The great Dr. Phil McGraw once stated that problems and bills are two things that have the ability to get worse over time if not addressed. While the Oakland Raiders will perhaps never lack with the latter, the former is showing in Antonio Brown.
The Antonio Brown helmet-gate saga has become one of the leading talking points for sports columnists and talking heads alike. Brown has initially refused to practice, let alone play this season without the helmet of his liking. However, the NFL has stood by its helmet rule, and Brown's antics have led the Raiders to give the 31-year-old star an ultimatum.
Although is still attempting to push the helmet issue once more by having a Grievance set for Friday, Brown has returned to the Raiders with his frostbitten feet in shape and a new helmet-for now. However, one could only help but think about what could possibly be next? If Brown has already created a thunderstorm over a helmet, what else would the Raiders have to endure?
Of course, this goes back to Dr. Phil's point about problems not getting fixed over an accumulated period. According to this Twitter thread by sportswriter Michael Silver, Brown has been a problem in Oakland for a minute. The Raiders probably have felt compelled to deal with Brown's behavior, which may be in their eyes apart of the package. Pre-helmet-gate, their thinking probably lined up with what Pittsburgh thought at one point: deal with the ego as long as he produces on Sunday's.
But even Brown coming to terms with the league-mandated helmet rules may not stop his antics longterm. The Raiders have already acted swiftly by giving him an ultimatum, but will that be enough? Will they need to trade him/get technical with his contract?
Perhaps the contract language will be best served to remedy this situation. In a recent article by CBSSports, Brown has a clause in his contract that would void his guaranteed money if certain needs of the team are not met. Brown is scheduled to make just over $30 million in guaranteed money this season and next, but that can go out the window if Brown does not participate with the team. This lines up with reporting to the Oakland facilities, practicing and playing with his fellow teammates.
“Notwithstanding this Skill, Injury and Cap Guarantee, Player shall report to Club, practice with Club, play with Club, and honor all terms of the Contract, including all addenda thereto. If at any time Player does not report to Club; does not practice or play with Club; leaves Club without prior written approval (including, but not limited to retirement); does not honor any terms of the Contract (including any addenda thereto); is suspended by the NFL or Club for conduct detrimental, violation of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, violation of the NFL Policy on Substances of Abuse, or violation of the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances; violates any other agreements between Club and Player; or is injured as a result of a breach of Paragraph 3 of the Contract or as a result of participation in hazardous activities which involve a significant risk of personal injury and are non-football in nature (including but not limited to skydiving, hang gliding, mountain climbing, auto racing, motorcycling, scuba diving, skiing, and any other sports) then Player shall be in default (“Default”) and the Skill, Injury and Cap Guarantee shall be null and void and Player shall be only eligible to earn his remaining stated Paragraph 5 salary on a weekly, non-guaranteed basis if Player is on Club's roster for the 2019 League Year and meets all ordinary criteria for earning Paragraph 5 Salary, subject to any applicable fines.”
Here, Brown can be hit where it hurts: guaranteed money is considered a privilege in the NFL. With the threats of his in-the-bag money off the table, Brown would have to work diligently to recoup whatever incentives are leftover in his contract. At 31, Brown probably won't change overnight. But the Raiders can influence his thinking through contract clauses.
In the end, Brown has ended up looking foolish in the public eye, and his best way to save face is to walk the straight and narrow. Trading Brown gives Brown the autonomy to think that if a team wants to deal with him, they gotta deal with everything, too. However, that will all be for not if his antics impact his play on the field. This factor should be the Raiders biggest worry.
Nevertheless, the Raiders have made a positive step in the right direction. Proof of that is Brown coming back to practice-even though he's still trying to get the NFL to waive their helmet rule for him. But to get Brown to stay on the good foot, it's best they utilize their contract language. In the end, the Raiders have to remember they have the power in this situation.
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