There's still no indication as to when Antonio Brown will be ready to take the field in wake of a freak accident that left his feet horribly frostbitten. The superstar wide receiver has put another obstacle in the way of his return, too, reportedly telling the Oakland Raiders he won't play football again unless the league office allows him to wear his preferred, longtime helmet, a model that was discontinued after last season.

Oakland, unfortunately, has little means of recourse with regard to Brown's injury or his helmet-related mandate. Obviously, Jon Gruden and company would rather the six-time Pro Bowler suit up for the Raiders than continue sitting on the sidelines. If the team grows increasingly wary of Brown's absence, though, there is one avenue that would allow it to end his season without being on the hook for his $14.6 million salary.

According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, Oakland could place Brown on the non-football injury list and would have no obligation to pay him.

Needless to say, such a step would be extreme for an organization that's spent so much time and energy investing in Brown since he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for third and fifth-round draft picks last spring. But considering his feet still aren't healed and ESPN's report that Brown's continued absence from camp has more to do with the helmet drama than injuries sustained in a cryogenic chamber, it's not outlandish to submit that the Raiders should broach every available option as they wait for Brown to make his silver-and-black debut.