Antonio Brown Will Reportedly Not Play If He Can’t Wear Old Helmet
Written by SOURCE on August 9, 2019
Antonio Brown was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for third and fifth-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft, but a new report suggests that Brown has already had enough of his new home. Chase Williams of NBC’s Pitttsburgh affiliate WPXI has indicated that Brown has gone “radio silent” on his new team as he continues to receive treatment for his foot injury. Now he’s also threatening to not play if he doesn’t get his way regarding a helmet dispute.
Brown reportedly told team officials that if he doesn’t get to wear his old, preferred helmet, he will not play football again. “Antonio Brown believes the new helmet that the rules mandate he wears protrudes out and interferes with his vision as he tries to catch football,” Adam Schefter reports. “The Raiders have been sending Brown other approved helmets to try out but, at this time, he is not interested in wearing any of them.”
As ESPN reports, Brown has filed a grievance against the NFL so that he can wear the helmet he wants. He’s expected to have a hearing regarding the situation next week.
Reporter Michael Silver has been hearing more detailed reports from sources close to the situation. “Even before suffering bizarre injuries to his feet, Antonio Brown alarmed Raiders coaches and teammates by railing against the NFL’s enhance enforcement of helmet regulations,” he began a 20-tweet thread.
Brown has reportedly been missing from camp for a week now, although he initially left for medical consultation regarding his feet. “His continued frustation surrounding the situation has created a buzz among teammates and coaches, one of whom referred to the saga as ‘honestly the most insane thing I have ever heard. I don’t know why it’s so important to him,'” Silver added.
When he showed up to on-field workouts, Brown supposedly voiced how much he wasn’t a fan of the demand for him to wear a league-approved helmet. A witness said Brown told coaches that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers did not have to do the same, and he left in protest. “Raiders officials found video footage of Rodgers, during the Green Bay Packers’ OTA session, wearing an approved-model helmet and texted it to Brown,” Silver continued.
It only gets stranger from there, with Silver stating that sources told him Brown showed up to training wearing his old helmet with colors he repainted to look like the Raiders design. “He’s still freaking out about it,” a Raiders player reportedly said. “He hasn’t been here for awhile, and no one knows where he’s at.” Brown has also continually frustrated his new bosses by appearing unfocused at meetings, which he would often turn up late to.
Regardless of the issues surrounding Brown, the Raiders aren’t too concerned about his absence.
Earlier this month it was reported that Brown’s foot injury was the result of frostbite. He even shared a picture of his feet to Instagram. He did state earlier this year that he was done giving the media “ammo,” but if the reports out of Pittsburgh are correct then he’s not quite done yet.
