The drama surrounding Oakland Raiders newly acquired wide receiver, Antonio Brown, continues to develop. Now that the helmet issue and frostbitten feet have tempered, Brown apparently got into an altercation with general manager Mike Mayock yesterday. The reason for the altercation has yet to be confirmed, but Adam Schefter reported the team could be suspending the controversial receiver ahead of their week one matchup this coming Monday.
The Next Chapter: Antonio Brown and GM Mike Mayock got into it Wednesday, and the team is now planning to suspend its star wide receiver, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2019
Although simply speculation, for the time being, the altercation could have been caused by Brown’s recent social media release of a letter he received from Mayock. The letter sent by the general manager was simply to inform Brown of the amount of fines he had incurred while missing training camp and preseason games.
Antonio Brown posts his displeasure with fines from #Raiders pic.twitter.com/0OMhdwFu7K
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 4, 2019
Per the letter, Brown was fined $13,950 for missing a walk-through practice. This was the day of the Raiders’ third preseason game in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Brown did not play in that game, as the Raiders held out most of their starters.
Brown was also fined $40,000, for missing a training camp practice. That afternoon Mayock told reporters Brown was absent due to his ongoing dispute with the league over rules preventing him from wearing his preferred model of helmet.
According to reports, Brown was upset with the fines and was discussing with Mayock. The discussion escalated and the receiver needed to be held back by teammates.
Antonio Brown was unhappy about being fined and had an exchange with #Raiders general manager Mike Mayock on Wednesday. He was held back by a couple of teammates, sources said, and is now facing a team suspension.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 5, 2019
The amount of the fines are inconsequential when considering Brown signed a three-year, $50.125 million extension with the team in March. Schefter has also reported that there are those around the league that believe the team could try to void the remaining 30.125 million in guaranteed money that Brown is owed.
Brown has spent the offseason trying to attract as much media attention as possible. He missed most of camp after suffering frostbite on his feet in a cryotherapy mishap in France. He also lost two separate grievances against the NFL seeking permission to wear his preferred type of helmet, the Schutt Air Advantage.
The wide receiver is as skilled as they come, with career stats that have made him one of the premier players in the league. He has a little over 11 thousand career yards on 837 receptions and 74 touchdowns.
We will continue to develop the story when more reports are released on whether or not Brown will be suspended.
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