The Antonio Brown saga has reached a flash point as the star wide receiver is hurdling toward a suspension and potentially even an end to his Radiers' run, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Next Chapter: Antonio Brown and GM Mike Mayock got into it Wednesday, and the team is now planning to suspend its star wide receiver, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
September 5, 2019 Antonio Brown posted the fine letter on social media that Raiders’ GM Mike Mayock sent him. It led to an exchange, which is now leading to further discipline. This is not going away anytime soon.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
September 5, 2019 Such a suspension for Brown would be highly advantageous to the Raiders from a financial perspective — and could serve as a potential escape hatch for the club.
There are those around the league who now believe the Raiders could suspend Antonio Brown with the idea of trying to void the $30.125 million of guaranteed money in his contract.Which obviously would end his time in Oakland.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
September 5, 2019 Mike Tannenbaum, the ESPN NFL Front Office Insider and former GM of the Jets and EVP, Football Operations of the Miami Dolphins, explains the mechanisms of such a move.
and then release him and then they would owe him nothing in terms of guaranteed money. The Raiders in all likelihood would try to recoup their $1,000,000 signing bonus as well.
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum)
September 5, 2019 Mayock offered a non-update in what was a terse press conference on Thursday morning.
"Antonio Brown's not in the building today," Mayock told reporters. "He won't be practicing."
Short and sweet: Antonio Brown is NOT in the building today.(-- @dieter) pic.twitter.com/4XPO1OuXQe
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame)
September 5, 2019 "I don't have any more information for you right now. When I have some, and it becomes appropriate, you guys will all get it. I promise you. But that's it for today. Thank you."
Head coach Jon Gruden offered his own non-update after practice.
“I’m not going to get into any of that stuff right now.”Jon Gruden says there will be an official Antonio Brown announcement later today (via @VicTafur) pic.twitter.com/pLKFVE9h55
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame)
September 5, 2019 Drew Rosenhaus, Brown's agent, is attempting to play peacemaker, as reported by NFL Network/NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus on @nflnetwork: “I’m confident we can get back to doing all the right things that the Raiders signed him for … My hope is there isn’t a suspension and I’m not aware of any as of yet. I’m working with them to try to and avoid this scenario."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
September 5, 2019 Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, teammates had to step in between Brown and the GM.
Antonio Brown was unhappy about being fined and had an exchange with #Raiders general manager Mike Mayock on Wednesday. He was held back by a couple of teammates, sources said, and is now facing a team suspension.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur)
September 5, 2019 The details are truly wild.
More on #Raiders WR Antonio Brown and Mike Mayock yesterday: It did not get physical, sources say. But after a screaming match, Brown told Mayock that he would hit him in the face and then punted the ball… and said, Fine me for that. ------
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
September 5, 2019 Here's the aformentioned Instagram post that set in motion that latest drama:
AB isn’t happy with this fine from the Raiders -- pic.twitter.com/xQuL8lt6RV
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron)
September 4, 2019 Here's a brief recap of Brown's Raiders' tenure to this point:
*One bleached mustache
*One hot air balloon arrival
*Two frostbitten feet
*Two (bizarre) helment grievances
*One near fight with his GM
*One expected suspension
*Zero regular season games
The Raiders are slated to start the season on Monday Night Football at home against the Broncos. Stay tuned for updates,
