Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown shocked everybody who follows the NFL with his reportedly and seemingly outrageous request to wear the “old” helmets on Friday, thus threatening to retire if he doesn't get his wish.
Nevertheless, head coach Jon Gruden has since defended his veteran wideout, who was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason and hasn't fully practiced for the Bay Area franchise yet.
“I support this guy. I think that's what needs to be said,” Gruden said following the Raiders' 14-3 exhibition-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum. “I don't know what anybody's writing or what anybody thinks, but this foot injury wasn't his fault. This was a total accident. It really wasn't his fault, and it's a serious injury. I know that some people are [joking about] it, but it's really not a laughing matter. The guy is hurt, he didn't do anything wrong, and the helmet thing is a personal matter to him.”
For a while, it looked like Brown, 31, was missing full-contact practice at the Raiders' Napa, California, training camp due to a lingering foot injury. Furthermore, speculation arose a week ago that Brown's foot injury was actually caused by improperly having cryotherapy while barefoot, causing frostbite.
Nonetheless, whether it's Brown's foot or the refusal to wear updated safety-regulated helmets, he still hasn't played meaningful time in practice or the preseason for Gruden's team, in spite of the coach's message to the media on Saturday.
Gruden would also mention how Brown, a nine-year NFL veteran, has a “strong feeling” regarding his headwear.
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