Bill Belichick believes he can coach anybody so here we go as the New England Patriots have agreed to a one year deal with WR Antonio Brown. The Patriots taking a swing at Brown isn’t a surprise, it’s the financial commitment they’ve made. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Brown will receive a one year deal worth around $15 million that includes a $9 million signing bonus. The Raiders took away Brown’s guaranteed money and agent Drew Rosenhaus was able to work his magic and get Brown a $9 million signing bonus from the Super Bowl Champs. What wild times in the NFL. If Brown and Josh Gordon can actually stay on the field, what a group of three wide receiver sets Tom Brady will have at his disposal.
NFL
Raiders officially release Antonio Brown
The Oakland Raiders made the inevitable official, releasing WR Antonio Brown. Brown does not have to clear waivers and is free to sign with anyone. Oakland appears to have done everything by the book and Brown will be a major long shot to win a grievance against the Raiders, if he decides to pursue his lost guaranteed money.
Raiders are smarter than we all thought
Antonio Brown is the gift that keeps on giving. After it appeared the Raiders caved to Antonio Brown by announcing he would play Monday Night and not be suspended, the organization is now showing they protected themselves in a big way and have indeed gone after the only thing that matters to Antonio Brown — Money —. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “In addition to fining Antonio Brown $215,073.53 for conduct detrimental to the team that voided $29.125 million worth of guaranteed money in his contract, the Raiders sent Brown a letter that he no longer will be entitled to termination pay if they release him, per sources.” And as details of Brown’s contract have emerged, he hasn’t been paid a dime by the Raiders to this point. What the Raiders did here was make Antonio Brown a week to week player which will obviously be a no go for him.Read More »
Antonio Brown posts private phone call between him & Jon Gruden
Will Antonio Brown actually make it to Monday night without getting suspended or cut? Ed Werder of ESPN reports Brown was fined “unspecified amount” with a source telling Werder “He’s Antonio Brown been fined and he’s not happy.” Antonio Brown’s latest post on YouTube pic.twitter.com/VPYcfbfOfd — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2019 And it doesn’t appear Brown is taking the latest fine well. Brown just posted a video on his youtube page that includes a private conversation he had with Jon Gruden. Brown used the title “THIS IS MY LIFE” citing he’s more than a football player. Crazy times in not only recording a conversation with your head coach but posting it to the world. If this doesn’t get Brown cut, who knows what will.
NFL says Antonio Brown in violation of contract
Antonio Brown is already doing insane things in Oakland, threatening to quit football last week over the NFL/NFLPA not allowing him to use a 10 year old helmet. There’s no way Brown will win this cry baby pout he’s having as it’s either play with a certified helmet or have fun paying the Raiders millions for violation of contract. The NFL’s Brian McCarthy made that clear today in saying “The player can’t practice or play in games with equipment that’s not approved. If he doesn’t play or practice he is in breach of his contract and doesn’t get paid. NFL policy is that Helmets have to be certified by NOSCAE. They don’t certify equipment that’s old than 10 years.”
TIOPS Inside Buzz: On NHL Playoffs, What Rival teams say of Pens/Malkin situation & Latest Steelers Draft Buzz
TIOPS INSIDE BUZZ — Rumblings, Musings, Opinions– 1. The Washington Capitals were ousted in Round 1 Wednesday night on a Brock McGinn double overtime goal as an unpredictable 2019 postseason continued. The NHL has always wanted parity with this playoff alignment and they got it this season with all no division winners advancing past Round 1. Washington’s rein comes to an end and as good as a story the Hurricanes are, the NHL loses a great Round 2 storyline of Trotz vs the Capitals. This was just a strange series for the Capitals. To go up 2-0 in the series followed by laying an egg in Games 3 and 4, to then deliver what looked like a knockout punch in Game 5 where it appeared after fives games they were finally taking the Hurricanes seriously, only to drop games 6 and 7 as Carolina roared back to win four ofRead More »
Morgan Burnett taking his lack of talent to Cleveland
Safety Morgan Burnett, a complete disaster with the Steelers in 2018, agreed to a two year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Friday. The deal reportedly has a max value of $9 million. Burnett, 30, was a major free agent bust in Pittsburgh last season, totaling 30 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 interceptions and 6 pass defensed. When he could actually get on the field this season, Burnett showed he just can’t play anymore. If the Browns are banking on a change of scenery bounce-back season from Burnett in 2019, good luck with that. Burnett prior to officially asking for a release from the Steelers in February, was widely believed to be leaking made up stories to former teammates at the NFL Network about Ben Roethlisberger being a locker room problem.
Real #’s trickling in show how bad Le’Veon Bell lost in free agency
After declining a 5 year, $70 million contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Le’Veon Bell bet on himself by sitting out the 2018 season, foregoing a guaranteed $14.5 million payday. Bell on Wednesday signed a 4 year, $52.5 million contract with the New York Jets and Bell’s market, as expected, never developed to the point that Bell and his agent Adisa Bakari insisted it would. That $17-$18 million a year payday Bell sought wasn’t out there and the market was so small, Bakari was forced to leak to the media of fake interest from teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, amongst others, to try to get the Jets to up their offer. Bakari got San Francisco to make a late push but the 49ers offer is believed to have capped out at $40 million over 4 years. Meanwhile, the real numbers of the Bell contract are now tricklingRead More »
Le’Veon Bell to the Raiders?
Will Le’Veon Bell follow Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders? Bell is of course going to follow the money and even after the Brown acquisition, the Raiders have been tabbed as a “sleeper” for Bell, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Bell enters free agency with an asking price of $18 million per season, something NFL executives feel he has zero shot of getting but time will tell.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft arrested in prostitution sting
Headlines
Fleury gets rocked in return to Pittsburgh
Marc Andre Fleury’s return to Pittsburgh didn’t just not go well, it was a downright disaster for the 2021 Vezina Trophy Winner. Pittsburgh scored 15 seconds into the game and the route was on as Fleury was pulled 11:25 into the first period after allowing 4 goals on 10 ...
Rumors: Juju Smith-Schuster likely out for the year
The Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster suffered a likely season ending shoulder injury in Sunday’s 27-19 win over the Denver Broncos. Returning to Pittsburgh on a one year contract, Smith-Schuster faces an uncertain futu...