against the decision to cut Brown, to my knowledge. I do, however, trust a source such as NBC sports. Which makes me wonder how off is Tom Brady’s moral compass that it’s fine to keep an alleged rapist because he’s the most talented WR, in his opinion, that’s he played with, and they had flawless chemistry? Really?! So it really is win at all cost for Tom?
I’m not going to sit here and say he doesn’t have the numbers or the accolades to go in the HoF; but the day he does, it’s going to be a black mark on the NFL because of his character.