Reports: Brown working on grievances vs. Raiders, Pats
The Oakland Raiders may be done with Antonio Brown, but it appears he is not yet done with them.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Friday that Brown is working on a "potential grievance" against the Raiders, attempting to recoup some of the $30 million in guaranteed money that was voided when the team released him earlier this month.
According to the report, the NFL Players Association is also looking at ways Brown can get money back.
Citing a source, Fowler said among the money Brown wants back are three fines handed down by the Raiders, his Week 1 salary, his base salaries for this and next season totaling north of $29 million and a $1 million signing bonus.
Multiple reports in recent days also said Brown would file a grievance against the New England Patriots, who signed Brown after he was let go by the Raiders, then cut him after only one game.
Yahoo Sports reported Friday that five league sources agreed that Brown is likely to win a grievance over the $9 million signing bonus the Patriots are refusing to pay him. According to those sources, Brown was not released for any conduct outlined in the collective bargaining agreement that would allow a team to void bonuses.
A week before Brown was cut by New England, his former trainer filed a civil suit accusing him of three incidents of sexual assault or rape over a two-year period from 2017-18. Then the day before Brown was cut, Sports Illustrated reported that a second woman who claimed Brown made unwanted sexual advances toward her told the NFL Brown had sent her "intimidating and threatening" texts.
According to the Yahoo report Friday, by playing Brown in a game after learning of the civil suit, the Patriots will have a difficult time claiming the suit as a reason to void his bonuses.
The Patriots signed Brown earlier this month just hours after the Raiders released him. Brown spent training camp in and out of team facilities, rehabbing a frostbite-like condition on his feet after a cryotherapy mishap, filing grievances with the NFL over his helmet, arguing with team management (reportedly calling general manager Mike Mayock a racial epithet), and posting a recorded conversation with Raiders coach Jon Gruden to YouTube.
In 10 NFL seasons (the first nine with the Pittsburgh Steelers), Brown has caught 841 passes for 11,263 yards and 75 touchdowns. He is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro.
--Field Level Media
