Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing league sources, reports that the Patriots will not be re-signing WR Antonio Brown, despite the fact that they could use receiver help and increased speculation about a potential reunion.
Brown recently apologized publicly to the Patriots and others for his behavior. However, Schefter says New England hasn’t considered bringing him back since they made the decision to release him a few months ago.
According to Schefter, Brown still plans to return to the NFL once the league wraps up its investigation and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says teams are interested in signing him.
“There are teams out there that would love to sign him once [his case] is resolved,” Rosenhaus said.
The problem for Brown is that he could be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and face additional league-imposed discipline, even in the event the NFL’s investigation is wrapped up before the regular season ended.
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, though there have still been occasional outbursts on social media.
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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