Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown is coming off a lost 2019 campaign due to his off-field issues. It appears his hiatus could spill into the 2020 NFL season.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, there are too many factors for the NFL to consider before allowing Brown to make his return, via NBC Sports.
“Let's go to Antonio Brown — now, this is an interesting case because the NFL, I'm told, is still reviewing his personal conduct case that there is just a lot to unpack,” Fowler said. “You have the September allegations, of course, of sexual assault and rape. You have an incident with a truck driver that resulted in battery charges.
“And so, there's just not a lot of buzz right now, league-wide, about signing Antonio Brown. And that's in part because there could be a lengthy suspension coming for him. So despite the talent, hardly a slam dunk that he plays in 2020.”
The report indicates that even if the NFL reinstates Brown, there seems to be little interest from teams around the league that are willing to take on the inevitable media attention that would come along with it. Of curse, his recent track record with conduct on and off the field still leaves much to be desired.
Brown has made headlines by working out with some of the most notable star players in the NFL. His most notable session came with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. While Jackson may have caught some flak for working out with him amid the angling coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, he was not shy about expressing his interest in the prospect of the Ravens adding the former All-Pro to their roster.
The league has had to take unprecedented action in order to maintain the current timeline of the upcoming season. It is safe to assume that the primary focus for teams is taking the necessary precautions to ensure player safety. Although bringing Brown in would come with its own set of challenges, it will be interesting to see if any teams opt to take the gamble.
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