Antonio Brown - Pro Football Rumors

NFL Expected To Interview Marquise Brown

September 16th, 2019 at 2:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The unnamed player present when Antonio Brown committed an alleged sexual assault was Ravens rookie Marquise Brown, the cousin of the Patriots’ All-Pro receiver, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The younger Brown is expected to be interviewed as part of the NFL’s investigation into Britney Taylor’s allegations against Antonio Brown.

Marquise Brown does not face any accusations, but he is the player that was present during one of his cousin’s alleged assaults perpetrated against Taylor in May 2018. Marquise Brown is expected to support his cousin’s stance that no such act occurred, Florio adds. Taylor was scheduled to meet with the NFL on Monday.

“That’s not going to be a distraction,” John Harbaugh said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN (on Twitter). “Believe me, it’s the last thing on my mind right now. My focus is on football. If it comes to that, if there is something that needs to be done that way, we have people in the building who look at those things. If they do and I need to be involved in it, I certainly will be.”

Antonio Brown denied Taylor’s allegations and was not placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in advance of Sunday’s game in Miami. With this being a civil matter, the NFL was under no obligation to go in that direction. However, the scope of this situation may change this week after the respective testimonies of Taylor and Marquise Brown. It is not yet known when the latter will speak with the league on this matter.

Antonio Brown Notes: 9/15/19

September 15th, 2019 at 9:04am CST by Rory Parks

Another day, another batch of Antonio Brown news. We learned a few days ago that the NFL would meet with Brown’s accuser, Britney Taylor, this coming week, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the summit will actually take place Monday. Rapoport says the league wants to conduct the investigation as quickly as possible given that the regular season is now underway, so even if the legal side of this matter drags on for a bit, the football side of things may be resolved soon.

Rapoport says that another football player, currently in his first year in the league, was in the house with Taylor and Brown when one of the incidents detailed in Taylor’s lawsuit allegedly took place. As such, that as-yet-unnamed rookie will also be required to speak with league investigators.
Although the NFL’s meeting with Taylor could lead to a number of outcomes for Brown — including a stint on the commissioner’s exempt list, a release from the Patriots, etc. — New England is expected to feed him the ball for however long he is on the field. Rapoport notes that Brown has stayed at the team facility until 10pm or later most days during the week to catch passes from backup QB Jarrett Stidham and to continue learning the offense.
RapSheet also writes that Brown and Taylor had been engaged in settlement talks for months, but Taylor filed a lawsuit when the two sides could not come to a settlement agreement.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that neither Brown nor anyone on his behalf will attend the NFL’s meeting with Taylor (Twitter link). Taylor will ultimately release a statement to the media, but there will be no ETA on that statement until her meeting with the league — which may last several days — is over.
We knew that the Patriots were interested in Brown as soon as it became clear that the Steelers might move on from him, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that New England was prepared to part with a first-round pick and another pick or player of significance before learning that the Steelers were unwilling to deal AB to the Pats.
Reports on Friday suggested that neither the Patriots nor the Raiders were aware of Taylor’s allegations against Brown before the lawsuit was filed, and a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicates that the Steelers were not aware either.

AFC East Notes: AB, Fitzpatrick, Siemian

September 14th, 2019 at 12:36pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Antonio Brown will indeed be playing for the Patriots tomorrow. Michael Giardi of the NFL Network tweets that the star wide receiver is making the trip to Miami.

Michael Lombardi of The Athletic adds (via Twitter) that the organization doesn’t “bring players as a guest,” an indication that Brown will be active. Meanwhile, Jeff Howe of the Athletic notes (on Twitter) that AB had a “strong” first week of practice with the team, and it’d be surprising if he didn’t suit up for tomorrow’s contest against the Dolphins.

Considering AB’s lack of practice time and the fallout from his civil lawsuit, there were question marks if the receiver would actually take the field. Now, it sounds like he’ll be joining a talented receiver corps that already includes Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and Phillip Dorsett.

Here are some more notes from around the AFC East:

Following the rape and sexual assault allegations, helmet manufacturer Xenith announced that they’ve ended their relationship with Brown. “We look forward to seeing the Xenith Shadow worn by football athletes at all levels of play this fall,” the brand said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). Following Brown’s public feud with the NFL over his use of an ineligible helmet, it was notable when the receiver landed on an alternative option. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com writes that it’s uncertain whether Xenith ended the relationship due to the allegations or Brown’s decision to use a different helmet.
Following the trade request from Dolphins cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston writes that the Patriots should go after the former first-rounder. Perry notes that Fitzpatrick offers many of the skills that the Patriots seek from defensive backs, and he points to recent trades with the Jets and Bills as reasons why New England wouldn’t be afraid of trading within the division.
Speaking of trade requests, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets that the Dolphins are aware of “another specific veteran player’s unhappiness and his preference to go elsewhere.” However, that veteran player has been “disinclined to discuss this publicly.” Head coach Brian Flores said he wasn’t aware of any trade requests besides Fitzpatrick’s.
With Trevor Siemian thrust into the Jets‘ starting quarterback role, ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweets an interesting detail on the veteran’s contract. If Siemian plays at least 50-percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps in a win, he’ll earn more than $31K. However, if he plays more than 50-percent of the snaps and the Jets lose, he doesn’t receive the incentive bonus.

NFL Will Not Place Antonio Brown On Exempt List Before Sunday

September 13th, 2019 at 10:34am CST by cwcrouse

Antonio Brown will play against the Dolphins on Sunday as the NFL will not place him on the commissioner’s exempt list before the contest, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

There is no criminal investigation involving Antonio Brown and his accuser, Britney Taylor. As of this writing, it remains a civil matter and with the NFL not conducting interviews with the duo until next week, the league won’t rush to judgement. However, it remains possible that Brown could be placed on the list in the future.

As we passed along earlier today, the Patriots were not aware of the civil lawsuit when they signed Brown. Neither were the Raiders. NFL players are under no obligation to disclose civil matters to teams before they sign contracts as free agents.

The Patriots have been preparing as if Brown will suit up in Miami. It’s unclear if the wide receiver will be limited in snap counts as he only joined the team last weekend.

“Long way to go, obviously. Not familiar with our offense,” Belichick said of Brown (via Schefter in a full-length piece). “The systems he’s been in have been quite different. He’s working hard to pick it up and we’re working hard to get it to him.”

Neither Patriots Nor Raiders Were Aware Of Antonio Brown’s Civil Lawsuit

September 13th, 2019 at 9:03am CST by cwcrouse

The Patriots were unaware that Antonio Brown was involved in the civil lawsuit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. The Raiders, who released Brown last weekend, were also not aware of the allegations.

Brown and his accuser, Britney Taylor, were in discussions about the allegations over the past few months but agreed their conversations would remain confidential until Taylor filed the civil lawsuit. Fowler writes that this is common practice in settlement talks.

Fowler hears that players are not obligated to notify teams of civil matters before signing a free agent contract. However, once a case rises to a criminal matter, then there is more onus on the player.

Taylor is scheduled to meet with the NFL next week. The league is contemplating whether or not to place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list. Such as move would keep Brown off the field but allow him to collect his salary.

A decision isn’t expect to be made before New England’s game in Miami and the Patriots are preparing to have Brown on the field.

Latest On Antonio Brown, Patriots

September 12th, 2019 at 3:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the possibility of Antonio Brown landing on the commissioner’s exempt list remains, the Patriots are tentatively planning on playing their high-profile acquisition Sunday against the Dolphins, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).

Brown practiced both Wednesday and Thursday and appears on track to make his Patriots debut in Miami. The league has not provided any indication a move barring Brown from playing will come by Sunday, per RapSheet.

The 31-year-old wide receiver has been accused of rape in civil court. The NFL plans to meet with the accuser, former Brown trainer Britney Taylor, next week. Taylor alleges Brown sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Brown has denied the accusations.

These allegations have marked the latest in an astounding run of drama for Brown this year. Neither the NFL nor the Patriots knew about this until Tuesday, per Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson, who adds Roger Goodell and league brass have discussed how to proceed with Brown. While Robinson reports the NFL would like to move quickly on this, no decision on Brown’s Week 2 status has emerged two days after the allegations surfaced.

Brown’s guarantees are also indeed in jeopardy. After a Wednesday report surfaced about the Patriots being able to void the $9MM guarantee, Robinson confirms a clause pertaining to Brown potentially “undermining the public image of the club” would allow the team to do this. The Raiders voided Brown’s $29MM-plus in guarantees last week, leading to Brown’s Bay Area departure.

West Notes: Hawks, Brown, Raiders, Bolts

September 11th, 2019 at 7:37pm CST by PFR Staff

Pete Carroll said the Seahawks indeed looked into Antonio Brown once the Raiders released him on Saturday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Carroll said he and GM John Schneider always communicate on potential moves but added, “Not everything is always as it seems and you’ve got check into stuff and figure out what’s going on.” Carroll also gave the impression that a stronger Seahawks pursuit of the four-time All-Pro may not have mattered, indicating Brown was intent on signing with the Patriots. “He was headed to New England. He was going,” Carroll said. The Seahawks and Browns were the two other teams mentioned as interested in Brown.

Now for more from the league’s west divisions:

More than a year after pleading guilty to insider trading, Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks has still not been sentenced and will not be any time soon, according to Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith. Kendricks’ sentencing, which has already been delayed for nine months, was delayed again and is now scheduled for November 21. Kendricks started for the Seahawks this past Sunday against the Bengals, tallying seven tackles (one for loss).
Jon Gruden scoffed when asked about Brown’s lawsuit, as Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Authentic relays (Twitter link). “I’m not aware of anything,” Gruden said. “If you want to ask about him you can call his employer.” The civil suit surfaced three days after Brown agreed to terms with the Patriots.
Adding to the Chargers’ injury woes, Anthony Lynn said today that he is concerned about the knee of wide receiver Mike Williams, ESPN’s Adam Schefter relays (Twitter link). Earlier today, it was reported that tight end Hunter Henry had suffered a tibia fracture to his left knee and would be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. The Bolts are already without starting left tackle Russell Okung and All-Pro safety Derwin James. Williams dealt with injury trouble as a rookie but played in 16 games last season.
Seahawks first-round pick L.J. Collier returned to practice today for the first time since spraining his ankle early in camp. Carroll said the TCU defensive end product has a chance to make his debut Sunday against the Steelers, Henderson adds. The Seahawks stand to have their entire defensive line healthy soon, with Ziggy Ansah also on the verge of making his Seattle debut. Ansah was limited Wednesday.

NFL To Meet With Antonio Brown’s Accuser Next Week

September 11th, 2019 at 4:02pm CST by cwcrouse

The NFL is conducting an investigation on the accusations against Antonio Brown that will begin with the league sitting down with his accuser, Britney Taylor, next week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

Taylor, who previously worked with Brown as a personal trainer, is willing to meet with the league as soon as she can. She is getting married this week and the league will wait until that happens before sitting down with her. The NFL has no power to compel non-employees to cooperate, so Taylor meeting with the league is on her own accord and outside of the responsibilities of her lawsuit.

“We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives,” the Patriots said in a statement on Tuesday night. “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstances does this organization condone sexual violence or assault. The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place.”

Brown is being accused in civil, not criminal court. There was a report earlier today that authorities were looking into the matter criminally, though from the Allegheny County District Attorney stating that neither the police department nor the DA’s office was contacted about Taylor’s lawsuit, as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports (Twitter link). The DA did say that their office had looked into another incident involving Brown but after checking it out, they did not move forward with the case.

The NFL, as we reportedly earlier, is considering putting Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would amount to a paid-leave of sorts. The delay in interviewing Taylor may cause complications with placing Brown on this list. However, Roger Goodell has the power to take action first and ask questions later.

AFC West Notes: Abram, James, Brown

September 11th, 2019 at 1:18pm CST by cwcrouse

Raiders first-round pick Jonathan Abram will seek a second opinion on his shoulder, Josina Anderson of ESPN tweets. The rookie apparently injured his shoulder on Monday night against the Broncos but continuing playing, showing no signs of injury during the game. Now, after undergoing exams, it appears Abram could land on injured reserve.

Here’s more from the AFC:

RT Ja’Wuan James will miss some time with the knee injury he suffered but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) reports that it is not season-ending. James joined the Broncos this offseason.
Coach Vic Fangio spoke about the Broncos difficulty in facing Chicago’s pass-rush this week, as Troy Rench of ABC7 in Denver relays (Twitter link). “We’ll give [our tackles] some help but there’s going to be times like in any game where they are going to have to stand up and block without any help,” the coach said.
Broncos WR Tim Patrick suffered a clean break in his hand, Mike Klis of 9News Denver (Twitter link). Patrick’s timetable is 6-to-8 weeks and Denver is considering whether to place him on IR.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said there was no collusion with regard to Antonio Brown‘s exit from the Raiders. “There was no fix,” Rosenhaus said (h/t Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports). “We did try to make it work with the Raiders.”

Latest On Patriots’ Antonio Brown

September 11th, 2019 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

Bill Belichick faced the media on Wednesday afternoon to discuss Antonio Brown but, as expected, he was light on details regarding the embattled wide receiver. The Patriots’ head coach said that he expected Brown to practice on Wednesday, but would not say whether Brown would be permitted to suit up on Sunday.

Brown was accused of rape in a federal lawsuit, which could result in NFL discipline, among other more serious consequences. That is to say, Brown could be barred from playing by the league office via paid leave, taking the decision out of the Patriots’ hands.

Here’s the latest on Brown:

In an interview on ESPN, agent Drew Rosenhaus came to the defense of his client: “I wouldn’t be doing this interview if I didn’t believe Antonio. These allegations are false. He denies everyone of them. I’m very confident his legal team has facts that will prove this.”
Rosenhaus went on to say, “I’ll repeat this. This is a money grab. I believe this: this is a money grab.” The phrase “money grab” also appeared in an official statement from Brown’s attorney on Tuesday night.
Here’s a snippet from Belichick’s less-than-informative presser: “On Antonio’s situation, both Antonio and his representatives have made statements, so I’m not going to be expanding on any of those. They are what they are. We’ve looked into the situation. We’re taking it very seriously, all the way through the organization. I’m sure there are questions but I’m not going to be entering into any discussion about that.”
The language of Brown’s contract may allow the Patriots to escape his guarantee, as to Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Reportedly, $10MM of Brown’s $15MM 2019 salary is, or was, locked in.