Update:
Antonio Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has responded to Adam Schefter’s report with the following statement:
“I’m confident Antonio will play again this season. I believe the NFL should clear him after they interview him this week and I expect he will be signed shortly after that.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing league sources, reports that barring a significant turn of events, free agent WR Antonio Brown is not expected to play again this season.
According to Schefter, Brown is continuing to push for his return to the NFL and is scheduled to meet with the NFL next Thursday to address the sexual assault allegations he is facing. However, Schefter says there are obstacles in the way of him returning.
Three teams have been in contact with Brown, but Schefter mentions that if he were to get an offer, the NFL would be prepared to place him on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would require the team to pay him until the league’s investigation is resolved and there’s no guarantee this wrapped up by the end of the season.
Beyond that, Schefter says Brown has not turned over all of the evidence the NFL has requested to evaluate his case. Teams around the NFL reportedly believe that there could be additional discipline that could stretch into next season awaiting Brown once the league completes its investigation.
Brown tweeted Thursday that he is “determined” to return to the NFL as soon as possible, which came shortly after he said he would “never” play in the NFL again.
Since being released from the Patriots and filing grievances against both Oakland and New England seeking to recoup $40 million in salary, Brown has kept a lower profile.
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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