Report: Raiders To Suspend Antonio Brown After He 'Got Into It' With GM Mike Mayock
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- On Wednesday, Antonio Brown's partnership with his new helmet company was officially announced, thus seemingly bringing an end to the offseason melodrama that defined Brown's first season in Oakland.
Or so we thought.
As it turned out, the drama was just about to amplify -- to the point where the star wide receiver is now set to be suspended by his own team.
That's according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reported Thursday that Brown "got into it" with Raiders GM Mike Mayock.
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
Some more details trickled out shortly thereafter.
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
More on #Raiders WR Antonio Brown and Mike Mayock yesterday: It did not get physical, sources say. But after a screaming match, Brown told Mayock that he would hit him in the face and then punted the ball… and said, Fine me for that. ????????????
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2019
One of the players holding Antonio Brown back from the near-altercation with GM Mike Mayock was ... Vontaze Burfict.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 5, 2019
That showdown came -- presumably -- after Brown posted a photo of his fine notice on Instagram, indicating that he was none too pleased to have received such a letter from Mayock.
Antonio Brown posts his displeasure with fines from #Raiders pic.twitter.com/0OMhdwFu7K
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 4, 2019
"When your own team want to hate but there's no stopping me now devil is a lie," Brown wrote. "Everyone got to pay this year so we clear."
As former offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz noted, the fine was for missing the team's walkthrough before the preseason game in Canada.
Really, a suspension was probably the only proper ending to all of the drama from Brown this offseason. From his retirement threats over a helmet change, to his frostbitten toes from apparently wearing wet socks in a cryotherapy chamber, to missing training camp sessions and walkthroughs, the Raiders clearly acquired a massive headache when they also acquired the massive talent that is Antonio Brown.
If only there had been some warning that perhaps some events like this might occur. If only.
The Raiders open their season on Monday night in Denver. The clock is ticking for the Raiders to decide if Brown will be participating.
UPDATE: Schefter said that people "around the league" believe the Raiders may try to get out entirely from Brown.
There are those around the league who now believe the Raiders could suspend Antonio Brown with the idea of trying to void the $30.125 million of guaranteed money in his contract.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2019
Which obviously would end his time in Oakland.
You can email Michael Hurley or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.