Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the state of Florida has levied three formal charges against free agent WR Antonio Brown for an alleged January assault that ultimately led to him being arrested.
According to Fowler, Brown faces charges of felony burglary conveyance, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal mischief charges.
The delivery truck driver alleged that Brown and his trainer assaulted him as he was attempting to deliver Brown’s household items from California. Brown later turned himself in and was then charged with felony burglary with battery.
Fowler says the misdemeanor battery charge states that Brown was “actually and intentionally striking” the driver against his will.
The criminal mischief charge stems from Brown maliciously injuring the driver’s property of $200 or less.
Fowler adds that it’s possible the state of Florida will offer Brown the chance to negotiate a plea deal.
The expectation is that the latest charges will be reviewed by the NFL, as they already have an investigation open involving Brown from the rape and sexual assault allegations made against him by his former trainer Britney Taylor.
Brown is currently without an agent and there are multiple pending legal matters involving him. Beyond that, Brown is likely to be subject to discipline from the NFL once everything is settled, so it would be surprising to see a team sign him to a contract before then.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said previously that their No. 1 concern is Brown’s well-being and not his potential return to the league.
“I was pleased to hear that after 140 days that there was some positivity about me because as of late I’ve just been the cancer of the NFL,” Brown said regarding Goodell’s comments. “The problem child, the guy who gets in trouble, the kind of guy who has the bad narrative about him.”
Brown, 31, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his five-year, $72.71 million contract when the Steelers traded him to the Raiders back in March.
The Raiders later signed Brown to a new contract worth $50.125 million and includes $30.125 million guaranteed. However, Oakland made the decision to release Brown before the start of the season and he later signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Patriots.
Brown lasted just 11 days in New England.
In 2019, Brown appeared in one game for the Patriots and caught four passes for 56 yards receiving and one touchdown.
We’ll have more regarding Brown as the news is available.
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