A Timeline How Antonio Brown Signed With New England Patriots After Troubled Offseason
Antonio Brown has made sports headlines all offseason, and not for anything he has done on a football field. It's what has happened off of it, especially within the last week.
Brown has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL the last several years as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls in the last eight seasons, and he was named All-Pro four-consecutive years.
After last season, the Steelers traded Brown to the Oakland Raiders for a pair of draft picks. Here's a brief timeline, according to ESPN, of Brown's off-field dilemmas:
- March 13 — Raiders introduce Brown, who was to receive a $30.1 million contract extension
- July 25 — Brown shows up to Raiders training camp with frost bite on the bottom of both his feet from cryotherapy
- July 26 — Brown take hot-air balloon ride over Napa Valley wine country while later in the day placed on non-football-related injury list
- July 30 — Begins protest of the new NFL helmet rule, stating he wants to wear his old helmet
- August 18 — Fined $40,000 by Raiders GM Mike Mayock for unexcused absence of practice
- August 25 — Loses second grievance to wear his old helmet
- September 4 — Posted on Instagram a letter from GM Mayock to him about his fines, then gets into on-field confrontation with Mayock on the practice field, allegedly threatening to assault the GM
- September 5 — Raiders suspend the receiver for conduct detrimental to the team, and the Raiders joust with Brown over guaranteed money
- September 6 — Brown apologizes to his teammates, then Raiders staff says he will play on Monday night in the season opener against the Denver Broncos
- September 7 — Raiders fine Brown $215,000 for more detrimental conduct, and Brown says he is no longer part of the team
- September 7 — Signs a 1-year contract with New England Patriots for $10 million guaranteed, and $5 million more in incentives. It included a $9 million signing bonus
Now, Brown joins the finely-tuned machine of the Patriots, which already has the often-troubled Josh Gordon among its receiving corps. With Julian Edelman also in the lineup, the trio of receivers could be the best-ever in the era of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who could reach a 10th Super Bowl with so much talent at his disposal.
Brown will not be eligible to play in the Patriots season opener Sunday night against his old team — the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be available in Week 2 when the Patriots face AFC East Division rival Miami Dolphins.
