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So Antonio Brown from went from possibly being suspended to being cut to not earning any of his guaranteed money to now getting ready to suit up in the Oakland Raiders' season opener on Monday night.
What a whirlwind.
Somehow, Brown has found a way back into favor with the Raiders after a heated confrontation with general manager Mike Mayock in practice on Wednesday, and regardless of how you feel about the situation, Brown will be on the field against the Denver Broncos.
So, here are three last-minute predictions for Brown in Week 1.
3. He'll Be Received Warmly By the Crowd
This game is in Oakland, which will mark the first time Brown actually plays in a game as a Raider in front of his home crowd.
In spite of everything that has happened this offseason, whether it's the frostbite or the never-ending helmet grievances or the recent incident with Mayock, the Raiders faithful will almost surely greet Brown warmly in his debut.
Brown was Oakland's marquee acquisition this offseason and is supposed to be the guy to make the Raiders a respectable team again, so I'm sure the fans will be excited to see him on the field.
Expect a nice ovation for Brown, especially when he makes his first catch.
2. He Might Drop a Pass or Two He Normally Catches
As phenomenal as Brown is, he is human, meaning he will probably have some jitters in this game.
After everything the 31-year-old has been through since the end of last season, finally getting back in action will have to be a relief for him, but at the same time, he will likely be putting a whole lot of pressure on himself to perform.
For that reason, don't be shocked if the normally sure-handed Brown drops a couple of passes that he would catch under usual circumstances.
It's not just that it's Week 1. It's Week 1 on a new team in a front of a new group of fans, and right after an ugly dispute with his general manager that may very well have nearly gotten him released, no less.
There will be a fairly significant burden on Brown's shoulders on Monday evening, and while I think he will be just fine (performance-wise) in the long run, he might show some ill effects of the situation in his first contest.
1. He'll Catch a Touchdown Pass
Do you really think the Raiders are holding on to Brown because he is a model citizen? Of course not.
They know he is a headache, and they know he can cause significant problems in the locker room. But he's also really, really good.
Oakland traded for Brown to revitalize its offense and revive the career of Derek Carr, who is just three years removed from an MVP-caliber season and is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he had virtually no weapons to utilize.
Well, now, AB is here, and for as bad as he might be off the field, he is a monster on the gridiron, and he will immediately make his presence felt with a touchdown catch in Week 1.
